TEETH - cleaning properly between them

ceridwen

I use all the standard stuff currently - toothbrush, dental floss and interdental toothbrushes (2 different sizes).

I'm not keen on the interdental toothbrushes - they keep breaking off stuck between my teeth for one thing. Also - I'm told I'm doing a good job of cleaning - but it needs to be a "super good job".

With this - I am wondering about those sort of electric/battery-powered toothpik things that use both air and water to clean between the teeth (ie instead of interdental toothbrushes/dental floss).

I'd kept an article re one specifically from Amazon (featuring both air and water use at same time) for about £90 and have now lost it:o:(

Are these things a good idea? Who has experience of using them? Which would be the best one to get please?

brook2jack

If interdental brushes keep breaking you are either using the wrong size or you are not angling them properly. You should be able to use a brush a few times before they wear, not break.

I don't like water piks etc except for people with poor dexterity as they dont do as good a job as brushes and floss and people tend to use them as a substitute , not an adjunct.

Ask your dentist/hygienist to check your floss/ brush technique as 90% of people don't do it properly.

londonsurrey

I've tried all kinds of flossers, including waterpiks.

I finally discovered one type that works, and was recommended by my dental hygienist - the Wisdom Floss Stick. This is what it looks like:
http://www.dentocare.co.uk/Products/Wisdom/WISDOM-Easy-Floss

It doesn't hurt my fingers the way plain floss does, the long stick allows me easy access to the back of my mouth, and it goes all the way down into the gumline the way you should when you floss.

Katherineanton

ceridwen wrote: »

With this - I am wondering about those sort of electric/battery-powered toothpik things that use both air and water to clean between the teeth (ie instead of interdental toothbrushes/dental floss).

I'd kept an article re one specifically from Amazon (featuring both air and water use at same time) for about £90 and have now lost it:o:(

Are these things a good idea? Who has experience of using them? Which would be the best one to get please?

Hello,

The item you mention is a Water Pik. They can be useful at removing debris from between the teeth, but may cause some pain if you have sensitive teeth.

We had some info round at work a couple of weeks ago about a new "air flosser", I think it was made by Oral-B, but I'll have a look tomorrow and see if I can find out who the manufactuer is.

Have you ever tried Corsodyl interdental brushes? These are made from rubber and I feel they are smoother against teeth than normal interdental aids (such a Tepes etc). They might be worth a go. As another member said, if you are bending or breaking the interdental brush, then you are going in too hard - just remember to be gentle around your gumline.

ruby_eskimo

londonsurrey wrote: »

I've tried all kinds of flossers, including waterpiks.

I finally discovered one type that works, and was recommended by my dental hygienist - the Wisdom Floss Stick. This is what it looks like:
http://www.dentocare.co.uk/Products/Wisdom/WISDOM-Easy-Floss

It doesn't hurt my fingers the way plain floss does, the long stick allows me easy access to the back of my mouth, and it goes all the way down into the gumline the way you should when you floss.

Sorry to push in, but I used to use these and you can't buy the refills seperately, so you end up buying a new one every 2 weeks or so. Look on ebay for a floss aid, it's the same kind of idea but you wind your own floss around it and use it like that. It's the same idea but more :money: I bought mine for £5.95 and then you can pick up floss for a pound and get a lot more use out of it!

slickrick25

I have never tried flossing before and apart from 2 girls I don't know anyone else who does. I chew gum after eating though. Until a few years ago I thought flossing was just what americans call brushing your teeth lol..

slickrick25

brook2jack wrote: »

Ask your dentist/hygienist to check your floss/ brush technique as 90% of people don't do it properly.

yeah I always used to brush using verticle and horizontal motions but my dentist said you should only brush horizontally if using a manual brush..can't remember the reason..

brook2jack

slickrick25 wrote: »

I have never tried flossing before and apart from 2 girls I don't know anyone else who does. I chew gum after eating though. Until a few years ago I thought flossing was just what americans call brushing your teeth lol..

Possibly why over 90% of british people have some sign of gum disease as 40% of their tooth surface and 50% of the gum/tooth junction never gets cleaned.

This is quite a jolly instructional video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_lOfpMmlHA

Apollonia

ceridwen wrote: »

Also - I'm told I'm doing a good job of cleaning - but it needs to be a "super good job".

Have you tried using disclosing tablets so you can see for yourself how good you are at removing plaque?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plaque-Disclosing-Tablets-Plaqsearch-Misc/dp/B004I9CHM8

You should be able to get them from Boots/Superdrug etc.

ceridwen

Thanks all.:T

KatherineAnton - looking forward to hearing your verdict as to which that WaterPik is.

Elmo1985

Apollonia wrote: »

Have you tried using disclosing tablets so you can see for yourself how good you are at removing plaque?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plaque-Disclosing-Tablets-Plaqsearch-Misc/dp/B004I9CHM8

You should be able to get them from Boots/Superdrug etc.

These are really good - and also quite fun to scare the kids with too:beer: