An analysis of interdental cleaning habits

A study using a method of questioning regarding the interdental cleaning habits of 766 patients in the Periodontics Department of the Brisbane Dental Hospital revealed: 1. Only 11.5 percent used an interdental aid once or more daily. 2. Only 14.3 percent of those who had received regular dental treatment used an aid at least once daily. 3. Thirty percent of patients who had received regular dental treatment had received some instruction in the use of interdental aids. 4. Significantly more patients receiving periodontal treatment used an aid once daily. 5. There was no difference between institutional and private practice patients in the use of an aid, but more of the last named continued to follow instructions in their use. 6. Significantly more daily users of woodsticks than of dental floss were found. These findings demonstrate a major defect in dental health communication in the sample studied which is probably reflected in a more widespread fashion in a broad cross section of the population.