Dental Picks

The standard interdental cleaning device is the dental floss introduced by a dentist in Texas and marketed by Johnson and Johnson. It is packaged in a spool of nylon thread contained in a small package with a thread cutter. Available in waxed or unwaxed nylon or teflon, a string of about 10 inches is pulled and cut, wrapped around the first finger of each hand and with the thumbs is held tightly and pressed between the contacts of two teeth. Then it is rowed back and forth in the triangular space and removed by pulling out the thread to one side or snapped back through the contacts. 

Problems.

Very laborious. Not practical for use in public places. Most common waxed floss leaves instant plaque behind. All can break, sometimes difficult to retrieve. All can cut the gums, causing bleeding. Can't be used between most bridgework without an accessory. Pushed on patients by dental professionals without demonstration of alternatives. Difficult to use by most older patients due to loss of dexterity. 

An Alternative.

The Doctor's Brush Picks, an 3 inch plastic pick, tapered to a rounded point on one end and tiny bristles on the other, flexible. Extremely useful, public and private. No breakage. Does not leave debris. I use about six of these a day. Available from DENTIST.NET. Get a couple of travel 40 ct travel packs and a few 250 ct drums. I am not an agent.