Oral hygiene practices: interdental agents

Question 1

Give examples of interdental cleaning agents?

Answer 1

Interdental brushes
Interdental silicone sticks
Floss
Flossettes

Question 2

What is the first method of choice for interdental cleaning?

Answer 2

Interdental brushes (if appropriate)

Question 3

What do interdental brushes do?

Answer 3

They remove plaque supra and subgingivally approximately 2-2.5mm below gum margin

Question 4

What shape can interdental brushes be?

Answer 4

Cylindrical or tapered

Question 5

When is flossing recommended?

Answer 5

Where spaces are too tight for interdental brushes

Question 6

What are the disadvantages of flossing?

Answer 6

Difficult
Requires skill and manual dexterity
Time consuming compared to interdental brushes

Question 7

When may single-tufted brushes be used?

Answer 7

Crowding, rotated or tipped teeth
Localised gingival recession 
Lone standing teeth 
Partially erupted wisdom teeth (operculum) 
Implant 
Furcation areas
Orthodontics