Read more about flossing in our guide about how to floss and the best products to use. Can interdental brushes damage gums?

Interdental brushes are specially designed to clean between teeth and reach other areas that a regular toothbrush can't. Many people find that using an interdental toothbrush is easier than flossing, while others do both as part of a thorough oral hygiene routine. Most interdental brushes, like the TePe brand, are made from plastic. The handle is polypropylene and the brush is a mix of different plastics. Truthbrush also offers a subscription service at a discounted price, so you can have new interdental brushes delivered periodically. A completely different option would be to invest in a water flosser, an electronic device which shoots a high-powered jet of water to clean between the teeth (think of it like an electric interdental brush). Are they as effective as manual interdental brushing or flossing? Perhaps not quite, but the big brands like Philips and Oral-B are improving their technology all the time. An added bonus is that they are much less fiddly to use, so you're more likely to keep up daily use. You should use your interdental brush to clean between teeth in this way once a day, while still brushing in the normal way twice a day. See our teeth-brushing guide for more about how to brush your teeth properly.Interdental brushes are small brushes specifically designed to clean between your teeth. Interdental brushes can be used as an alternative to flossing. There are some studies that show that daily interdental brushing is more effective than daily flossing at removing plaque. Can you recycle interdental brushes? You can recycle the plastic handle of interdental brushes. You just have to separate the brush from the handle with pliers or some other tool. How often should you change an interdental brush? Try inserting the brush from the inside (next to the tongue or the roof of the mouth) rather than the outside

If you're new to between-teeth brushing, or you want to know whether you're doing it correctly, you probably have questions along these lines: You might be wondering whether an interdental brush can replace string floss – especially if you find traditional floss quite difficult to use. Well, the good news is that various studies have shown that using interdental brushes is an effective alternative to flossing. Interproximal brushing can even be more effective at removing plaque than regular flossing, according to this research. Just like a normal toothbrush, you should rinse interdental brushes after each use to keep them clean. Should you use toothpaste with interdental toothbrushes? Used correctly, interdental brushes should clean plaque from the gumline between teeth but shouldn't cause any damage to the gums. However, it may take a few days to get the hang of it. Gently press the brush into the space between two teeth, along the gum. Twisting the brush slightly as you insert it can make insertion easier and also extend the life of the brush.So, now you know how to use interdental brushes, but which is the best brand and type for you? Below we cover some of the biggest brands in the UK, as well as some lesser-known ones which offer different features. TePe interdental brushes Interdental toothbrushes come in different sizes to fit different sized gaps between teeth. Some are disposable, whereas others consist of a longer handle and replaceable brush heads. We're going to go into more detail about these different options later on so you can work out which is the best interdental brush for your needs. Interdental brushes vs floss