Oral Hygiene Practices : interdental devices

Question 1

What are the 2 main ways of cleaning in between teeth?

Answer 1

Interdental brushes/interdental silicone sticks

Floss/flossettes

Question 2

What is the first choice of interdental cleaning and why?

Answer 2

-Interdental brushes: they remove plaque supra & subgingival surfaces approx 2.5mm below gum margin

-Can be cylindrical or tapered

-There’s a better engagement of interproximal spaces after disease or recession

-Good for engaging root concavities

-Easy to use

Question 3

When is floss recommended over interdental brushes?

Answer 3

Advise where spaces too tight for interdental brushes

Question 4

What are some challenges with flossing?

Answer 4

-Difficult
-Requires skill & manual dexterity
-Time consuming compared to interdental brushing

Question 5

What are the different forms of floss?

Answer 5

Waxed/unwaxed, flossettes/floss holders, superfloss for bridgework

Question 6

How do you clean with a single-tufted brush?

Answer 6

-Place bristles into gingival margin area

-Apply medium pressure while moving brush in small circular motions

Question 7

What can single-tufted brushes be useful for cleaning?

Answer 7

look at the slides

Question 8

Are oral irrigators useful?

Answer 8

-Limited evidence for effectiveness

-They dislodge food particles but minimal impact on plaque removal and inflammation unless medicaments added

look at the slides