Not a fan of dental floss?
Then an interdental brush might be a good alternative for you, especially if you wear retainers or braces, or have wide gaps between your teeth.
Being single-tufted brushes, they can effectively remove debris and prevent the build-up of dental plaque where your normal toothbrush doesn’t reach.
For interdental brushes to be effective, you need to make sure to pick the right size though, says dentist Dr Stefan Zimmer.
If it still looks as good as new after weeks of use, the brush is probably too small, he explains.
It’s best then to switch to a larger size.
If there isn’t much resistance when inserting your dental brush between your teeth, it won’t clean properly, says the professor for dentistry at Germany’s Witten/Herdecke University.
“You’ve picked an ideal size if the brush can be moved into the space between your teeth with gentle pressure,” he says.
“However, it is important that the wire core of the interdental brush does not touch the tooth.”
This leaves the question of how often you should replace an interdental brush.
“If it is dirty or the bristles or wire are bent, then it should be replaced as soon as possible,” says Dr Zimmer.
After using an interdental brush, rinse it under running water and allow it to dry well. – dpa
