Panic over use of Interdental brushes

[ForRarePombear]

Hi, I'm spiralling mentally over a fear I have damaged the enamel on two front teeth. Dentist told me I have gum disease and advised urgently to start using blue interdental brushes. I didn't realize you're not meant to force them into narrow gaps which is exactly what I did between my front tooth and the one next to it. It got stuck and I had to pull it out. Really scared the friction could have damaged the enamel, desperately hoping it's my OCD playing tricks. Anyone done similar or can reassure please?

When I had braces fitted the orthodontist used an electric file to shave the sides to make a thinner tooth... That file didn't even reach the enamel. A nylon brush most definitely won't have...Try not to worry...

I'm sure they're fine.

My hygienist recommends these as they're less "brutal" as well as a small-headed toothbrush.

Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. You won't have damaged it by using an interdental brush.

It's your OCD. The brushes are way too soft to damage enamel.

You do need to force them in to an extent - if they're too big for the gap they'll just bend and you won't get them in. The fact that you managed to get them in suggests they are the right size and you need to do the same each time. Your teeth will be fine, and your gums will thank you.

You know when you go to the hygienist and they use sharp metal scalers and polishers? If those don't damage your enamel, there's no way the soft interdental brushes do.

They come on different sizes and i can't get the smallest one between my teeth so I started using water pik

@ForRarePombear Try switching to a water flosser. Much easier to clean between your teeth with it. I use water and some mouthwash in mine as recommended by the dentist.

It's your OCD being a bastard again. Ignore him/her/it. The worst you'd have done is some minimal and very temporary gum damage (if you really made yourself bleed by ramming it around) and gums are excellent at healing that sort of thing. You may like to access some OCD help, and if you'd rather not do that you might like to read The OCD Handbook (or Workbook, can't reall) by Hyman and Pedrick. It's very good. Best of luck with it all.

Of course it’s your OCD. You haven’t damaged your tooth enamel with an interdental brush any more than you would damage, say, a stainless steel spoon with a sponge.

I agree with @CharlotteStreetW1 the TeePee ones are silicone and not so harsh. You might be better with the smaller orange ones if your gaps are small.

I recently bought a water flosser and wish I'd done it years ago as my teeth are awkwardly angled and catch food easily. Takes a bit of getting used to but it's very good and wasn't expensive.

I think the enamel is quite difficult to damage - it’s the hardest substance in the body

@ForRarePombear how do you use the mouthwash in it?

Its your OCD op....I was recommended to use these too. I doubt they'd sell them for the public to use if they could actually damage enamel like that.

You need to use smaller brushes. It's very unlikely you've damaged the enamel by tp-ing between the teeth. If so then the dentist can put some enamel/composite coating on there anyway. But please don't worry. It's virtually impossible to damage your teeth by doing a domestic oral hygiene routine. Unless you're really ridiculously vigorous and obsessive.

Thanks everyone, really grateful for your reassurance. A further concern is the tip is so damn sharp as it's metal and the idea I might have jabbed the enamel with the metal tip is stressing me out too.

Enamel is so strong, honestly, you can't have damaged your teeth with one, even with the metal tip

Is there a narrower one you could try?

Don't worry OP. I've been using them for years in pretty narrow and awkward gaps between my teeth with no damage to the tooth enamel. As for the sharp tip the only harm I've ever done with it was when my aim was faulty and I managed to jab my gum with it. You'll be fine.

It's ok, your enamel will be fine. The purpose of the brushes is to clean the enamel and keep your gums clean and healthy.

When I started using them I did find them pretty "brutal" and my gums were painful and sometimes bled a bit but that is normal and stops quite quickly as the gums adjust to the friction. A couple of my teeth were slightly wobbly where I had gum disease but once the brushes got rid of that I had nice strong guns and non wobbly teeth!

You may find you need more than one size of brush for different gaps. I have the blue ones for my side and back teeth but they are too big for my close together front teeth and get stuck. You might find it useful to get a small multipack with the different colours/sizes and experiment with finding the perfect fit. They are meant to be a tight fit, but not so tight that they get stuck!

A couple of posters have recommended water flossers too. They are good and I have one too and actually use both the flosser and the interdental brushes as my hygienist said that is the gold standard particularly if you are prone to plaque, which I am.

Get yourself a water flosser, they are called 'waterpik', they you don't need to use the brushes. They are great for tooth and gum hygiene 🙂

go down a size and try the red.

I need different sizes for different gaps, that's perfectly normal - and it will make a huge difference to your gum health.

Enamel is very similar to glass in strength. Do what you did to the mirror and you will see it isn’t hurt.

@FiveBarGate just fill the tank partway with water and add some mouthwash. It’s diluted but my dentist recommends that now as neat is too harsh for me according to him 😁

Thanks all, am blown away by these considerate and rational responses, I need my brain to accept what everyone is saying.

Wait, so you have tried using the blue Interdental brushes on your front teeth and they got stuck? Mine went in after a bit of pushing but got stuck when getting it out. Is that what happened to you?