Floss vs Interdental Brushes vs Water Flossers: What UAE Dentists Actually Recommend

Twice-daily brushing cleans about 60% of tooth surfaces. The other 40% — the contact points between teeth — need a separate tool. Which tool depends on the gap. ### Traditional floss (waxed) Still the gold standard for tight contacts (adolescents, non-perio patients). Cheap, effective, portable. Technique matters more than brand — form a C-shape and hug each tooth. Rejected by most patients because it's tedious. ### Interdental brushes (TePe, Curaprox) Small wire brushes sized 0.4–1.5 mm. For anyone with even slight gum recession or wider embrasures (i.e., most adults over 35), these outperform floss in every clinical trial. **AED 25–40** per pack of six in UAE pharmacies. One brush lasts 5–7 days. Sizing: your dentist should tell you which colours you need for which gaps. Wrong size damages the papilla. ### Water flossers (Waterpik, Philips AirFloss) Great for orthodontic braces, bridges, implants. Reduces bleeding gums in 3 weeks in RCT data. Not a full replacement for floss/brushes in healthy tight contacts — the water stream skips over sub-gingival biofilm. ### The evidence hierarchy for a Dubai adult with mild recession 1. Interdental brushes nightly 2. Water flosser morning (2 minutes) 3. Floss only where interdental brushes don't fit ### Common UAE mistakes - Using floss picks (the plastic string is loose and traumatic on gum papilla) - Buying the wrong interdental brush size at Boots pharmacy without measurement - Water flosser at maximum pressure — causes recession over years Have your hygienist size and demonstrate at your next visit; most Dubai clinics include this in a AED 400 hygiene session.