Go between teeth brushes
Interdental brushes are small bristled cleaners that pass between teeth to remove plaque where a toothbrush cannot reach.
The short answer
An interdental brush has a narrow wire or flexible core surrounded by bristles, often with a handle. It cleans the contact area and the space between a tooth and the gum, and it can also reach around braces, bridges, implants, and wider gaps.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
The correct size is the largest brush that enters gently without force while the bristles touch the tooth surfaces. Tight contacts may need floss or tape, while open spaces and areas around orthodontic wires often suit an interdental brush better.
What can you do next?
Use the brush once daily by guiding it horizontally through each suitable gap, then moving it back and forth gently. Use a smaller size rather than bending or forcing the core, and ask a dental professional to size different parts of your mouth because spaces are rarely identical.
When should you seek dental care?
Seek dental advice if the brush catches, bends, causes repeated bleeding, or cannot pass through a space, since calculus, a filling overhang, crowding, or gum recession may be involved. Persistent bleeding, looseness, swelling, or bad taste also merits an examination.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask which size fits each area, whether floss is needed for tighter contacts, and how to clean around crowns, bridges, implants, or braces. Ask how often to replace the brush and whether a specific area needs periodontal care.
Frequently asked questions
Should interdental brushes replace floss?
They can replace floss in spaces they clean well, but tight contacts may still need floss or tape.
Why do my gums bleed when I start using one?
Inflamed gums can bleed when plaque is disturbed; gentle daily cleaning and a dental check can identify whether gum disease is present.