There is no question that getting food out of the hard-to-reach places between your teeth is essential to keeping your teeth and gums healthy, but what if flossing is really not for you? The good news is that there are many flossing alternatives to traditional floss and depending on the anatomy of your unique teeth, one of these alternatives may actually be a better solution! Let’s have a look at your options, shall we?
Alternatives To Flossing: Interdental Brushes
Hands down our favourite option due to selection and ease of use! The ones we like to recommend to our patients are Curaprox brand. Not only are they cute and colourful, they work in the tightest spaces as well as doing a great job for larger gaps. Interdental brushes typically look like a miniature bottle cleaning brush and the bristles clean both teeth on either side of the gap at the same time. Curaprox brushes also come with a lid, so they are perfect for taking on-the-go!
Waterpik
We absolutely love the Waterpik! It uses pressure to direct water through a fine tip into the spaces between your teeth as well as just under the gumline. Perfect for anyone who dislikes flossing and especially those in braces. Also ideal for patients who have a sensitivity to cold as the water chamber can be filled with warm water. Many of our patients find using the waterpik is soothing to their gums and we love seeing their improvement in oral health after regular use!
Air Flosser
Similar to the Waterpik, the air flosser uses short bursts of compressed air mixed with tiny droplets of water to clean food debris and bacteria away from the surfaces of your teeth. Not quite as popular as the water version, it really comes down to patient preference as to which method to choose.
When you come into the office , please let us know if you have concerns about flossing and we can recommend the flossing alternative that will work best for you. Ultimately, the best option is the one you will choose to use every day! Here’s to your gum health!