Oral hygiene of the interdental spaces | Oral Hygiene

Oral hygiene of the interdental spaces

For the complete cleaning of the interdental spaces (lat. Interdental spaces) a toothbrush (interdental space brush) or dental floss must be used in addition to the use of a normal toothbrush. The reason for this is that the bristles of a toothbrush are not able to penetrate into the deepest furrows of the interdental spaces in spite of the greatest efforts and for this reason plaque can settle and harden to tartar in these areas.

In case of severe tooth misalignment, this problem is intensified, often resulting in the development of gum inflammation or caries. The interdental spaces should be cleaned before the actual brushing, because this ensures that the loosened plaque can be removed completely with a toothbrush. Interdental brushes are produced in different shapes, the most common are fir tree brushes and straight, flexible interdental brushes.

The appropriate size can be determined by the treating dentist with a so-called IAP measuring probe (Interdental Access Probing). This is very important, because a too small interdental brush does not clean sufficiently and a too large one either does not fit or can lead to injuries of the gums. Especially for patients undergoing orthodontic treatment and wearing fixed braces, interdental brushes are indispensable in daily oral hygiene. The use of dental floss is usually too complicated in such cases and the cleaning effect is therefore insufficient.

Mouthwash

Caries or periodontitis cannot be prevented with a mouth rinse alone. The mouthrinse is a supplement to daily oral hygiene. There are various differences between the mouthrinses with regard to their function.

There are mouthrinses to support dental hygiene, to suppress various disease-causing germs or those that only produce fresh breath. To improve oral hygiene, mouthwashes with bactericidal and mineralizing ingredients are recommended. These include tin fluoride or chlorhexidine, for example.

Although a mouthrinse cannot completely remove plaque from the teeth, it can reduce it and thus have a positive effect on oral hygiene. You should always consult your dentist about the recommended ingredients. Depending on the indication, the appropriate mouthwash may vary in terms of the ingredients.