How to Choose Your Interdental

Cleaning between your teeth is important for your oral health. We recommend a combination of toothbrushing and interdental cleaning to remove as much plaque as possible. You can use a single interdental or a combination of interdental brushes, picks and floss. Rubber picks are particularly easy to use, so a great option if you’re a beginner. The most important thing is to choose an interdental that is comfortable so that you clean every day! Check out our summary table below to help you choose the interdental that’s right for you.

We all have different size interdental spaces. Finding the right size brush or pick is mostly trial and error, but your dental professional can help you identify the best size for you. The head should fit comfortably but snuggly between your teeth, that’s how you’ll remove the most plaque. Never force the interdental in, go down a size instead. Depending on your interdental spaces, you may need more than one size. All of our interdentals come in multiple sizes. GUM® SOFT-PICKS® exist in 3 sizes and easily slide in all interdental spaces. And the GUM® PROXABRUSH® interdental brushes are available in five different sizes. 

If you have very tight teeth, removing plaque might be more of a challenge. Using soft rubber picks or floss is probably your best bet. GUM® SOFT-PICKS® ADVANCED feature super soft rubber bristles that easily and gently slide between all interdental spaces. Make sure you choose the smallest size available to fit your needs.

If you experience some pain or bleeding when cleaning between your teeth, you need to improve your oral care routine. Your mouth isn’t necessarily unhealthy, you just need to remove the plaque that is irritating your gums. Make sure you clean between your teeth daily with a gentle interdental tool. We recommend using GUM® SOFT-PICKS® ADVANCED which are gentle and safe for sensitive gums. However, if the bleeding is heavy and/or persists you should consider making an appointment with your dental professional.

Since many people find it harder to access their back teeth, plaque tends to build up more easily there. This is why it is very important that you clean between your back teeth as well. Many of our interdental brushes bend at the neck, making it easier to reach back there. 

If you experience a bad smell and/or taste when using interdentals, you may have food stuck between your teeth. Cleaning more regularly and thoroughly should help with this and bad breath. We recommend using the GUM® PROXABRUSH® interdental brush which is scientifically proven to remove up to 25% more plaque thanks to its triangular bristle design. A persistent bad smell and/or taste, however, could be an indication of a different problem. In this case you should make an appointment with your dental professional.

Many orthodontic appliances can make it more difficult to clean between your teeth. There are interdental cleaners designed to easily fit around orthodontic appliances. GUM® SOFT-PICKS® ADVANCED feature a modern curved design allowing them to clean around wires and brackets effectively. GUM® PROXABRUSH interdental brushes come in five different sizes so you can easily insert it under wires and clean around brackets more efficiently. 

When wearing bridges, crowns or implants, reaching all areas properly can be difficult, but these shouldn’t be neglected if you want to protect your oral health. Using the right tools can help you clean all areas thoroughly.

GUM® SOFT-PICKS® ADVANCED feature a modern curved design and super soft rubber bristles to clean effectively under and around crowns, bridges, implants as well as wide interdental spaces. GUM® PROXABRUSH® interdental brushes are also a good option as it features a bendable neck and comes in 5 different sizes.

Cleaning between your teeth daily is the best way of removing plaque and preventing build-up. In fact, everyone should do it, especially if:

• You have individual implants
• Your natural teeth or implants are fitted with dental prostheses
• You have an orthodontic appliance