Brushing and interdental cleaning: a short guide
From choosing a brush to technique, floss to interdental brushes — why what you do at home matters more than what we do in the clinic.
No treatment carried out in a clinic replaces the cleaning done at home every day. That is not a courtesy: the daily routine is the main factor deciding the course of gum disease and decay.
Choosing a brush
Soft bristles. A hard brush does not clean better; it causes gum recession and abrasion of the root surface. There is no clinical justification for the "hard" brushes on sale.
Small head. Necessary to reach the back surface of the last molars.
Electric or manual? Used with correct technique, both are adequate. The advantage of an electric brush is that it performs part of the technique for you and most models time two minutes. Pressure sensors make a real difference for people who press too hard.
Replace the brush every three months, or sooner if the bristles splay. Splayed bristles do not clean.
Technique
Place the brush at 45 degrees to the gum margin. The aim is not only the tooth surface but the sulcus between tooth and gum.
Work in small circular or vibrating movements, staying a few seconds in each area. Long, hard horizontal strokes ("sawing") wear both enamel and gum.
Divide the mouth into four quadrants and give each 30 seconds: two minutes in total. Most people believe they have finished in 45 seconds — time yourself once with a phone and see.
Brush the tongue too; it is a significant source of bad breath.
Interdental cleaning: where the real difference lies
A toothbrush reaches only about 60% of the tooth. The remaining 40% are the contact surfaces between two teeth — and that is exactly where decay and gum inflammation most often begin.
Floss suits tight contacts with no gap. Slide it gently between the teeth, wrap it in a C around one tooth surface, move it up and down, then wrap the adjacent tooth and repeat.
Interdental brushes are more effective than floss where the gum has receded or a space exists. The size matters; your dentist can measure and tell you which to use.
A water flosser is a good addition but does not replace floss or interdental brushes: water does not mechanically strip the adherent plaque layer from the contact surface.
Interdental cleaning once a day, ideally in the evening, is enough.
Does the order matter?
Interdental cleaning first, then brushing: with the plaque removed from those surfaces, fluoride toothpaste reaches them better.
Toothpaste and mouthwash
Use fluoride toothpaste; fluoride raises the acid resistance of enamel. Rinsing vigorously with water after brushing washes the fluoride away too — spitting is enough.
Mouthwash does not replace brushing. Antiseptic rinses should be used on a dentist's advice and for limited periods; long-term use can affect the oral flora and taste.
Diet: frequency beats quantity
After every sugar exposure the acidity in the mouth rises and enamel stays vulnerable for roughly 20 to 30 minutes. Snacking five times through the day is far more damaging than eating the same amount at once.
Do not brush immediately after acidic drinks; you would abrade softened enamel. Rinse with water and wait 30 minutes.
