Interdental Brushes vs. Dental Floss

Interdental brushes are still not as commonly known as dental floss. However, the evidence shows that if a person uses the correct size of interdental brushes regularly, they can be very beneficial in the prevention of gum disease and plaque buildup. The benefits of plaque removal can improve general health as decreased bacteria results in the prevention of possible infections.

Dental Floss or Interdental Brush?

Dental consultants get this question often. Today interdental brushes are trending in the dental cleaning equipment. So the question is, which one is better?

Many people find interdental brushes to be easier to use than floss, which can increase encourage daily use because they can be used with only one hand. Reaching the space in between teeth is vital for maintaining oral health – and general health!

The choice between the two is rather personal and depends on many factors –similar to the debate between manual and electric toothbrushes. We can certainly try to find the winner in the floss vs. interdental brushes debate, so let’s look at some advantages & disadvantages of each.

INTERDENTAL BRUSH (IDB)

Pros:

• Easy to use (take the handle and insert between teeth, pull back and forth, and you’re done).
• The brush is easy to clean.
• Can clean large pockets.
• No wax layer stays over the tooth surface like with waxed dental floss (this layer can often cause plaque accumulation).

Cons:

• You Need a lubricant before using it. Otherwise, it might injure your gum while inserting it. This means more effort and cost.
• They are more expensive than floss.
• The wire in the center of the interdental brush can damage the gum.
• You can’t clean it completely. If the used brush injures gum while cleaning, it may cause infection.
• A common accident is that these brushes can prick the gum and cause bleeding as the twisted wire can often bend.

DENTAL FLOSS

Pros:

• It doesn’t have any of the IDB cons.
• Cleans whole sides of teeth when interdental brushes only can clean the gaps in between.
• They are more hygienic since they are discarded after one use.
• No lubricant is needed.
• No chance of gum injury by the dental floss.
• No chance of damaging the gum flap between teeth.

Cons (which can be eliminated):

• Leaves a layer of wax, but you can always choose a non-waxed kind.
• Large interdental pockets are a little hard to clean with one strand, but you can use a double strand or a knot.

 

It looks like the dental floss wins in this round from a dental professional’s point of view. But keep in mind that unless we actually use the floss regularly, we won’t enjoy the benefits of clean and healthy teeth and gums, and less money spent on dentists. So in conclusion, it doesn’t matter which tooth-cleaning tool you choose, dental floss or interdental brushes, just remember that you have to use it daily!