Good oral hygiene keeps your teeth, molars and gums healthy. Brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day with fluoride toothpaste forms the basis for this. You cannot properly clean the spaces between teeth with a toothbrush alone. You can use toothpicks, brushes and/or dental floss for this. Ask your dental care provider for advice whether it is necessary for you and which aid is most suitable for you.

On and between teeth and molars, a white-yellowish layer forms that you can hardly see and that is called dental plaque. It mainly consists of bacteria and products of bacteria.
If the plaque is not removed regularly, the bacteria can cause gum disease in addition to cavities. Dental plaque that is not removed can calcify into tartar. New plaque easily adheres to the rough tartar. A gingivitis usually does not hurt and the only characteristic is that the gums start to bleed. The inflammation of the gums can spread and affect the underlying jawbone, which often does not hurt either. The dentist and dental hygienist can measure the health of your gums.

Use the tools that you have selected in consultation with your professional.
Be the easiest to use toothpicks. These are originally made of wood and triangular, but nowadays also round, made of soft rubber with protrusions.
Cleaning in larger areas brushes the most thorough, these are bristles on a wire of various sizes and types. Consult with your professional which brushes and stokers are best for you.

Dental floss and dental floss may be necessary when space is limited for the other tools. In particular, these tools can be very useful to fight the dirt and tartar between the front teeth. There are also special floss holders on the market that make handling easier.

At first, using tools between your teeth may be difficult and painful. The gums bleed easily because they are still inflamed. If you use the tools daily (and after your teeth have been professionally cleaned by your dentist, dental hygienist or prevention assistant), the inflammation disappears and it may take a few days for the bleeding to stop.

Hold the toothpick or brush between your thumb and forefinger and push it from the outside between the teeth and molars. With the other fingers you support against the adjacent teeth. This prevents you from slipping.

The triangular wooden toothpick is placed with the flat side on the gums.

The purpose of a brush is that some resistance is encountered during use, but that the iron wire does not touch the teeth. When used in the back of the mouth, more space is created when the mouth is slightly closed, so that the cheeks are less tense. Move the toothpick or brush back and forth a few times. Let the movement happen.

It is also possible to clean a room from multiple angles. Check with your professional to make sure you're using the right techniques.

1. Wrap a large 40 cm piece of wire around one (middle) finger of each hand and keep 3 centimeters in between or use a holder with a fixed wire in between.

2. Saw through the contact point of two teeth.

3. Bend the wire around one of the surfaces to below the gum and then scrape/shovel one side clean. Keep contact with the side while doing so.

Let the dentist or dental hygienist demonstrate the movement, flossing is the most technique-sensitive and not very effective without instruction

If you cannot bring the floss through the contact point between your teeth (for example with a bridge or fixed braces), a bridge needle can offer a solution.

bridge needleand are plastic needles with a large eye to thread a dental floss through to clean under a bridge or other facilities.
super floss is a piece of dental floss with a thickening in the middle and as a start the thread is hardened to clean under a bridge or other facilities.

Please note: incorrect use of oral hygiene aids can damage teeth and gums.