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Let’s be honest: brushing your teeth may be as routine as putting on socks every morning, but when was the last time you gave a thought to the spaces between your teeth? (No, picking out popcorn after a movie doesn’t count.) Skipping floss and those tiny interdental brushes might seem trivial, but your mouth has a whole different story to tell. Warning: this article may cause sudden appearances of guilt and a shopping list involving dental floss.
More Than Just Brushing: The Silent Corners of Your Smile
In most homes, the evening mantra goes something like: “Brush your teeth. Bathroom break. Off to bed!” Tooth brushing quickly becomes second nature from childhood—an essential, straightforward gesture tucked into our daily routines, especially in a world where sugary treats and sodas threaten our pearly whites at every turn, ready to pounce with cavities.
Luckily, our toothbrushes stand guard. But here’s the million-dollar question: is brushing alone enough for a healthy, sparkling mouth? On World Oral Health Day, experts suggest we look beyond the obvious and focus on our interdental spaces—the little no-man’s-land between teeth, regularly skipped during brushing. Those neglected zones can have real, tooth-trembling consequences. (Including, yes, the possibility of teeth becoming loose enough to come out.)
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Why Bother With Interdental Cleaning?
Ask around, and you’ll soon see just how many skip cleaning between their teeth. In France, for example, just barely over 10% of the population uses dental floss, according to the French Union for Oral Health (UFSBD). This stands in sharp contrast to Anglo-Saxon countries, where flossing is almost a cultural expectation.
Why the brush-off? Dr. Christophe Lequart, dental surgeon and national spokesperson for the UFSBD, says these habits simply aren’t well taught, so they’re not adopted.
And yet, as Vivian (a.k.a. Julia Roberts) in Pretty Woman knew over thirty years ago, taking care of those nooks and crannies matters. (Remember the scene where she pulls out floss to remove strawberry seeds stuck between her teeth and quips about not neglecting your gums?) With a toothbrush, you only clean three out of five surfaces per tooth: cheek side, tongue side, and the top—just about 60%. That leaves a party of plaque hiding in the gaps.
Give it a try: after brushing, run floss or an interdental brush between your teeth. Odds are, there’s still a crowd in there!
The Real Risks When You Skip
What actually happens if you skip flossing and interdental brushing? Brace yourself: “First, there’s a risk of developing cavities,” warns Dr. Lequart. When inspecting your molars after your kids go all-in on the candy, you only see the tip of the iceberg. Most people focus on the chewing surface, but cavities often start right between the teeth—where dental plaque likes to loiter.
Unfortunately, these cavities aren’t visible at first and, unless interdental cleaning or dental checks are part of the routine, they’re only spotted when significant damage is done.
Another major risk is the development of periodontal (gum) diseases. These affect the supporting tissues of teeth—gums, bone, and ligaments—and often cause pain, bleeding, or swollen gums. According to the UFSBD, trapped dental plaque increases the risk of gum inflammation, possibly triggering gingivitis. Leave that untreated, and it can become periodontitis, leading to loose (and even lost!) teeth.
Think this is rare? Think again. Periodontal diseases are the eleventh most common diseases in the world, per the UFSBD. The World Health Organization’s latest report states that 45% of the world’s population suffers from oral diseases, and severe periodontal disease—a leading cause of total tooth loss—affects one billion people globally.
Rethinking Your Oral Routine: Tips, Tools, and Timing
Time for a wellness check on your own habits. As for tooth brushing, we know the mantra: at least twice a day for two minutes, morning and night. “If you squeeze in a lunchtime brush, even better,” says Dr. Lequart. But that’s not all—interdental cleaning should be performed daily, right alongside brushing.
- You can opt for classic dental floss or interdental brushes—pick whichever suits you best.
- Nowadays, interdental brushes come in extra-fine sizes (from 0.6mm), so even closely packed teeth have options. There’s even floss fitted onto special holders to make usage easier.
Dr. Lequart explains the right technique: for floss, wind it around your fingers, gently move it between teeth, hug the tooth’s surface down to the gum without sawing into the gum itself, then slide the floss back up. For interdental brushes, a gentle back-and-forth does the trick. The golden “3F” rule? The brush should touch both teeth, not float, and not be forced. Don’t hesitate to ask your dentist which diameter is best for you.
You’ll find plenty of choice at the pharmacy, where staff are happy to help—but flossing regulars often know exactly what they want, usually sticking faithfully to their chosen product. Once you’ve found the perfect tool, it’s all about the timing: both floss and brushes should be used before brushing, not after. Why? This allows active ingredients in toothpaste—particularly fluoride—to protect those newly cleaned areas. After brushing, just spit, don’t rinse. If you floss after brushing, you end up removing the fluoride from where it’s most needed.
Oral care habits should start young. Ideally, clean between children’s teeth as soon as two touch—especially crucial when little ones snack on sugars. For toddlers, parents should handle interdental cleaning, using floss or a water jet. Once kids master brushing solo, they can take on the flossing frontier, too.
A Finish Worth Smiling About
Brushing your teeth is a heroic act worthy of a gold star, but giving some love to the spaces in between? Now that’s expert level. Armed with the right tool and the knowledge to use it, you’re not just keeping cavities and gum disease at bay—you’re truly taking charge of your oral health. So next time you reach for your toothbrush, remember: your teeth (and your dentist) are quietly cheering for that extra step. Happy flossing!
