Cleaning between teeth: interdental brush vs floss I Philips (2024)

Reading time: 9 Min

Why cleaning between teeth is important

Before we show you how to clean between teeth and whether to use interdental brushes or floss, we need to first understand why this is a crucial step in your oral hygiene routine. Here’s why it’s important to start cleaning between your teeth:

• Often when eating, food residue can settle in interdental spaces. When food residue isn’t removed, bacterial plaque develops.
• Plaque can be harmful to our oral health if left untreated, as it can lead to cavities and gum diseases such as gingivitis.²
• In addition, the bacteria, plaque, and food deposits that have settled between teeth can often result in bad breath if left untreated.³
  

Tip: In order to prevent dental and gum diseases, cleaning interdental spaces is important. Children of school age should also use dental floss regularly, especially if their interdental spaces are very narrow or hard to reach.

The best way to clean between teeth: your guide to cleaning between teeth

The surfaces of our teeth can be cleaned relatively easily with a toothbrush, but you’ll need more specialised tools for cleaning between teeth. A regular manual toothbrush is not enough for those all-important interdental spaces. Here are a few top tips for the best way to remove plaque between teeth:

• Invest in a high-quality electric sonic toothbrush. Due to the distinctive shape and length of their brush heads, these brushes can help to clean stains between teeth while brushing. Using an electric toothbrush daily isn’t a substitute for flossing, but when used correctly, is an essential tool that can bolster your oral hygiene.
• Use specialised interdental products. Even the best electric toothbrush can’t clean 100% of the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth. If you’re wondering how to clean between teeth correctly, you should use dental floss or an interdental brush once a day before brushing your teeth for the best results.⁴
• Visit the dentist. It’s not only routine oral hygiene that’s important for keeping your teeth healthy. Regular check-ups and professional teeth cleanings will help to ensure that both your teeth and your interdental spaces are clean and healthy.

Tip: Avoid using toothpicks to remove food residue trapped between teeth as it can cause damage to your gums, leading to infection.⁴

Are interdental brushes better than floss?

You know that cleaning between teeth is important, but are interdental brushes better than floss?

Whether you use interdental brushes or dental floss depends on your personal taste. Ultimately, all that matters is that you keep your interdental spaces clean by keeping to a consistent oral hygiene routine.

• How to remove stains between teeth using dental floss

There are a number of choices when it comes to dental floss. Here are some facts about the available options, along with pros and cons for using them when cleaning between teeth:

• Waxed vs unwaxed floss:While some prefer unwaxed floss as it doesn’t leave behind a waxy residue, using waxed floss may be the best way to clean between teeth for those who have tight interdental spaces or sensitive gums. Waxed floss is quite agile and can slide into interdental spaces more easily for a thorough clean.
• Floss on a roll vs floss on a stick: Classic dental floss comes on either a roll or a stick, and both clean equally well. Using a roll allows you to cut the desired length and wrap it around your fingers. However, the sticks are easier for children to use. You can also get dental floss sticks in different colours and fun shapes, which can help motivate children to use them.

Which kind of floss you’ll use depends mainly on your preference. Some varieties of floss even have added fluoride or a peppermint taste.

Once you’ve decided which floss you’re going to use, follow our simple guide for how to use floss properly. This will help you remove plaque and food residue effectively.

How to clean between teeth without floss using an interdental brush

An interdental brush is a small brush which you can use in place of traditional floss. Here’s how to clean between teeth without floss by using an interdental brush:

• Interdental brushes come in various sizes so you can choose the most suitable sizes that work best for your teeth. You might find you need to use a few interdental brushes of different sizes in your daily routine, as you may have tighter interdental spaces in some areas more than others.
• An interdental brush can be used with just a little bit of water or a cleaning gel.
• The brush simply slides into the interdental space.
• You then move it back and forth.
  

Tip: If you want to know how to clean between teeth without floss or interdental brushes, the Philips Sonicare Power Flosser could be perfect for you. This device for cleaning interdental spaces removes plaque efficiently with streams or pulses of water, depending on your preference.

Now that you know cleaning between your teeth is just as important as regular brushing, be sure to add it to your daily oral routine. Regardless of which method you choose, staying consistent will keep you on track to achieving your oral hygiene goals.

To learn the answers to more questions about oral care, such as how long you should brush your teeth and how often you should change your toothbrush, read this article.

Sources:
¹ Impact of the diet on the formation of oxidative stress and inflammation induced by bacterial biofilm in the oral cavity, National Library of Medicine
² Gingivitis and periodontitis, Natural Library of Medicine
³ Halitosis, National Library of Medicine
⁴ How to keep your teeth clean, NHS

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