As dental professionals, we often emphasize brushing our teeth as the cornerstone of oral care. However, interdental cleansing, often seen as a “side dish” to our main hygiene routine, is an essential element that deserves our full attention.
Interdental cleansing refers to the practice of cleaning between the teeth to remove plaque and food debris. This practice is crucial because toothbrushes, while effective at cleaning the surfaces of teeth, often miss the spaces between them.[1] As we strive for optimal oral health, let us not underestimate the power of these small spaces.
The benefits of interdental cleansing extend beyond simply maintaining a bright smile. Regular cleaning of these often-neglected areas can lead to several significant health advantages, including:
Prevention and reduction of dental caries[4]
Contribution to better systemic health[5]
Enhancing fresh breath.
To incorporate interdental cleaning into our daily routines, various aids are available:
Dental floss: The most traditional method, dental floss consists of a thin, flexible string that is maneuvered between teeth to remove plaque and food particles[6]
Interdental brushes: These small brushes are designed specifically for cleaning between teeth and come in various sizes to accommodate different gaps[7]
Wooden sticks: Also known as dental picks, these are small wooden sticks that can be used to clean between teeth
Water flossers: These devices use a stream of pulsating water to remove food particles and plaque from between teeth and along the gum line[8]
Prethreaded flossers: These handy tools come preloaded with dental floss and often feature a handle for ease of use.
It is our duty as periodontists and dental professionals to educate our patients to comprehend that interdental cleansing is one of the basic components in the prevention and management of periodontal and other dental diseases and this has to be done as a routine oral hygiene measure rather than an alternative.[9,10] By doing this, we contribute significantly to sustainable development goals (SDG) 3 and SDG 4 by giving basic education on oral healthcare quality.
In conclusion, let us all strive to incorporate interdental cleansing in the educational process. By doing so we as responsible professionals can make our patients to self-reliant and take control of their oral health in total.
REFERENCES
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