Floss, Interdental Brushes or Water Flosser? How to Clean Between Your Teeth
- Star Light Dental
- February 26, 2026
- [email protected]
A toothbrush, however good, cleans only about two thirds of each tooth. The remaining third, the sides where teeth touch, is exactly where most adult decay and nearly all gum disease begin. Cleaning between your teeth once a day closes that gap.
The good news is that floss is no longer the only option, and for many people it is not even the best one.
1. Why Cleaning Between Teeth Matters
Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that reforms within hours. Left between the teeth, it produces acid that causes decay and toxins that inflame the gums. After a day or two it begins to harden into tartar, which no brush or floss can remove. That takes a professional scale and clean.
Bleeding gums, bad breath that keeps returning and cavities between the teeth that show up on X-rays are all signs that those gaps are being missed.
2. How to Floss Properly
- Take about 40 centimetres of floss and wind most of it around your middle fingers, leaving a few centimetres to work with.
- Ease it between the teeth with a gentle back-and-forth motion. Do not snap it down onto the gum.
- Curve it into a C shape around one tooth and slide it gently under the gumline.
- Move it up and down against the side of the tooth several times, then do the same on the neighbouring tooth.
- Use a fresh section for each gap.
If that is awkward, floss picks and floss holders make it much easier, and they are far better than not flossing at all.
3. When Interdental Brushes Work Better
Interdental brushes are tiny bottle brushes that slide between the teeth. For anyone with visible gaps, gum recession, bridges, braces or implants, research shows they remove more plaque than floss, and most people find them easier to use.
Size matters. The brush should fit snugly without being forced, and most mouths need two or three different sizes. We can measure your gaps at a check-up and tell you which ones to buy. Replace each brush when the bristles become worn, usually after a week or so.
4. Are Water Flossers Worth It?
A water flosser uses a pulsing jet of water to flush out food and loose plaque. It is a good option for people with braces, bridges, implants, arthritis or limited dexterity, and for anyone who simply will not use floss.
It is less effective than floss or interdental brushes at removing the sticky plaque that clings to the tooth surface, so treat it as an addition or a fallback rather than a full replacement.
5. My Gums Bleed When I Floss. Should I Stop?
No. Bleeding is a sign of inflammation caused by plaque that has been sitting there, not a sign that you are causing damage. With gentle daily cleaning it usually settles within one to two weeks.
If your gums are still bleeding after two weeks of consistent cleaning, book a check-up. Persistent bleeding is the most common early sign of gum disease, which is far easier to treat early.
6. Making It a Habit
- Clean between your teeth once a day, ideally at night.
- Do it before you brush, so the fluoride in your toothpaste can reach between the teeth.
- Keep the floss or brushes next to your toothbrush where you can see them.
- Pick the tool you will actually use. The best interdental cleaner is the one that gets used every day.
- Children need help from the time two teeth touch.
Not Sure What Suits Your Teeth?
At your next check-up at Star Light Dental in Prestons, ask us to show you. We can size interdental brushes for your gaps and demonstrate the technique in a couple of minutes. Call (02) 9432 2833 or book online.