Dental Floss Recommendations

Dental floss is a cord of thin filaments used to remove food and plaque from in-between teeth areas usually best suited for those who have tighter contacts. What people tend to do is put the floss between a tooth and then “saw” at their gums back and forth- THIS IS INCORRECT and WILL cause trauma to your gums. You are essentially sawing at your gums by doing this. Correct floss technique is to place the floss in-between teeth then place to one side of a tooth and then slide up the side of the tooth – check out our “How-To” tutorial on this if you would like to see a demonstration.

Floss picks are just a piece of floss attached to a stick for those who may struggle to use floss cord.

Interdental Brushes

Daily use of an interdental brush in addition to regular toothbrushing is an easy and efficient way to keep your gums and teeth fresh and healthy. For the best results it’s important to choose the correct size for the space between your teeth. Everyone is different and your dental professional can help you if you are struggling in choosing the right size for you. A lot of interdental brushes can be re-used until the bristles start to fray. They can also come in a mixed size pack if you have a few different areas that require different sizes or if you are unsure of which size you need you can try a selection out.  If you find the brush goes in your gap too easily and you can move it about a lot, it’s too small for what you need. On the other hand, if you are trying to force the brush between and causing discomfort you need to size down. A lot of it can be trial and error with the bushes until you find the one or multiple ones that suit your oral care regime.

Water Flossers

The Water Flosser is a handheld device that sprays water between the teeth to flush out food debris and plaque. People who are undergoing certain dental treatments for example, fixed orthodontic braces, fixed bridge work or implants may get recommended a water flosser as the likes of standard flossing becomes a lot more difficult or isn’t sufficient enough.

Check out our “How-To” video on water flossers and other interdental aid uses.

We recommend the following brands for effective, affordable water flossers:

Interspace Brushes

An Interspace Brush is a long-handled brush that has a single tuft of bristles at the top. It can be used for many purposes such as deep pockets, (people suffering from gum disease that have loose/mobile teeth, may get one of these recommended to help get down into the affected areas below the gum level) around fixed orthodontic braces or implant patients. It’s especially good for keeping those hard-to-reach wisdom teeth right at the back of your mouth as clean as possible.

We recommend the following brands for Interspace brushes:

Orthodontic Specific Mouthwash

Recommended for daily use orthodontic (alcohol-free) mouthwash is ideal for protecting against gum issues such as gingivitis which poses a higher risk of developing in orthodontic wearers. You must ensure not only your teeth are thoroughly cleaned but also around the gum margins. These particular mouthwashes have all the active ingredients to help with reducing plaque build-up and maintaining a healthy smile.

Veneers/Crown/Bridge care 

A Veneer is best described as similar to an acrylic nail (although not made out of acrylic) it’s a similar representation in the fact that a veneer simply covers the front surface of the teeth.

A crown is a tooth shaped cap that is placed over a tooth to help improve the appearance of the underlying tooth making it match the size and shape of the adjacent teeth. When a crown is fixed in to place it covers the whole of the underlying tooth from the gum line and above. You may have been told you need a crown to protect a weakened tooth or restore a tooth that’s worn down or broken. If there isn’t enough tooth structure left to hold a filling the dentist will recommend a crown as an option to encase the tooth and prevent it from further damage. Crowns are also used in dental implants or you yourself may want crowns for cosmetic purposes.

A fixed Bridge is similar to a crown in its design, but it will be fused together with more than one unit to fill a missing tooth or multiple teeth dependent on the bridge unit number. A Maryland bridge is a lot less invasive and is essentially a tooth attached to a wing that then sticks on to the backs of the supporting teeth either side. Your own individual options and recommendations for these types of treatments will be discussed with you by your dentist.

We recommend products such as the Waterpik flosser, interspace brushes and a mouthwash that provides overall protection and suitable for daily use for patients who have the above dental work.