The spaces between the teeth

The spaces between the teeth should be cleaned before the actual brushing. Cleaning them is decisive, because that is where caries and later periodontitis can develop unseen. The key to healthy spaces between the teeth are space-filling, ultra-fine interdental brushes with a fine wire core. Interdental spaces differ, which is why your dental practice advises you and selects the right size. That matters: a brush that is too small does not clean the whole space, and one that is too large injures the gum. Recommendation: go into every interdental space with the brush once a day – once in and once out. That is enough

Dental floss

In most cases interdental brushes are preferable to floss, because they clean more efficiently. But there are spaces that only floss can pass through. In those cases floss is a sensible support. Using an interdental brush and floss calls for a delicate touch and plenty of practice

Recommendation:

The floss must in any case be held very short and moved gently back and forth, so that it cannot injure the gum or wear grooves into the tooth. Waxed floss is better, above all because it is easier to handle than unwaxed. It is stretched between index finger and thumb. It is then pushed between two teeth and drawn upwards along the sides of the teeth with a gentle back-and-forth movement

A distinction is made between fluoridated, waxed and unwaxed floss. Multi-filament floss is made of nylon, single-filament floss of PTFE. Where the spaces between the teeth are narrow, waxed floss is preferable, as it slides more easily into them

Superfloss is a special form of dental floss. It consists of a normal length of floss, a fluffy section and a stiffened end that makes threading into the space easier. Superfloss is particularly suitable for fixed dental work

The spaces between the teeth are harder to reach and therefore a favourite place for bacteria that can cause gingivitis, periodontitis and caries. Food remains that are not removed lead to plaque and tartar and are often also a source of unpleasant breath (halitosis). These deposits can only be removed completely in a professional tooth cleaning

Interdental brushes are fine little brushes for cleaning places that are hard to reach. Their shape and size follow the individual findings. Interdental brushes and floss are special aids for removing soft food remains from the spaces between the teeth

Dental floss: for a thorough cleaning of the spaces between the teeth and the removal of plaque with up-and-down movements, about 50 cm of tear-resistant floss is needed. Using an interdental brush and floss calls for a delicate touch and individual practice. The use of floss in particular should be demonstrated by the dentist or a prevention specialist in order to avoid damage and injury. They will explain how best to hold the floss, how to judge the force and how to reach every part of the teeth. A distinction is made between fluoridated, waxed and unwaxed floss. Multi-filament floss is made of nylon, single-filament floss of PTFE. Where the spaces between the teeth are narrow, waxed floss or the PTFE version is preferable, as it slides more easily into them. The paraffin in the wax, once discussed critically, is today regarded as harmless. Where the gaps are larger or the teeth stand apart, puffed, fluffy floss can be used; with it the areas under bridges and splinted crowns can also be cleaned