Hygienist’s Advicewritten by Our RDH Natalya Whittington

Dental floss (or dental tape) helps remove debris between the teeth and prevent plaque formation by removing the film of bacteria before it has a chance to harden into plaque. Flossing also reduces the likelihood of gum disease and tooth decay. Brushing alone cannot clean effectively between these tight spaces. Once made from silk fibers, today’s floss is usually made from nylon filaments or plastic monofilaments. It may be treated with flavoring agents, such as mint, to make flossing more pleasant.

The ADA does not recommend using a floss strand more than once. Used floss might fray, lose its effectiveness or may deposit bacteria in the mouth.

You can floss before or after brushing your teeth as long as you do a thorough job. If you use dental floss before you brush, the fluoride from the toothpaste has a better chance of reaching between teeth. Some people brush their teeth and unfortunately skip flossing for any number of reasons. That’s not a good idea.

Interdental cleaners are special wooden or plastic picks, sticks or brushes that are used to clean between teeth. Here are some of our favorites:

Proxabrush cleans between the teeth and also can be used to clean around the implants. It can have cylindrical or tapered shape, and is available in thin or ultra thin size.

Stim-U-Dent Plaque Removers are soft wooden cleaners that clean between the teeth and gently invigorate gums.

Squirt Brush is cylindrical proxy brush tip that attaches to a liquid reservoir that can be filled with an antibacterial rinse or your favorite mouthwash. Helps irrigate the interdental area between teeth during use to help flush away debris. Replaceable brush tips are available below and should be changed after each use.

Rubber tip stimulator is designed for gingival (gum) massage and interdental (between the teeth) cleaning. The rubber tip is latex free.

Floss Threaders can be used to remove plaque around bridges, braces and implants. Designed to slide easily between tooth surface and appliances.