Flossing vs. Picking: Do You Need Both? 🦷✨

Brushing your teeth is essential, but it's only part of the picture. A complete oral hygiene routine includes brushing, flossing and cleaning between your teeth - and each has a different role.

🪥 Brushing removes plaque, food debris and bacteria from the front, back and chewing surfaces of your teeth. However, your toothbrush can't effectively clean the tight spaces between teeth.

🧵 Flossing is designed to slide gently between your teeth and just below the gumline, removing plaque and bacteria before they can cause cavities or gum disease. It's the gold standard for cleaning areas your toothbrush can't reach.

🦷 Interdental picks (or soft picks) are excellent for cleaning slightly larger spaces between teeth, around braces, bridges, implants or where gums have receded. They help remove trapped food and plaque and can be easier for some people to use than floss.

Key Differences at a Glance 🦷

• Plaque Removal: Interdental brushes clean concave tooth surfaces much better because the bristles physically scrape and disrupt biofilm in all directions. Floss acts as a smooth gliding agent but can miss concave spaces.

  
  

• Effect on Gums: Clinical reviews show interdental brushes lead to a greater reduction in bleeding and gum inflammation.

  
  

• Ease of Use: Most people find interdental brushes much faster and easier to use, especially if they have limited manual dexterity.

  
  

• Accessibility: Floss can squeeze into almost every single contact point, whereas interdental brushes require specific gap sizes and can be too thick for tight, crowded teeth

Do you have to choose one? 💡

Not necessarily! Floss and interdental picks complement each other. Floss is ideal for tight contacts, while picks work brilliantly in larger spaces or around dental work. Many people benefit from using both, depending on the spaces in their mouth.

According to general dental consensus, interdental brushes are the gold standard wherever they can comfortably fit without forcing them. If you have a mixed mouth - with some large gaps (like molars) and very tight front teeth - you should use a combination of both.

Because size matters greatly for brushes, ask one of our dentists or hygienists to size the gaps in your teeth so you buy the correct brush sizes.

Here at Devon Dentists, we offer tailored advice to every individual depending on a number of factors, including:

• Whether or not there are gaps between teeth and how tight these are

• Whether the mouth is affected by periodontal (gum) disease

• The manual dexterity of the patient – this is particularly important for flossing

• Mouth size – in smaller mouths, it can be much harder to get access to floss back teeth

• Gag reflex

• Muscular guarding – oral muscles can involuntarily contract when brushing which can make access for oral hygiene much harder

• Level of oral hygiene motivation of the patient

The winning routine ✅

• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.

• Clean between your teeth daily with floss, interdental picks, or a combination that's right for you.

• Finish with regular dental check-ups to keep your smile healthy.

Healthy teeth aren't just about brushing - they are about cleaning every surface, every day. 🪥🧵

If you are concerned about your oral health or your cleaning routine, why not book an appointment with one of our dentists or hygienists?

Our hygienist is available for appointments through the direct access scheme, meaning they can be accessed without prescription or needing to see a dentist first.