The best way to clean between teeth: your guide to cleaning between teeth

The surfaces of our teeth can be cleaned relatively easily with a toothbrush, but you’ll need more specialised tools for cleaning between teeth. A regular manual toothbrush is not enough for those all-important interdental spaces. Here are a few top tips for the best way to remove plaque between teeth:

• Invest in an electric sonic toothbrush. Due to the distinctive shape and length of their brush heads, these brushes can help to clean stains between teeth while brushing. This isn’t a substitute for flossing, but it can help to bolster it.
• Use specialised interdental products. Even the best electric toothbrush can’t clean 100% of the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth. To clean between your teeth, you should use dental floss or an interdental brush once a day.
• Visit the dentist. It’s not only routine oral hygiene that’s important for keeping your teeth healthy. Regular check-ups and professional teeth cleanings will help to ensure that both your teeth and your interdental spaces are clean and healthy.

Are interdental brushes better than floss?

You know that cleaning between teeth is important, but are interdental brushes better than floss?

Whether you use interdental brushes or dental floss depends on your personal taste. Ultimately, all that matters is that you keep your interdental spaces clean. 
Here a comparison of both methods, to help you decide whether to use interdental brushes or floss:

• How to remove stains between teeth using dental floss

There are a number of choices when it comes to dental floss. Here are some facts about the available options, along with pros and cons for using them when cleaning between teeth:  

• Waxed vs unwaxed floss: While some prefer unwaxed floss as it doesn’t leave behind a waxy residue, a waxed floss is more suitable for people who have tight interdental spaces or sensitive gums, as it slides into the interdental space more easily. 
• Floss on a roll vs floss on a stick: Classic dental floss comes on either a roll or a stick, and both clean equally well. Using a roll allows you to cut the desired length and wrap it around your fingers. However, the sticks are easier for children to use. You can also get dental floss sticks in different colours and fun shapes, which can help motivate children to use them.
  
  

Which kind of floss you’ll use depends mainly on your preference. Some varieties of floss even have added fluoride or a peppermint taste. 

Once you’ve decided which floss you’re going to use, follow our simple guide for how to use floss properly. This will help you remove plaque and food residue effectively.

• How to clean between teeth without floss using an interdental brush

An interdental brush is a small brush which you can use in place of traditional floss. Here’s how to clean between teeth without floss by using an interdental brush: 

• Interdental brushes come in various sizes so that you can use the correct size for various interdental spaces. You might find you need to use a few interdental brushes of different sizes in your daily routine.
• An interdental brush can be used with just a little bit of water or a cleaning gel.
• The brush simply slides into the interdental space.
• You then move it back and forth.

Tip: If you want to know how to clean between teeth without floss or interdental brushes, the Philips Sonicare Power Flosser could be perfect for you. This device for cleaning interdental spaces removes plaque efficiently with streams or pulses of water, depending on your preference.

Now that you know cleaning between your teeth is just as important as regular brushing, be sure to add it to your daily routine, regardless of which method you choose. It’s best to tackle your interdental spaces before you brush your teeth.⁴

To learn the answers to more questions about oral care, such as how long you should brush your teeth and how often you should change your toothbrush, read this article.