Adjustable pressure settings definitely help, but I'd be cautious about relying too heavily on interdental brushes alone. They're great for some situations, sure, yet I've seen patients unintentionally irritate their gums when they're too aggressive. Gentle technique matters just as much as the tool itself...
That's a good point about being gentle—I've definitely learned that lesson the hard way myself. I used to think pressing harder meant cleaner teeth, but all it got me was sore gums and a lecture from my dentist, ha. Now I'm wondering if anyone's tried switching between interdental brushes and water flossers? Maybe alternating could help avoid irritation...? Curious if that's something dentists generally recommend or if it's just personal preference.
I've actually tried alternating between interdental brushes and a water flosser for my kiddo, and honestly, it seems to help. At first, we stuck strictly to brushes, but his gums got irritated pretty fast. Then we switched to a water flosser—way gentler, but sometimes it just doesn't feel like it's getting everything out, ya know? So now we alternate days, and it seems like the best of both worlds. Not sure if dentists officially recommend this, though...maybe someone here has asked their dentist about it?
Have you tried just using softer interdental brushes instead of alternating? My daughter had similar gum irritation issues, and switching to a smaller, softer brush really helped ease the discomfort. Water flossers are gentle, sure, but I agree they don't always feel thorough enough. Might be worth asking your dentist about brush sizes or softness levels...could simplify things without needing to alternate every day.
"Might be worth asking your dentist about brush sizes or softness levels...could simplify things without needing to alternate every day."
Did your daughter find relief pretty quickly after switching brushes? My son has been dealing with similar gum irritation issues for a while now, and honestly, it's been stressing me out. We've tried water flossers too, but like you mentioned, they just don't feel thorough enough. I've been hesitant about interdental brushes because I worry about causing him more discomfort—he's already pretty sensitive about brushing. Did your dentist specifically recommend a certain softness level or size, or did you just experiment until you found one that worked? I'm thinking of bringing this up at our next appointment, but it helps to know what's worked for others first.
