Interdental brushes, picks and floss for beginners

Never used an interdental brush or pick before? Everything you need to know to start safely and effectively.

This page is for people who have never used interdental cleaning tools — things used to clean between the teeth, such as interdental brushes, wooden picks or floss.

Do I even need this?

It depends. Not everyone does.

Children with baby teeth: usually not needed.[1,2] Good toothbrushing is usually enough to keep gums inflammation-free.[3] Baby teeth often have little space between them.[4]

Teenagers and young adults: usually not needed either.[2] If you brush well and have healthy gums, brushing is often enough.

Adults: especially if your gums bleed or feel irritated, this can really help.[5]

Why this difference?
In young people and children, good brushing instruction usually does the trick. In adults with inflamed gums, cleaning between the teeth can make all the difference.

What do I choose: brushes, picks or floss?

Interdental brushes and picks are the easiest to learn. Floss also works well but takes more practice to master.[6]

Interdental brushes (e.g. GUM brushes, medium): small bristle brushes on a flexible handle. They fit easily between teeth and are flexible.[7]

Stim-u-dent wooden picks: wooden picks. Moisten them on your tongue first — they will soften.[8] This greatly reduces the risk of damaging your gums.

Choosing the right size: start with the smallest size you can find.[9] But not too thin — if it bends immediately, it will not work properly.[10]

Technique tip: Hold the brush or pick between your thumb and index finger. Rest your other fingers on your chin or cheek.[11] This gives you control and prevents you from accidentally jabbing your gums.

Remember: An imperfect brush that you use every day works ten times better than the perfect brush you never use.[12] Research shows that people stick with easy tools longer — and that is what matters most.[13,14]

What about floss?

Floss is useful when there is little space between the teeth.[15] It does need to be practised.[16]

Important with flossing: do not force the floss down between the teeth in one go. That damages the gums.[17] Instead: gently guide it to the contact point, then slide it down along the tooth with a gentle back-and-forth motion.[18]

Tip: Is there a food particle you cannot remove? Make a small knot in the floss — it will catch the debris.

With flossing more than with brushing, it is worth asking your dentist or dental hygienist for advice.

How do I start?

Slowly and gently. Be kind to yourself.

If your gums are irritated and you start too aggressively, it will hurt — and most people stop. So take it slowly: a little each day, very gently on difficult spots.

What can you expect?
After about a week of gentle daily practice, access already becomes easier. The bleeding and irritation will already be considerably reduced.[19,20]
After 2 weeks of daily use, gums are in most cases much calmer and bleed barely at all.[21,22]

Why does this work?

When your gums are inflamed due to food debris and bacteria between the teeth, they need time to recover. By cleaning gently between the teeth every day, you give them the chance to heal.

The first few days there may still be some bleeding — that is normal and a sign that inflammation was present. After a week the inflammation will have reduced significantly. After two weeks the gums are often calm and healthy again.[23]

This is because inflamed gum tissue can recover — just like a cut on your finger heals in about a week.

Important rule: When in doubt — always ask your own dentist. Your dentist is the only one who knows exactly which cleaning method is best for you. Everyone is different.[24]

Summary

  • Interdental brushes and picks are easier than floss
  • Start with the smallest size (but not too thin)
  • Always rest your fingers on your chin or cheek for control
  • Take it slowly: one to two weeks of practice
  • Bleeding at the start is normal — keep going
  • When in doubt: ask your dentist or dental hygienist
Scientific references
  1. Biesbrock AR, et al. (2025). Does interdental cleaning prevent caries in children and adolescents? Oralprophylaxe & Kinderzahnmedizin, 47(2).
  2. KIMO. Guideline oral care for youth. Interdental cleaning is an optional, situation-dependent addition.
  3. KNMT. Practical modules Youth. Focus on basic prevention and feasibility of self-care.
  4. Chen YW, et al. (2017). Prevalence of primate and interdental spaces for primary dentition in 3- to 6-year-old children in Taiwan. Journal of Dental Sciences, 12(4):390-396.
  5. Marchesan JT, et al. (2018). Interdental cleaning is associated with decreased oral disease prevalence. Journal of Dental Research, 97(7):773-778.
  6. Carrillo VG. (2024). Floss more in 2024. UT Health San Antonio. "The c-shape flossing technique takes time to learn like any new skill."
  7. Ng E, Lim LP. (2019). An overview of different interdental cleaning aids and their effectiveness. Dental Journal (Basel), 7(2):56.
  8. Stim-U-Dent Product Instructions. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. "Moisten thoroughly in mouth to soften wood."
  9. TePe Interdental Brush Instructions (2025). "Start with the smallest size and work your way up."
  10. Piksters Usage Guide (2024). "Choose a size that inserts without force."
  11. TePe Oral Health Care (2022). "Hold the interdental brush between your thumb and index finger, resting remaining fingers on the chin."
  12. Sunstar GUM Professional (2021). Interdental Cleaning, Extremely Important, but Still Underestimated.
  13. Sunstar GUM Professional (2020). Interdental Cleaning Compliance: Leverage the Evidence on Ease of Use.
  14. Wilson MG, et al. (1998). How patient compliance to suggested oral hygiene and maintenance affect periodontal therapy. Journal of Periodontology, 69(6):668-675.
  15. Thalmair T, et al. (2020). Evidence-based strategies for interdental cleaning. Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice, 20(3):101473.
  16. Carrillo VG. (2024). Flossing 101. UT Health San Antonio.
  17. Ross S. (2024). Flossing 101. Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials. "Don't jam or force the floss into your gums."
  18. American Dental Hygienists' Association. Proper Flossing Technique. "Gently guide floss between the teeth using a zig-zag motion."
  19. ACE Dental of Taylor (2025). How Long Does It Take for Gingivitis to Go Away? "Mild gingivitis may clear up within 7 to 14 days."
  20. Sandcreek Dental (2025). How Long Does it Take for Gingivitis to Heal? "Gingivitis can improve within 7 to 14 days."
  21. Waterpik Educational Resources (2019). How Long Will Gingivitis Take to Heal? "You can reverse gingivitis within about two weeks."
  22. Miami Periodontics (2025). Beat Periodontitis: Recovery Time. "Mild gingivitis may resolve within 10 to 14 days."
  23. Smith PC, et al. (2015). Gingival wound healing. Periodontology 2000, 68(1):83-103.
  24. Sunstar GUM Professional (2020). Helping Patients Adopt Interdental Cleaning. EFP 2020 guidelines: "Patient acceptance is crucial for sustained long-term use."

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