Types of dental floss - Alternatives to traditional yarn

Traditional dental floss

Normally, dental floss is available in small plastic boxes containing a roll of tape neatly wrapped around itself, with a length varying from 10 to 50 meters.

The container is equipped with a small cutting edge placed at one end, indispensable for cutting pieces of wire of the desired length.

As an alternative to the common "skein", dental floss can be found in the form of a fork, needle thread, brush, vibrating instrument, gum stimulator and wooden wedge.

Interdental "thread tension" fork

It is a very special Y-shaped plastic tool, extremely convenient and simple to use. The dental floss, already cut and ready for use, is mounted horizontally on the two arms of the bow.

There are different fork variants:

• Some are disposable, no longer than 10 cm: after using dental floss on all teeth, the fork must be thrown into the trash.
• Other types of floss are mounted on reusable plastic rods, as long as a traditional toothbrush. These instruments are equipped with interchangeable heads, so after an application they must be replaced with a new dental floss.

The Y-fork is suitable for reaching difficult areas and for cleaning narrow interdental spaces; this oral cleaning tool facilitates the use of dental floss in people with disabilities or in patients with limited manual skills.

Needle Passafilo

The thread guide needle is a flexible alternative to the classic interdental cord, specifically designed to facilitate thread insertion under bridges or between capsules and dental crowns. This particular dental floss is also indicated to remove food fragments trapped in the plates of fixed orthodontic appliances.

Dental floss in flakes

Similar to the previous needle-threading needle, flossed dental floss is indicated for removing plaque and food residues in subjects with dental prostheses or with fixed orthodontic appliances. More generally, this dental floss is indicated in all those cases in which it is not possible to push the tape into the interdental space through the point of contact of the teeth. The dental floss is composed of three different sections:

1. Rigid and rather pointed part, to be inserted in the interstices (between two adjacent teeth)
2. Spongy section (central), passes under the dental bridge
3. "Traditional" wire segment, to be used as a normal traditional wire

Floss floss is extremely advantageous because it allows the elimination of dirt between the teeth, between the plaques (and below) of the appliance and under the gum line.

Bong

Even the brush can be defined as a sort of multi-equipped dental floss. It is an instrument similar to a thin toothbrush, with a cylindrical or conical head.

The cone (or cylinder) has a central semi-flexible metal core, in which bristles of different length and thickness are set. The brush must be used by exercising horizontal movements (back and forth) in the interdental spaces. It is very important to choose the brush suitable for your tooth structure to avoid forcing the gingival furrow too much, creating unnecessary bleeding or swelling. For this reason, it is advisable to delegate the choice of dental floss to the dentist.

Gingival stimulator

Structurally, this variant of dental floss is comparable to a pipe cleaner. Unlike the latter, however, the gum stimulator has a conical or drop-shaped rubber or latex head.

The soft tip of the gum stimulator must be gently inserted between tooth and tooth; subsequently, the head must be guided in the massage of the gingiva by means of small and delicate rotary movements. The gingival stimulator is aimed in particular at favoring the blood circulation of the gums between tooth and tooth. Its regular use is recommended for patients who have a clear gingival resorption.

Vibrating dental floss

The "vibrating" variant of dental floss is an instrument capable of transmitting oscillatory movements along the thin ribbon. The aim is to facilitate the penetration of the wire into the narrower interdental spaces. In this way, the vibrating wire simplifies the cleaning of the teeth, making the insertion of the same less painful. This bizarre instrument, in fact, allows the pressure exerted by the dental floss on the teeth to be calibrated, minimizing the risk of traumatizing the gum.

Wooden or plastic wedge

Even toothpicks are a "rudimentary" variant of traditional dental floss.

Generally, interdental wedges made of wood or silicone have a triangular section to perfectly adapt to the natural structure of the space between tooth and tooth. They are also available enriched with fluorine. The relative flexibility of wooden wedges makes it possible to reach the narrowest surfaces. Wooden wedges are particularly suitable when you are away from home and you cannot use dental floss.