Why should you use an interdental brush for braces?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was consulted with Dr. CKII Nguyen Khanh Nam - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

For those who have braces, careful oral hygiene is extremely important. Because during braces, teeth and jaws will be weaker than usual, very vulnerable. Therefore, using an interdental brush is the most suitable option.

1. What is an interdental brush?

Interdental brush is a specialized small toothbrush for oral hygiene designed specifically for cleaning the spaces between the teeth - the most difficult to clean places in the oral cavity.
Interdental brush makes it easy to remove food residue left on the teeth, where a regular brush cannot reach. The structure of the interdental brush includes: The brush head is a single rolled steel bar in the middle, surrounded by soft bristles (arranged in the direction from large to small), this component has elasticity. can easily bend and wriggle into the positions of teeth or braces to wipe away plaque easily and effectively.
Interdental brushes are tools that not only help people with braces, but they also make cleaning anyone's teeth easier than ever.

2. Are interdental brushes really effective?

According to a test when using a regular brush and an interdental brush, the results have shown:
When brushing with a regular toothbrush: The rate of cleaning the oral cavity, about 60% of dental plaque is removed. in between teeth. And people using an interdental brush remove plaque, cleaning teeth up to 95%. It can be seen that this is an item that can be used every day to prevent oral problems such as gingivitis, tooth decay and bad breath. In fact, studies have also shown that interdental brushes are more effective at removing plaque than flossing, when flossing in combination with regular brushing. .
2.1 The advantages of an interdental brush over conventional brushes The texture of the interdental brush is convenient The interdental brush head is adjustable. Currently on the market there are 2 types of interdental brush heads: I-shaped type: This type has a straight, I-like shape, which helps clean the front teeth such as the front teeth. L-shaped type: This type has a fixed right angle, this shape makes it easier to clean the inner back teeth such as molars. Interdental brushes typically have short handles or are specially shaped for easy grip and are designed to be gently inserted between teeth. The interdental brush can be reused many times. The interdental brush can be easily replaced when the bristles are worn or the brush head wire is bent.

2.2 How to use an interdental brush An interdental brush has outstanding advantages, so its usage is different from that of a regular brush. How to use an interdental brush that you can refer to is as follows:
Step 1: Place the brush head tilted out at the root area between the 2 teeth. Find the optimal insertion angle and push the interdental brush halfway into the tooth gap
Step 2: Maintain force, keeping the brush handle at a 90-degree angle to the teeth.
Step 3: No need to push the brush further, rotate the interdental brush toward the gums and move it evenly in the gap area. Finally take the brush out – finish using the interdental brush.

3. Notes on how to use an interdental brush

3.1 Choosing the right interdental brush It is necessary to choose an interdental brush with the correct size, suitable for your teeth. Because if using an interstitial brush that is too large when used in the rubbing process, it will cause prolonged bleeding of the teeth, affecting the gums and easily causing oral diseases. Initially, you should choose the size of the teeth. The right size, just enough to pass between the teeth, just to ensure that the food left in the oral cavity is clean and still safe.

3.2 Adjusting the right amount of force Do not use excessive force to rub or try to push the brush into tight spaces.
Adjusting the force when brushing between teeth also contributes significantly to helping to maintain proper oral hygiene.

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