Toothbrush for the spaces in between
Synonyms
Interdental brushes, interdental brushes
introduction
Brushing your teeth is part of the daily routine and is the basis of good oral hygiene. However, a normal toothbrush cannot reach and clean all places and areas in the mouth. These hard-to-reach areas are primarily the spaces between the teeth. Here food residues and bacteria can settle undisturbed and lead to plaque, tartar, tooth decay and inflammation. Especially patients for people with dentures such as bridges or implants or with an inflammation of the teeth holding apparatus (Periodontal disease) that is relevant.
For this reason, special small brushes in various sizes were developed to clean the spaces between the teeth (= Interdental spaces) to be able to clean sufficiently.
Who needs interdental brushes?
Originally, toothbrushes for gaps were developed primarily for cleaning bridges or other prosthetic restorations in order to achieve cleaning under and between the dentures.
Many people suffer from periodontitis, an inflammation of the tooth bed / the tooth supporting structure. Often one can then observe a regression of the gums. In this case, interdental brushes make cleaning much easier, as many places can hardly be reached with a normal toothbrush.
The brushes should therefore be integrated into daily oral hygiene, even if they are particularly suitable for bridges, implants, crowns or other prosthetic restorations.
By cleaning the spaces between your teeth every day, you can Plaque, tooth decay and Inflammation prevent bad breath in the mouth or even bad breath.
The brush should fit through the interdental space with moderate pressure, but also with noticeable resistance.
How do you use interdental brushes?
The correct use of toothbrushes for the interdental spaces is very important. Above all, you have to take the time to clean the gaps thoroughly and carefully so as not to injure the gums. The brush is inserted perpendicular to the interdental space with moderate pressure and resistance. The application must not be very painful. This would be an indication of the need for a smaller size. Bleeding gums are not an indication to stop using. On the contrary, it is a sign of inflammation of the gums, which can be prevented in the future by using interdental brushes. The brush should be moved back and forth between the teeth about 3 - 4 times. The plaque that has just been removed can be washed out of the brush by rinsing with water in between, so that it is not subsequently carried into the next interdental space. Furthermore, immersion in a disinfecting solution such as a mouthwash solution with e.g. Chlorhexidine as an ingredient.
It is very important that the brushes are used without toothpaste, as there are abrasive particles in every toothpaste which, if used continuously, can have an abrasive effect on the tooth enamel.
What products are there?
As with many dental products, there are also different products for interdental brushes. There are many different suppliers of interdental brushes, including Elmex® or Oral B®. The market leaders include the manufacturers Curaprox® and Tepe®. However, every drugstore also has its own, cheaper brand on offer. Curaprox® is only available in pharmacies, while Tepe® can be found in every drugstore.
There are brushes with long or short handles. Products with a long handle are particularly suitable for the rear areas of the row of teeth. It has to be found out individually which brushes and which brush thickness / thickness is suitable for you. The dentist will help you with this.
The interdental brushes are color-coded according to thickness, but some brands deviate from this standard.
What are the side effects / risks?
In general, interdental brushes pose very few risks or side effects to their use. However, incorrect use of the brushes can lead to consequential damage. Within this framework, the interdental brush size must be correct for each corresponding interdental space. Each interdental space has its own size. Therefore, one often has to use several different sizes of brushes. On average there are two sizes that every person needs.
If the brush, which consists of a wire in the middle, is too wide, the wire rubs against the enamel in the space between the teeth. This leads to damage to the tooth structure and can also lead to a retraction of the gums in the affected area. The brush should be able to be inserted with moderate pressure and should offer some resistance when passing through the interdental space.
Furthermore, there is a risk of piercing the gums during use. Especially in the molar area, using the brushes and reaching the back of the mouth are not easy. Restricted motor skills or dexterity in older people also make it difficult not to get injured. Sticking the wire into the gum is not a problem. It bleeds momentarily, is uncomfortable and should therefore be avoided.
You might also be interested in: Bleeding gums
Combination with the electric toothbrush
In addition to the typical small, manually used interdental brushes, there are also products on the market that are advertised as electric interdental brushes. There are no purely electric interdental brushes. The manufacturers of electric toothbrushes often advertise the ability of these to clean the spaces between the teeth. However, an electric toothbrush cannot completely replace the function of an interdental brush. In some cases, there are also interdental attachments that can be used to flush them. An electric interdental brush generally has no advantages over manual brushes, as the latter are only passed through the interdental space 2 - 3 times. Furthermore, the manual brushes can be adjusted as required and adapted to the space between the teeth. In summary, one can say that the products advertised as electric interdental brushes have no advantages over manual brushes.
