Cleaning Between The Teeth OR Interdental Cleaning

• Interdental cleaning refers to cleaning between the teeth.
• Decay usually starts on the chewing surfaces of teeth and at the contact point between the teeth.
• Plaque and food particles stick to the teeth in these areas.
• The bacteria in plaque are able to convert these food particles into acids.
  • It is the major cause of tooth decay and gum disease.
  • You need to be aware of the fact that plaque is being formed continuously.
  • Plaque formation and growth cannot be stopped.
    It can only be controlled by regular daily brushing, flossing and the use of other dental aids.
    This must be accompanied by a six monthly dental scaling and polishing of the teeth.
• There are two essential daily routines that will prevent decay and gum disease.
  They are to brush your teeth and clean between your teeth, at least twice a day.
• Tooth brushing is necessary, but it cannot reach between the teeth.
• Cleaning between the teeth is made possible by the use of the following:
  • Dental floss
  • Interdental brushes
  • Single tuft toothbrushes
  • Dental sticks
  • Rubber tip stimulators
  • Irrigation devices.
• Why it is important to use dental floss.
  • Dental floss is the best way to clean the tooth surfaces between the teeth.
  • Different types of floss are available, such as regular floss, dental tape and super floss.
  • Floss is also available on a plastic holder, in the shape of a bow. It forms “the string of the bow” and it makes flossing very manageable.

  Superfloss		Dental tape
  Floss holders		Regular floss

• Here are a few tips for flossing as demonstrated below:
  • Use a 12-15inch (30-40cm) length of floss.
  • Wrap the floss around your middle fingers.
  • Hold the floss between the thumb and forefinger of each hand.
  • Leave about 2 inches (5cm) of floss between the hands.
  • The floss must be taut when it is used.
  • Gently guide the floss across the contact point between the teeth.
  • When the floss is in position between the teeth, rub it up and down a few times against each tooth surface, one after the other.
  • This is then repeated for all the teeth in the mouth.
  • Be careful not to cut your gums with the floss.
  • A sharp downward thrust of the floss will damage the gum and make it bleed.
  • Your dentist will be happy to show you how to floss, and choose which floss is best for you.
  • The floss holders shown above are easy to use, if you have difficulty using the conventional floss.

  Floss on hands

  Floss up

  Floss down

• Interdental (interproximal) brushes
  • These are triangular shaped small brushes, like little bottlebrushes.
  • They are very useful for cleaning between the teeth.
  • They fit onto a plastic handle, and are available in varying sizes.
  • Select the size of brush that is best suited to you.
  • Gently push the brush back and forth into the spaces between the teeth. <!–
  • Use it in the same way that you would use a bottlebrush.–>
  • This interdental brush is best suited to teeth that have spaces between them, caused by gum recession.
  • Some degree of gum recession is seen in most mouths by middle age, and in those with gum disease, at any age.

  Interdental brushes

  Interdental brushing

  Interdental brushing

• End or single tuft toothbrushes
  • These are toothbrushes with only one tuft of bristles.
  • They are used where the normal, multi-tufted toothbrushes cannot reach.
  • These brushes are designed for brushing around crowns, bridges, displaced and rotated teeth.

  End tuft brush

• Interdental picks or sticks
  • These are specially designed soft wooden wedges for cleaning between teeth. They can be used after meals or at any time.
  • The end of the stick should be moistened and softened in the mouth before use.
  • Gently insert the stick between the teeth, with the flat edge facing the gum.
  • Then move it in and out gently to clean the teeth and massage the gums.
  • Food trapped between the teeth can be removed with these sticks.
  • They are effective for mouths where receding gums have left spaces between teeth.
  • The sticks should only be used where there is sufficient space to allow the free movement of the stick between the teeth. Do not force them into position.
  • They should not be used if they cause any bleeding.
  • They are not suitable for children.

  Interdental sticks

  Stick in use

  Stick in use

• Interdental rubber tip stimulators
  • These are pointed rubber tips that are fitted to a toothbrush handle.
  • They are used to stimulate and toughen up the triangular soft gum between teeth.
  • Your dentist or periodontist will tell you if you need them. <!–Consult your dentist or periodontist who would normally recommend these when they are needed.–>

  Rubber tip stimulator

• Pulsating water or medicament spraying devices
  • Irrigating devices provide a steady or pulsating stream of water under pressure through a nozzle. They are especially useful in mouths with fixed bridges, and for cleaning between teeth.
  • They should not be used as a substitute for toothbrushing.
  • Ask your dentist before you buy one.

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