Just from everyday use, your teeth will gather all manner of food particles and plaque in between your teeth. Cleaning between your teeth, otherwise known as interdental teeth cleaning, will help to remove these materials and help keep you free from tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath and all manner of dental problems. If it isn’t already, interdental teeth cleaning should become an important part of your regular oral care routine.

The most commonly used tool for interdental cleaning is floss. Coming in many different varieties and available from all good pharmacies and supermarkets, floss is thin strips of nylon or plastic that you can run in between your teeth to clean out the areas where your tooth brush will not fit. Floss can also safely be used to clean above the gum line. Just gently run the floss along the tooth and carefully push it above the gum line, being sure not to put excessive pressure on the gums. If you struggle to hold the floss in a comfortable position, flossing ‘wands’ are available that will hold floss tautly on the end of handle. For an even more thorough clean, ask your Central Leeds dentist about the use of interdental cleaning brushes and other methods of interdental cleaning.

Alongside brushing, flossing is one the most effective ways to combat gingivitis, the inflammation of the gums. Regularly using floss will remove any plaque or food that is trapped and may become infected. Left untreated gingivitis can cause a lot of pain and eventually the loss of teeth. Tooth decay will also be prevented by the removal of plaque from around the teeth.