Interdental brushes help to prevent gum disease by getting rid of pieces of food and plaque from between your teeth. They have small bristled heads designed to clean between your teeth, and they come in different widths to suit the sizes of the gaps.
If you are unsure of how to use interdental toothbrushes then please follow the guide below:
- aim to clean your teeth with interdental brushes once a day before brushing
- use a brush appropriate for the size of the space between your teeth – you may need to use more than one size
- insert the brush gently between your teeth, and try a smaller brush size if it feels too tight – don’t try to force the brush into space
- work around the whole of your mouth so you don’t miss any of the spaces
What happens if my gums start to bleed?
When you first start using an interdental toothbrush your gums may be a bit tender and will bleed as you get rid of the plaque. If you keep using the brush then your gums should become healthier and should start to bleed less.
If your gums are still bleeding after a few days of first use then a dentist can happily diagnose the problem and recommend a solution.