Who should use Interdental brushes?

Most children and young adults have tight gaps between their teeth where it is only possible to pass floss. For these patients, where the gaps are quite small, floss should work very effectively. As people get older, the gaps between the teeth sometimes become bigger due to gum recession or periodontitis. These areas will then benefit from cleaning with interdental brushes. 

Why is cleaning between teeth important

Plaque builds up on teeth every 12 hours and removing plaque is your best defense against decay, gum disease, and breakdown of old fillings. Just brushing your teeth with a toothbrush is not enough. That simply cleans the cheekside, tongue side and top of your teeth. It is effectively only cleaning about 60% of your teeth. It is no wonder that patients who are not cleaning between their teeth continue to get problems. If you start using interproximal brushes, you may still not remove all the plaque from every nook and cranny but your potential to clean 100% of surfces rises dramatically.

I already floss. Isn't that the best?

Flossing is certainly to be encouraged and probably benefits many patients. In small tight spaces it sometimes is the only way to clean and probably works quite well. In big spaces we believe that an interproximal brush is much more effective than floss. Imagine trying to clean your pots and pans with a piece of string. It would take hours and probably not do a great job. Using a brush will be much better and faster.

How do I care for my interdental brush

After using your interdental brush, wash it thoroughly under running water. You should then let it dry without the cap on. Only ever put the cap on when the brush is dry if you wish to travel with the brush. You can keep using each interdental brush untilthe wire begins to crumple or the bristles wear out. Larger sizes may last several weeks. Smaller sizes may only last a few days.

Why are Oralis360 Interdental brushes not available in retail outlets

Selling interdental brushes through retail outlets increase the costs to patients dramatically and this is probably why they have not become widely used despite the dramatic benefits that they offer in removing plaque. In retail shops/supermarkets there has to be profit margin for the manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler and the retailer. By selling direct to patients and dentists without a middle man it is possible for us to sell a high quality product at a very low cost. My aim is for as many patients as possible to get the benefits of using interdental brushes. Healthier gums, lower decay rates and longer lasting dental work are all likely to result from daily use of interdental brushes.