Cleaning Between Your Teeth is The Secret to a Healthy Smile
When you think about keeping your mouth healthy, brushing your teeth is usually what everybody thinks of. Brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste is the key to a healthy smile, but there is one more step that can truly transform how healthy your mouth is. Can you guess what it is?
Cleaning between your teeth, also known as interdental cleaning, refers to cleaning in between the gaps in your teeth. Brushing your teeth only cleans 60% of your tooth’s surfaces and doesn’t clean those hard-to-reach places in your mouth. When you don’t clean those hard-to-reach places around your teeth, plaque starts to build up and can cause issues down the road.
Why Cleaning In Between Your Teeth is Important
Dental plaque can build up between your teeth. Over time, this leads to tooth decay, gum inflammation and bad breath. To prevent plaque buildup it’s a good idea to use an interdental brush as part of your daily oral health routine.
An interdental brush is a small brush that specifically was designed to clean between your teeth where a regular toothbrush cannot reach. Daily use of an interdental brush in addition to your normal teeth brushing is the best way to keep your gums and teeth healthy. We recommend cleaning between your teeth every day to keep your mouth healthy.
When you first start using your interdental brush, it may cause some soreness around your gums, and they might bleed a bit. This should subside. If your gums continually bleed, that could be a sign of gum inflammation and you should contact us if you do not notice improvement within a few days.
Choosing the Right Size
There are many different size options of interdental brushes, and you want to make sure you choose the right one for your teeth. For the best advice, ask your dentist for their recommendations. However, here is a few tips when considering which size to go with:
- Look in the mirror and insert the brush between your teeth, close to the gums. Start with the smallest size and work up until the brush bristles touch the surface of your tooth and the gum tissue.
- The brush should be snug, but the wire should NOT touch the side of the teeth or gums. Never force your brush into a space.
- Once inserted, move the brush to its full length back and forth about 2-3 times. Make sure to clean all the spaces between the teeth once a day.
- You are most likely going to need two to three sizes or a combination or one or two brushes plus floss, depending on the space you have between teeth.
Taking Control of Your Oral Health
Your oral health is so important for your overall health! By being aware of what you can do to develop and maintain good oral health, you can change it for the better. if you have any questions about interdental brushes or want to schedule an appointment, please call us at 610-269-1414.
