Toothpick or dental floss: which one to choose?

Surely everyone knows that it is very important for the health of your teeth and oral cavity to take care of them regularly. And if the basic care - the use of a toothbrush - does not cause any special questions and difficulties, then a more thorough and scrupulous one already requires more attention. In particular, regular cleaning of interdental spaces plays an important role in the prevention of caries. But what is the best way to carry out such a hygienic procedure? The most popular means for this are toothpicks and floss (dental floss). But which one is better to choose? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each method?

The Importance of Interdental Cleaning

A toothbrush is not able to clean all the surfaces of your teeth perfectly. Of course, it must be used 2 times a day. But in addition to it, you need to clean the interdental spaces.

The bristles of the brush cannot penetrate the narrow crevices in such a way as to clean all plaque and possible food debris from them. That is why interdental caries is a very common problem. Many people simply forget to take care of this hard-to-reach part, which causes the gums to bleed, and discomfort and even pain can be added to this symptomatology over time. And carious changes subsequently require dental treatment.

Proper hygiene will help to avoid these unpleasant consequences.

Toothpicks: Main Advantages and Disadvantages

Toothpicks have been popular among people since ancient times. Now they can be made of different materials, including wood or plastic. They can have a straight or rounded tip, sometimes the second part of the toothpick is equipped with a brush, and sometimes a small piece of dental floss on a slingshot. The latter option is also known as flossers, and it is often used as an alternative to regular dental floss. But as a rule, it is not always convenient to brush your teeth with such a section, and if you do not have the skills to use it, it is easier to injure the gums.

A toothpick is quite easy to use, it can easily pry a large piece of food stuck between the teeth. But it also has quite a few drawbacks, including:

• inability to remove all plaque;
• difficulty in removing small food residues and contaminants in hard-to-reach places;
• ease of injury to the gums.

In addition, wooden products can split and leave splinters.

As such, toothpicks can be a pocket-sized option for one-time use. They are easy to take with you to a café or restaurant, to visit and on a trip.

Floss or dental floss: efficiency and convenience

To make high-quality dental floss, artificial fibers (for example, nylon or nylon) are used, to which silk can be added. Such material can be waxed (additionally impregnated with wax for easy gliding) and non-waxed. As practice shows, unwaxed products are excellent for removing plaque and food debris even from extremely narrow interdental spaces.

Threads with fragrances for fresh breath or with bamboo charcoal for additional destruction of bacteria are very popular. Doctors advise using such products after meals. They will also be indispensable for morning and evening oral hygiene.

Threads have many advantages:

• gently clean the gaps without injuring the gums (provided that they are used correctly);
• prevent the growth of bacteria in the mouth, reducing the risk of carious changes and inflammatory processes;
• can be used even in children (under adult supervision).

Everyone can choose the perfect floss option for themselves, taking into account their own preferences and the recommendations of the dentist.