The Best Ways To Remove Plaque From Between Your Teeth
by Julia Gregory
Practically everyone knows that dental care such as flossing and brushing is recommended by dentists to help maintain your oral hygiene. However, if you're looking for the very best way to eliminate plaque and prevent tartar from forming between your teeth, you might be surprised to learn that there are superior ways to do it. Read on to learn how you can keep the space between your teeth in excellent condition.
Interdental Brushes
Floss is often recommended because tooth brushes don't do a very good job of cleaning between teeth. However, this isn't because brushes do a poor job of removing dental plaque; tooth brushes just don't fit between the teeth very well.
Interdental brushes are designed to fit comfortably between teeth, and as such, they do a great job of removing plaque in these tight spaces. They're often recommended for people who experience difficulty flossing, or for instances where large chunks of food debris are stuck between teeth. However, studies have also shown that they're actually superior to regular dental floss in removing plaque.
One such study revealed that participants who used interdental brushes between their teeth lost more plaque than those who used dental floss. In addition, floss and interdental brushes equally reduced gum bleeding, so there aren't any significant downsides to using interdental brushes instead of floss.
Water Flossers
Another option is to use a water flosser instead of regular floss. While water flossers are easy to use, there have been some questions about whether or not they do as good a job as dental floss. Thankfully, studies are starting to show that they're actually superior to traditional dental floss.
One study of water flossers versus dental floss showed that the water flossers reduced the overall plaque in the mouth by 74.4%, while dental floss only reduced it by 57.7%. In addition, the approximal plaque, or the plaque between teeth and where teeth meet, was reduced by 81.6% with water flossers and only 63.4% by floss.
While floss still does a good job in removing plaque between teeth, you may find that your overall oral health improves if you switch to a water flosser or interdental brush instead. Just remember that you'll still need to follow your dentist's recommendations, so if they want you to floss twice a day, you'll need to use your floss substitute twice daily. Ask your dentist to find out which of these floss alternatives is best for your personal oral hygiene.
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About Me
The decision to move one of my parents into assisted living was one of the most difficult I have ever made. I had extreme feelings of guilt that led to me being at the facility with my parent practically around the clock. It took a few months before I realized that I could not let my own life fall apart from the guilt I was feeling. I also learned that my parent was fine without me constantly hovering around. Since that time, I have had several friends express similar feelings of guilt. I started this blog to help others in the same situation understand not only their feelings about assisted living, but those of their parents.