Walk down the oral care aisle and you’ll find floss, tiny bottle-brush-shaped interdental brushes, and water flossers all claiming to do the same basic job. The truth is they’re not really competing products, they suit different mouths, and the right one for you mostly comes down to the size and shape of the gaps between your teeth, not how much you’re willing to spend.
Floss vs Interdental Brushes vs Water Flosser at a Glance
| String Floss | Interdental Brushes | Water Flosser | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | Tight, narrow gaps between teeth | Larger gaps, braces, or reduced dexterity | Around crowns, implants, and hard-to-reach spaces |
| Ease of use | Takes some technique to master | Simple to insert and use | Simple, no threading required |
| Reusability | Single use per section | Reusable until bristles wear out | Reusable device, ongoing use |
| Good for braces | Difficult with fixed braces | Well suited to braces | Well suited to braces |
None of these options is universally “better.” The Australian Dental Association’s guidance on cleaning between the teeth lists string floss, flossettes, interdental brushes, and water flossers as all valid ways to clean between your teeth. The right choice depends on your own mouth, not on which product is marketed as the most advanced.
Why Gaps Matter More Than the Product Itself
Every mouth has different-sized spaces between teeth, and that’s really the deciding factor here. A few reasons this matters:
- Floss works well in tight spaces where a thicker interdental brush simply won’t fit between the teeth at all.
- Interdental brushes are better suited to larger gaps, since floss can slide straight through without actually cleaning the tooth surfaces properly.
- Water flossers can reach spaces that are awkward for either floss or brushes, particularly around crowns, bridges, and implants.
- Gaps aren’t always uniform throughout your mouth, so it’s common to need more than one tool, or more than one size of the same tool.
Teeth.org.au, the Australian Dental Association’s patient resource, notes that not cleaning between your teeth can cause your gums to become inflamed and bleed, regardless of which specific tool is used to prevent it. The goal is consistent daily cleaning, and the method is genuinely secondary to that.
Why “Better” Depends on the Person, Not the Product
It’s tempting to assume one option is objectively superior to the others, but the evidence points more toward “whichever one you’ll actually use correctly and consistently.” A water flosser that sits unused in a drawer does nothing for your gums, while string floss used properly every single day does plenty.
If you’ve struggled to stick with flossing in the past, that’s often more about finding the right tool for your hands and your specific gaps than about willpower or discipline.
This is also why a dentist won’t usually push one option over another without first looking at your mouth. What suits a patient with tightly spaced front teeth and no dental work is genuinely different from what suits a patient with an implant, a bridge, or fixed braces.
String Floss: Still the Standard for Tight Spaces
Traditional string floss remains a solid choice, particularly where teeth sit close together. SA Dental’s guidance on cleaning between your teeth describes the technique as sliding floss gently between teeth and using a see-saw motion up and down each side, which lets it reach slightly under the gumline where a toothbrush can’t.
A few things worth knowing about floss specifically:
- It requires some technique to use correctly, and it’s worth asking your dentist or hygienist to check your method at a check-up.
- It’s inexpensive and doesn’t require any device or ongoing purchase beyond the floss itself.
- It can be more fiddly for people with limited hand dexterity, which is often where the next two options work better.
- Flossettes, a small floss holder on a plastic handle, are a helpful middle ground for people who find loose string floss awkward.
If you’re currently in Invisalign or another form of orthodontic treatment, cleaning between your teeth becomes even more important, since food and plaque can build up around aligners and attachments more easily than usual. Your dentist can advise on which interdental tool suits your specific setup during treatment.
Interdental Brushes: A Practical Alternative for Larger Gaps
A few practical notes worth keeping in mind:
- The bristles should fit firmly but comfortably, without needing to be forced into place.
- You may need more than one brush size, since gaps between teeth aren’t always the same size throughout your mouth.
- They’re reusable until the bristles look worn or the wire bends or twists, at which point it’s time to replace them.
- A gentle twisting motion tends to work better than pushing straight in.
If you’ve noticed gum changes that might affect the size of your gaps over time, our guide to gum recession and what causes it is worth a read, since receding gums can sometimes mean a different, often larger, brush size becomes more appropriate than what you were using previously.
Water Flossers: Useful Around Restorations and Hard-to-Reach Spots
Water flossers use a targeted stream of water to clean between teeth and along the gumline, and they’re often recommended specifically for cleaning around dental work.
If you have dental implants or other restorative work, it’s worth asking your dentist whether a water flosser might suit your specific situation, since keeping the area immediately around an implant clean is part of maintaining it over the long term. A few other situations where a water flosser tends to be genuinely useful:
- Around fixed bridges, where floss threading can be difficult without a specific tool.
- For anyone with reduced hand dexterity who finds manoeuvring floss or a brush physically difficult.
- As a supplement to, rather than a full replacement for, brushing and other interdental cleaning.
What If Your Gums Bleed While Cleaning Between Your Teeth?
Bleeding gums when flossing or using an interdental brush is common, particularly if you haven’t been cleaning between your teeth regularly. Teeth.org.au is clear on this point: it isn’t a reason to stop, since healthy gums generally don’t bleed, and bleeding is usually a sign that more consistent cleaning is needed, not less.
That said, if bleeding continues despite regular, correct cleaning over a couple of weeks, it’s worth mentioning at your next check-up and clean so your dentist can rule out another cause rather than assuming it will resolve on its own.
Common Questions About Choosing an Interdental Cleaning Method
Is a Water Flosser as Effective as Traditional Floss?
Both can be effective when used correctly and consistently, they simply suit different situations. A water flosser may be easier for some people to use regularly, which matters more in practice than which method is theoretically superior. This is general information, and your dentist can advise on what suits your specific gaps and any dental work you have.
Can I Switch Between Floss and Interdental Brushes Depending on the Day?
Yes, there’s no rule against using different tools for different teeth or different days, particularly if your gaps vary throughout your mouth. Individual routines vary considerably, and the main goal is consistent daily cleaning rather than sticking rigidly to one single method.
Do Interdental Brushes Damage Fillings or Crowns?
Used correctly, interdental brushes are generally safe around fillings and crowns, though technique does matter. If you’re unsure about your specific dental work, it’s worth asking your dentist directly rather than guessing, since individual circumstances and materials vary.
How Do I Know What Size Interdental Brush to Use?
Sizes vary depending on the gaps between your specific teeth, and you may need more than one size throughout your mouth. Your dentist or hygienist can help you work out the right sizes at your next visit, since this isn’t something to guess from a general description online.
Should Children Use Floss or Interdental Brushes?
This depends on the child’s age, dexterity, and the size of their gaps, and parents are generally advised to help younger children with cleaning between their teeth rather than leaving it entirely to them. As always, individual circumstances vary, and your dentist can advise what’s appropriate for your child specifically.
Is It Worth Using More Than One Type of Interdental Tool?
For many people, yes, since gaps and dental work aren’t uniform throughout the mouth. Some patients use floss for tighter front teeth and an interdental brush further back, for example. This is general guidance rather than a fixed rule, and your dental team can help you work out a combination that suits your own mouth.
Ask About the Right Interdental Tool at Newport Dental Centre
If you’re not sure whether floss, an interdental brush, or a water flosser suits your own gaps, it’s a quick and easy thing to ask about at your next visit. You can book an appointment online with Newport Dental Centre.
