Dr. Joboulian's Blog

Posts for tag: Interdental Woodsticks

By Dr. Joboulian
October 05, 2011
Category: General Dentistry

There's an intruder in your mouth that, if ignored, could make all the difference between a great grin and a miserable mouth. That invader is plaque, an invisible bacterial film that develops on your teeth every day and is the main cause of periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease.

The easiest way to keep plaque under control is to brush at least twice a day, and to floss between your teeth daily to remove the plaque and bacteria that can't be reached with your toothbrush. If you floss faithfully every day, brush your teeth properly and maintain a regular dental visit schedule, plaque never gets a chance to harden into tartar, which is much more difficult to remove and is the first step to the development of gum disease.

There are a number of flosses available today to suit any mouth makeup. For example, are your teeth regularly spaced? Try unwaxed floss, which tends to cover more surface as the fibers separate. If you find the unwaxed version difficult to maneuver between your teeth, try waxed or Teflon-coated floss. Perhaps your teeth are close together? Try narrow, waxed floss - it'll slide more easily between the teeth. And people with widely spaced teeth may want to give the wider dental tape a go.

Once you find a floss that works for you, make sure you're flossing effectively:

  1. Break off about 18 inches of flossand wrap it around the middle fingers of your hands.
  2. Using your thumbs and forefingers, guide the floss between your teeth and wrap it into a "C" shape around the base of the tooth, as deep in the gum as you can, and slide the floss up and down the tooth two or three times using a gentle rubbing motion.
  3. Move to a clean area of flossand repeat with each tooth, including the backside of the last tooth.

By the way, if your gums bleed a bit after you first begin to floss, don't worry! The bleeding will usually stop after a few days. (Call us if it doesn't.)

If you have limited finger dexterity or are simply having trouble getting the hang of conventional flossing, you may want to try the preloaded dental floss that comes on disposable plastic handles. It may be easier to manage, and works as well as conventional floss does. Other options include:

  • Interdental brushes: This is a type of toothbrush that has a very small tapered or cylindrical head with fine bristles. It is excellent for getting in and around braces and bridges, and is also beneficial for those with widely spaced teeth or implants.
  • Interdental woodsticks: These wooden sticks help clean between your teeth while massaging your gums.
  • Irrigation devices: An oral irrigator is a machine that blasts a precise, pressurized stream of water to clean around the gum line. It can be used with water alone, or with a mouth rinse. Note that this is not a replacement for flossing, but can be a helpful tool to clean around braces, bridges and implants, and aid those who may find flossing difficult due to compromised medical states.

Your choice of floss isn't as important as the fact that you're doing it at all. Ask us to explain more about these interdental aids, and about tips or tools that may make flossing a more efficient process for you.  

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