Daily flossing is vital to remove food particles from between your teeth and to clean the spaces between teeth that your toothbrush can't access. Regular dental floss doesn't suit everyone, of course. If you're one of those people, read on to learn about the alternatives to dental floss.
Teflon String Floss
Traditional dental floss is known as string floss. This is the kind that most people use, and for the most part, all the various kinds of string floss are equally effective. Many people do have preferences; for instance, people who have braces often find that waxed floss is easier to use.
Typically, string floss is made of plastic or nylon. An alternative to this is Teflon floss, which has a smooth non-stick surface. It slides between the teeth more easily than other kinds of floss, so it's a good option for people who have impaired hand mobility.
Dental Tape
Dental tape is similar to string floss but is much thicker. It's made of smooth plastic and is designed to be used by people with wide gaps between their teeth. Traditional string floss is unable to clean properly in larger tooth gaps, but the thicker width of dental tape is much more effective.
Brushes, Threaders, and Picks
These flossing tools offer some additional options for people who wear braces or a bridge and can't use regular dental floss. They're also suitable for people who have reduced mobility in their hands and aren't able to manipulate string or tape floss.
A threader is similar to a needle but holds dental floss instead of thread. This makes it easier to keep hold of the thread and pass it around the teeth or around a dental appliance such as a bridge or braces.
A pick holds a short length of floss between two arms that are connected by a handle. People with reduced hand mobility typically find it much easier to floss using a pick. The downside is that the floss needs to cleaned in between flossing each tooth.
The interdental brush is also helpful for flossing with reduced mobility. The brush is thin enough to slide between the teeth to sweep food particles away.
Water Flossers
A water flosser is a hand-held tool attached to a small water reservoir. Once the reservoir is filled and the device is switched on, the tool emits a thin stream of water that washes away food and plaque from the spaces between teeth. They’re ideal both for people with dental devices, and people with reduced hand mobility.
For more information on how you can achieve better dental health, or to schedule an appointment, call the Scottsdale dental office of Dr. Marcia Blazer today.