All / Teeth / Floss and interdental brushes
Clean between teeth daily, before brushing.
Interdental brushes where the gap fits one; they may reduce gum inflammation more than floss.
Floss or tape for tight gaps. Soft, multi-strand floss is gentler on gums.
Floss and interdental brushes
TePe Original interdental brushes
Interdental brushes remove plaque between teeth where they fit, and may reduce gum inflammation more than floss. TePe is a standard dental-practice brand with color-coded sizes.
Mixed pack
Buy on AmazonWorth knowing
- Start with the mixed pack, then buy the sizes that fit.
What we ruled out
PTFE-coated floss (e.g. Oral-B Glide). Glide use was associated with higher blood levels of a PFAS chemical in a 2019 study. An association, not proof, but PFAS-free floss costs the same.
Water flossers. Expensive and bulky, with weaker evidence than brushes.
Sources
- Delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention, chapter 2 summary tables, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, NHS England (2021)
- Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal diseases and dental caries (CD012018), Cochrane (2019)
- Serum concentrations of PFASs and exposure-related behaviors in African American and non-Hispanic white women, Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology 29:206-217 (2019)