Brush, floss, water flosser: what you actually need
Brush, floss, interdental brushes, water flosser — there is no shortage of tools for cleaning at home, but hardly anyone needs to use them all at once. What matters is not the number of gadgets but regularity and the right technique. A toothbrush cleans the main surfaces of the teeth; the spaces between them need something else.
Author: Anna Jakovleva, Dentist The brush
For everyday cleaning a soft-bristled toothbrush is usually recommended. Hard bristles and too much pressure do not make cleaning more effective and can damage the gums and the tissue of the tooth.
What matters far more is brushing properly: twice a day for about two minutes, cleaning all the surfaces of the teeth carefully and especially along the gum line. Your dentist or hygienist can show you a technique that suits you.
An electric brush
An electric brush can make daily cleaning easier: the timer helps you brush for long enough, and some models keep an eye on pressure. But even a good electric brush does not do away with cleaning between the teeth — that needs its own tools.
Toothpaste
For everyday use, a fluoride toothpaste matters. Fluorides help strengthen the enamel, prevent caries and support the remineralisation of early lesions, while no cavity has yet formed.
Whitening pastes mainly help remove surface staining, but they do not change the natural colour of the teeth the way professional whitening does. When choosing a paste it is better to go by its composition and by the state of your enamel and gums.
Floss, interdental brushes and the water flosser
The spaces between the teeth need attention of their own, since an ordinary brush does not clean them completely.
For daily cleaning you can use floss, interdental brushes or other tools. The choice depends on the size of the gaps, the state of the gums and whether you have crowns, bridges, implants or orthodontic appliances.
A water flosser can be a useful addition to cleaning at home, especially with implants, bridges and orthodontic appliances. But it is better not to set it against floss or interdental brushes: the best way to clean between your teeth is chosen individually.
Mouthwash does not replace mechanical cleaning either. Where needed, it is used as an addition.
Common mistakes
- Pressing too hard on the toothbrush.
- Brushing too quickly and missing some surfaces.
- Not cleaning between the teeth.
- Carrying on with a brush whose bristles are worn and splayed.
- Brushing immediately after acidic food and drinks — better to rinse with water first and wait a little.
- Forgetting to clean the tongue.
What really matters
The basis of home care is simple: brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth every day. Floss, interdental brushes, a water flosser and the rest are better chosen individually, together with your dentist or hygienist.
And even perfect care at home cannot remove tartar once it has formed — that calls for professional hygiene.
This article is for information only and does not replace an examination. Which cleaning tools to use, and in what combination, is decided individually — taking into account the state of the gums, any appliances and the particulars of your bite.
Articles explain the general picture; the decision is always individual. Come in for a consultation — the dentist will examine you, take a scan and explain the options with an estimate.
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