dental floss
This is an excellent cleanser, but it is not suitable for all people. There are different types of threads, but there is no significant difference between them.
There are several common mistakes when using dental floss. The first – use of force when moving between the teeth, which causes injury to the gums. The second – entering with the floss between the teeth, and taking it out immediately (with some kind of food residue). Although the floss helps in removing food residues stuck between the teeth, the main importance of all interdental cleaning means is the removal of the plaque of bacteria stuck to the tooth.
The correct way to work with dental floss:
- The floss should be moved gently between the teeth beyond the point of contact between them.
- Each tooth must be attached separately, in up-down movements, from the point of contact to the connection of the gums with the tooth, in a way that will allow the plaque of bacteria to be removed from the interdental area.
Brushing your teeth is important – but not enough | Photo: By Dafna A.meron, shutterstock
You can use a coil from which a strip is cut each time. The use of a coil is extremely economical, but some people have difficulty wrapping the thread around their fingers and using it to reach the depth of the mouth. In order to make the process easier, you can use a thread that is already installed on a plastic handle (Plakers) – the handle facilitates access to the deeper areas of the mouth, without the need to wrap the thread around the fingers and insert them deep into the mouth.
Another type of special dental floss is called Super-Floss – This is a wire that has a hardened area. The purpose of the hardened area is to thread the wire between the teeth when the point of contact cannot be passed, due to attached crowns or orthodontic fixation.
For whom use of thread is less relevant?
Wire is less suitable for use when the teeth are connected to each other through orthodontic fixation or through connected crowns. In such a case, a toothpick can be used, and the best alternative is to use an interdental brush.
Toothpicks – what is the difference between the different types and what is the most recommended?
Those who do not get along with dental floss can use a toothpick. It should be inserted in the space between the teeth until it gets stuck, then rub the interdental surfaces in an in-out motion. A toothpick has a triangular shape that fits the shape of the space between the teeth. The optimal toothpick is a wooden toothpick, which effectively absorbs the bacteria.
It is important to know that toothpicks whose shape is not anatomical (triangular) do not optimally reach the remains of the plaque from the area below the point of contact between the teeth and the connection between the tooth and the gums, therefore they are not effective for their removal and their use is not recommended. Examples of less recommended toothpicks: restaurant toothpicks with a round shape (they are mainly good for checking if the cake is ready in the oven), a toothpick from a brush (its square shape is therefore not anatomical), thin greenish plastic toothpicks – they are not anatomical and therefore the plastic is less effective in absorbing bacteria or silicone toothpicks – very Pleasant but not effective enough in removing the plaque stuck to the tooth.
Interdental brush
This is a brush that looks like a small bottle cleaner. The bristles of the brush surround it and reach all the corners of the area between the teeth. It is mainly used for people with teeth connected by orthodontic fixation, teeth connected by crowns (bridge), around crowns on top of implants, or when there are teeth suffering from gum disease, where the brush penetrates better into the spaces between the teeth.
The interdental brush is reusable, sold in different sizes, so it can be adjusted to the size of the space between the teeth. To work correctly, insert between the teeth under the point of contact, from the side of the cheek to the side of the tongue, and clean the teeth with an inward-outward motion. You can also dip the brush in an antiseptic solution or toothpaste and insert them into the space between the teeth.
How do we know which is the best option for cleaning the space between the teeth?
It is advisable to choose an effective means suitable for the structure of the mouth, it is important to consult a specialist in periodontal diseases, a dentist or hygienist. It is important to understand that a solution that is suitable for a healthy mouth without crowns or gum disease, for example, is often not suitable for those who suffer from gum disease or have implants in their mouth.
The writer is Dr. Tamar Dukarski Marks, specialist in periodontal disease, senior doctor at Makbidant, former chairman of the Israeli Association for Periodontology