Flossing Alternatives

 What are the limitations of Flossing? 

• Flossing can be messy
• It’s time-consuming
• Sometimes painful
• Can cause bleeding
• Can damage the gums

So, we are always searching for loopholes for flossing. Following are some recent alternatives for flossing includes,

1. TePe interdental brush
2. Viajet Waterpik
3. Skinny and Co. Coconut Oil pulling

1) TePe interdental brush

An interdental brush is a small, soft, wire brush specially designed to clean in between your teeth. There isn’t a “best” interdental brush. They come in all shapes and sizes and are designed to fit between individual spaces between teeth.  However, as everyone’s mouth is unique, some people might be more comfortable with particular brands or types of tools. You may even need to use multiple sizes because not all of the spaces between your teeth are exactly the same.  

TePe interdental brushes are highly effective and easier to use than dental floss. Unlike dental floss, TePe interdental brushes don’t cause any damage to your gums while using them. Effective cleaning with TePe brushes prevents gum inflammation, bad breath and cavity formation. They come in all shapes and sizes so that it’s easy for you to choose the best tool suitable for the gap. You can insert the brush gently through the gap and move back and forth once or twice. Make sure to rinse the mouth thoroughly after use to flush away the debris. You may have to use several sizes to clean the whole mouth. To reach the back teeth you can simply bend the head of the brush. TePe gum brushes come in handy, and they are great tools for travel.

2) ViaJet Waterpik / oral irrigator

A Waterpik is another excellent way to remove unreachable plaque and calculi around the teeth. ViaJet’s Waterpik is especially useful for people with braces, implants, crowns, bridges, or other dental devices in the mouth where you cannot remove the accumulated plaque and debris around wirework or artificial teeth margins with a floss. A jet stream of water will gently flush the food debris and plaque trapped around the teeth and the dental devices.

Here’s how you can use ViaJet Waterpik.

Simply fill the reservoir with warm water and place it firmly on the base. Select a tip that’s right for you. Click firmly into the handle. If this is your first use, you’ll need to prime the pump. Start with the lowest pressure setting. Lean over the sink and place the tip in your mouth. Turn the unit and water it on. Close the lips partially to prevent splashing and let water flow from your mouth into the sink. Aim the tip at the gum line. For best results, start with your back teeth. Move along the gumline pausing briefly between teeth. Floss the front and back side of teeth for one minute a day with Waterpik. 

For people with a lack of manual dexterity due to arthritis, Viajet Waterpik is a great solution to replace any form of manual brushing and flossing. Thus, they are very helpful to prevent gum diseases caused by harmful bacteria.

Major drawbacks of ViaJet oral irrigators are, that they are more expensive than regular floss and not as effective as floss to remove the hard dental plaque and calculi.

3) Skinny and Co. Coconut Oil pulling

Oil pulling is an old ayurvedic practice in dental hygiene routine. Skinny and Co. Coconut oil pulling is now becoming a recent trend as an alternative to flossing to maintain the health of the mouth. Skinny and Co. Coconut oil contains mainly coconut oil and peppermint oil. You can simply take a tea-spoon-sized amount of the product and swish it around the mouth before brushing. It’s proven to be useful in many ways that it,

• Helps clean around the teeth by swishing action
• Freshens your breath while you swish
• Doesn’t contain any toxic chemicals. Instead, natural coconut oil has a lot of anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic properties.
• Is not harmful to your gums, enamel, and fillings

Indeed, the Infusion of natural oils and essential oils for your regular dental hygiene practices is an added benefit to having whiter teeth and stronger gums. However, vigorous swishing is not as efficient as mechanical flossing because sometimes pressure may not be enough to remove the clogged debris particles. Also, in order for this to be effective, one must swish with the oil for at least 30 minutes per use.  

Which interdental cleaning aid is best for me? 

Each interdental cleaning aid has its pros and cons. So, it’s up to you to weigh the advantages and disadvantages before choosing the alternative that suits you. It’s always better to consult with your dentist or dental hygienist to select the method of cleaning.

Start using an inter-dental cleaning aid today and protect your natural teeth for a lifetime.

*Note: This content is for informational purposes only. Pure Holistic Dental may receive commissions from affiliate links to products.