Function of the Pipe Cleaner
Similarly to dental floss, the brush should be gently slid into the gap between tooth and tooth: in this way, food residues, plaque and bacteria are also removed from the interdental spaces inaccessible to the toothbrush.
When neither the brush nor the common dental floss are used regularly, the bacteria hidden in the plaque and trapped between two neighboring teeth remain and proliferate even in the case of regular and excellent use of the electric or traditional toothbrush.
How to choose the right brush
There are many types of brushes, distinguished according to the length of the handle and the characteristics of the bristles.On the market there are pipe cleaners equipped with bristles ranging in length from 1.9 mm to 2.7 mm. Some pipe cleaners have a handle as long as a traditional toothbrush; others, on the other hand - those for handbags - have a small head, fixed on retractable handles and equipped with a hygiene-saving box. There are also some disposable pipe cleaners, to be thrown into the garbage after a first application. More often, interchangeable brush heads are recommended, probably the cheapest and most efficient variant. These pipe cleaners can be reused 5-10 times; subsequently, the head is replaced with a new one, always keeping the same handle.
. The classic dental floss is undoubtedly more suitable for removing the remnants of food stuck between very narrow and reduced interdental fissures. The brush, while performing the same function, is more useful for cleaning large interdental spaces. For various reasons (such as for example the loss of teeth), as the "age advances the teeth begin to" make space ", thus creating large interdental gaps.For example, in case of dental crowding and crooked teeth, the brush is not recommended because the space between tooth and tooth prevents the instrument from performing its cleaning function properly. In such circumstances, floss will be able to remove dirt more easily.
It is recommended to delegate to the dental hygienist or your trusted dentist the choice of the most suitable instrument for interdental cleaning, be it a common interdental cord, a toothpick, a brush or any other type of dental floss.
, indicated for removing small pieces of food and plaque stuck in large interdental spaces. The wooden wedges are relatively flexible and their particular triangular section allows them to adapt perfectly to the natural structure of the interdental space. Unlike the plastic variant, these pointed wooden sticks tend to break easily; therefore, many patients report that they prefer plastic toothpicks, which have a significantly longer lifespan. The latter, however, have the disadvantage of being more rigid, consequently they do not adapt perfectly to the interdental space.
Compared to the alternatives described above, the brush is objectively better because it deeply cleans the space between tooth and tooth in a very delicate way. Furthermore, by exerting a greater action on the gum, the brush stimulates the microcirculation, revealing itself to be an extraordinary dental aid in the presence of receding gums.
