Dentist in Ogden, Utah: Can Floss be Replaced?

Houston, we have a problem.

No one likes to floss. Some people do it but even those folks don’t find it to be the highlight of their day.

Floss manufacturers know this and so, they have been coming out with floss alternatives to try to entice people.

One of these alternatives that is really catching on is a little thing that looks like a piece of pipe cleaner. You take this little pipe cleaner job and push it back and forth at the base of you tooth.

These things are called Interdental brush (interproximal brush or a proxy brush), etc. But, they all do the same thing.

Here are some examples.

Brushing Teeth with Interproximal brush

Curaprox CPS Prime Interdental Brushes Periproducts Denti-Brush Interproximal Brush 4mm

So, what is the problem?

The problem is that although they do a great job of getting things out from the space right above the gum line, they absolutely do not get to the most important spot in between the teeth.

This most important spot is the spot where the floss snaps. That spot that snaps is where the bugs that cause the cavities are hiding. They wedge into the hardest spot to get to in order to cause cavities. If you do not feel that snap then you are not getting that spot clean.

Don’t get me wrong here. I love it when people use the little pipe cleaner jobs. However, I am starting to see more and more folks that are getting cavities that say to me,

How is that possible?!
I am using those pipe cleaners all the time.

Use these cool new gadgets just don’t let them replace the floss.