How to clean inbetween your teeth

• Interdental cleaning refers to cleaning between the teeth.
• Decay usually starts on the chewing surfaces of teeth and at the contact point (where adjacent teeth touch) between the teeth.
• Plaque and food particles stick to the teeth in these areas.
• The bacteria in plaque are able to convert these food particles into acids.
• It is the major cause of tooth decay and gum disease.
• You need to be aware of the fact that plaque is being formed continuously.
• Plaque formation and growth cannot be stopped.
  It can only be controlled by regular daily brushing, flossing and the use of other dental aids.
  This must be accompanied by a six monthly dental scaling and polishing of the teeth.
• There are two essential daily routines that will prevent decay and gum disease.
  They are to brush your teeth and clean between your teeth, at least twice a day.
• Tooth brushing is necessary, but it cannot reach between the teeth.
• Cleaning between the teeth is made possible by the use of the following:
• Dental floss
• Interdental brushes
• Single tuft toothbrushes
• Dental sticks
• Rubber tip stimulators
• Irrigation devices.

• Dental floss is the best way to clean the tooth surfaces between the teeth.
• Different types of floss are available, such as regular floss, dental tape and super floss.
• Floss is also available on a plastic holder, in the shape of a bow. It forms "the string of the bow" and it makes flossing very manageable.

 

Superfloss		Dental tape
Floss holders		Regular floss

• Here are a few tips for flossing as demonstrated below:
• Use a 12-15inch (30-40cm) length of floss.
• Wrap the floss around your middle fingers.
• Hold the floss between the thumb and forefinger of each hand.
• Leave about 2 inches (5cm) of floss between the hands.
• The floss must be taut when it is used.
• Gently guide the floss across the contact point between the teeth.
• When the floss is in position between the teeth, rub it up and down a few times against each tooth surface, one after the other.
• This is then repeated for all the teeth in the mouth.
• Be careful not to cut your gums with the floss.
• A sharp downward thrust of the floss will damage the gum and make it bleed.
• Your dentist will be happy to show you how to floss, and choose which floss is best for you.
• The floss holders shown above are easy to use, if you have difficulty using the conventional floss.

 

Floss on hands

Floss up

 

Floss down

 

• These are triangular shaped small brushes, like little pine trees.
• They are very useful for cleaning between the teeth.
• They fit onto a plastic handle, and are available in varying sizes.
• Select the size of brush that is best suited to you.
• Gently push the brush back and forth into the spaces between the teeth.
• This interdental brush is best suited to teeth that have spaces between them, caused by gum recession.
• Some degree of gum recession is seen in most mouths by middle age, and in those with gum disease, at any age.

Interdental brushes

Interdental brushing

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Interdental brushing

 

• These are toothbrushes with only one tuft of bristles.
• They are used where the normal, multi-tufted toothbrushes cannot reach.
• These brushes are designed for brushing around crowns, bridges, displaced and rotated teeth.

End tuft brush

• These are specially designed soft wooden wedges for cleaning between teeth. They can be used after meals or at any time.
• The end of the stick should be moistened and softened in the mouth before use.
• Gently insert the stick between the teeth, with the flat edge facing the gum.
• Then move it in and out gently to clean the teeth and massage the gums.
• Food trapped between the teeth can be removed with these sticks.
• They are effective for mouths where receding gums have left spaces between teeth.
• The sticks should only be used where there is sufficient space to allow the free movement of the stick between the teeth. Do not force them into position.
• They should not be used if they cause any bleeding.
• They are not suitable for children.
• For ease of use you can use a Perio-Aid, which is a device that holds your tooth pick on a toothbrush like handle so you can more easily reach your back teeth.                                             

Rota- Points: Rota-Points®  are plastic inter-dental cleaning devices. They are somewhat like a toothpick, or more like Stimudents (which are orangewood sticks for inter-dental cleaning). When used properly, Rota-Points can be about as effective as dental floss. 20 picks per box.

 

Perio- Aid: Insert toothpick, tighten holder, snap off excess

                                   

Stim-U-Dent

1. Moisten thoroughly in mouth to soften wood
2. Insert between teeth with narrow flat side next to gums
3. Use gentle in and out motion to clean between teeth. Do not force into tightly spaced teeth.

 

• These are pointed rubber tips that are fitted to a toothbrush handle.
• They are used to stimulate and toughen up the triangular soft gum between teeth.
• Your dentist professional will tell you if you need them.

Rubber tip stimulator

 

• Irrigating devices provide a steady or pulsating stream of water under pressure through a nozzle. They are especially useful in mouths with fixed bridges, and for cleaning between teeth.
• They should not be used as a substitute for toothbrushing OR flossing.

•  INSTRUCTIONS FOR IRRIGATING

 

•   Fill the reservoir with lukewarm water.
•   Direct the jet tip into the bottom of the sink basin and turn the on/off knob to the “On” position.
•   As soon as water begins to flow from the jet tip, press the water stop button on the handle, and turn the
• pressure control knob to the setting that you intend to use, that is comfortable to you.
•   Direct the stream of water towards the gumline at 90 degrees, so that contact is made where the tooth and gums meet.  
•   Maneuver the flow of water from tooth to tooth remembering to pause briefly between each tooth.

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