Interdental brushes

iammumtoone

I want to start using interdental brushes but can't find any small enough.

I have used the 0.4mm and can only get it to fit in three gaps.

Can you buy smaller sizes?

Other question is how often are they recommend to change/do people change theirs, if they are only one use then it will work out expensive.

Thanks

brook2jack

Ask your dentist/hygienist about appropriate sizes. Some gaps are too small and floss is best.

Chuck the brush away when it looks tatty. You should get a few days out of each.

Katiehound

and where are you buying yours?
There are various brands available - some a lot cheaper than others. There are also some that are like flexible silicone toothpicks which I bought from Superdrug- these are quite fine. Sorry threw packaging (with name!) away.

iammumtoone

Katiehound wrote: »

and where are you buying yours?
There are various brands available - some a lot cheaper than others. There are also some that are like flexible silicone toothpicks which I bought from Superdrug- these are quite fine. Sorry threw packaging (with name!) away.

I think it got my last lot from mr T. I have never seen any shops sell thinner than 0.4

these? http://www.wilko.com/dental/wisdom-clean-between-interdental-brushes-20pk/invt/0280424

They don't have a size on them but will give them a try, they seem kinder than the metal type, thanks

Nick_C

iammumtoone wrote: »

I want to start using interdental brushes but can't find any small enough.

I have used the 0.4mm and can only get it to fit in three gaps.

Can you buy smaller sizes?

Other question is how often are they recommend to change/do people change theirs, if they are only one use then it will work out expensive.

Thanks

Do you mean 4.0 mm?

Dentek 2.0 mm from Boots. 32 for £4
http://www.boots.com/dentek-slim-brush-ultra-fine-32ct-10216423

spadoosh

Nick_C wrote: »

Do you mean 40mm?

Dentek 20mm from Boots. 32 for £4
http://www.boots.com/dentek-slim-brush-ultra-fine-32ct-10216423

Thats 2.0mm in the picture

If someone has a 4cm gap in their teeth the need to floss dissapeared a long time ago.

GlasweJen

I really struggled with crowding and brushes were never going to happen in some areas but the easypik silicon things from TePe got between all my teeth, orange for my overlapped ones and turquoise for my better ones. I’m now at the end of a course of dramatic orthodontic Work and can use brushes but I prefer the easypiks

brook2jack

The silicon ones don’t do as good a job cleaning as the brush ones.
If a tepe pink 0.4 won’t fit through you should be using floss instead as this is the smallest size most will do.

Many dentists sell interdental brushes cheaper than boots so check at reception as well.

Apollonia

Many dentists sell interdental brushes cheaper than boots so check at reception as well.

The Tepe brushes on sale in dental practices are packaged in cellophane bags and there are 8 brushes in a packet. Supermarkets or high street shops have a cardboard blister pack with only 6 brushes per pack. So buying from reception can be even better value than at first glance.

DD265

I couldn't get on with the brushes, but struggle to floss further back in my mouth. I go round with the tepe picks first, then floss, and the combination seems to do a good job.

GlasweJen

My crowding was so bad that floss would snag and leave bits, even my dentist struggled to clean my teeth and was relieved when my cardiologist sent him over journal articles saying that he was ok to go back to ultrasonic cleaning (I have a pacemaker). My orthodontic requirements were bad enough to qualify for nhs funding as my bite didn’t allow me to eat a sandwich (I’d leave a dent in bread but not bite through it). So maybe I’m a drastic case but the easypicks got me through my treatment and both my dentist and orthodontist are happy with my gums.