By Beth Parkes, RDH, BSc, Manager of Clinical Affairs for Curion
As dental professionals, we've long emphasized the importance of interdental cleaning to our patients, with flossing often being our go-to recommendation. However, recent research suggests it's time to expand our toolkit and reconsider our approach to interdental cleaning recommendations.
Let's talk about what the evidence shows. Studies indicate that flossing, while not harmful, may not be as effective as we once thought. In fact, research shows that unsupervised flossing often doesn't result in significant reductions in gingival inflammation. The reality? Most people find flossing technically challenging, especially in areas with tight contact points, leading to poor compliance rates of only 10-30% among adults.
Enter interdental brushes (IDBs). The European Federation of Periodontology workshop clearly states that "cleaning with interdental brushes is the most effective method for interproximal plaque removal." Multiple systematic reviews have demonstrated that IDBs significantly improve clinical parameters like plaque scores, bleeding scores, and probing depth compared to brushing alone. The secret to their success? They're easier to use, show higher patient acceptance, and can reach up to 2-2.5mm below the gingival margin.

Studies demonstrate that using appropriately sized interdental brushes can reduce interdental bleeding by an impressive 46% in just one week and 72% within three months. Curion’s ez interdental brushes that come in 6 different sizes, are an excellent choice. These ensure you get the perfect fit for your interdental spaces, which is a crucial factor that floss simply can't match. Their non-slip grip makes them easy to control and provides easy access. In addition to clinical efficacy, the thoughtful design of the ez brush is also environmentally conscious. They use up to 65% less plastic than leading brands and incorporate recycled materials. 100% recycled plastic was used for the handle and 50% for the protective cap. This thoughtful design doesn't compromise the proven benefits while addressing environmental concerns.
Recent innovations like the new rubber interdental pick called Stimmie, was created by a Canadian dental hygienist named Stephanie Nightengale, and has shown very promising results as well. This new innovative interdental tool and gum stimulator is offering similar effectiveness to traditional IDBs with potentially even greater patient comfort and compliance.

Steph Nightingale, RDH
Stimmie founder Steph Nightingale, is an experienced dental hygienist who specializes in complex periodontal cases with a people-first approach. Like many dental professionals, she was all too familiar with patients expressing disdain for flossing. Rather than lecture, she found success using rubber tips to demonstrate plaque control.
“It’s everything these patients do in between their intervals that truly matters.”
After her own grafting surgery highlighted the need for a better on-the-go solution than traditional toothpicks, she created stimmie to help people manage plaque control anywhere, anytime.

In summary, Do I believe we should abandon floss entirely? Absolutely not. Instead, we should adopt a more personalized approach to interdental cleaning recommendations. For patients with tight contacts and intact papillae, floss might still be appropriate. However, for those with wider embrasures, periodontal issues, or implants, IDBs could be the better choice. The key is to match the tool to the patient's specific needs, dexterity, and motivation levels.
As professionals, we need to stay current with evolving evidence while remaining sensitive to our patients' established habits and preferences. By understanding and sharing the latest research, we can help our patients make informed decisions about their interdental cleaning methods and ultimately achieve better oral health outcomes.
Check out the study linked below and let us know what you think!
Want to know more?
Watch RDH View’s Jan 10th interview with Steph Nightingale
Watch Interview
Or visit:
https://curion.ca/products/ez-interdental-brushes
https://curion.ca/products/stimmie
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6630384/#notes2
Ng E, Lim LP. An Overview of Different Interdental Cleaning Aids and Their Effectiveness. Dent J (Basel). 2019 Jun 1;7(2):56. doi: 10.3390/dj7020056. PMID: 31159354; PMCID: PMC6630384.

Beth Parkes, RDH, BSc
beth@curion.ca