Am I doing it wrong?

My dentist gave me a pack after teeth cleaning and she said
I could use them multiple times

I can’t use them, my teeth are too close set. I discovered this when I bought a well known brand - the smallest, as recommended by my dentist - and “flossed” away, and the little wand came out completely bare, not a single bristle left on it. I contacted the company and they tested the rest of the pack. Nothing wrong with them, apparently, and they are laboratory tested to last, if I remember correctly, for over 70 uses. I bought a water flosser after that.

I’m still wondering where all those little plastic bristles are….

I used to use TePe but I don't like the metal core so I now use Wisdom brushes which are a plastic core with rubber filaments. They come in a range of sizes dependent on your tooth spacing just like the TePe ones. I cannot use floss because many my pairs of adjacent teeth almost or actually touch each other at the top and have a brushable/flossable gap only down near the gum. I cannot get the floss in and if I do, it shreds to pieces as I struggle to get it out again.

It’s very easy to keep them safe to use several times (imho). Just wash them after each use and dunk them in hydrogen peroxide or strong saline solution every few days. I’ve been doing that for years!

I try to remember to change mine for a new one every 7 days.
I would not pay for them if they were only one-use.

steve allen, night time presenter on LBC, buys multipacks of socks from costco.
he never washes them, just throws them away each day.
you are both right.

They are better than floss - lots of evidence for this now.

No. You don't need a new one every day. That's why the interdental brushes come with a cover.

rockgran yes, they clear all the rubbish out of the tiny interstices between the teeth in a way a toothbrush cannot.

According to the manufacturer you can reause them until they become distorted but at least a week. Are they really any different to a toothbrush in terms of hygiene?

Not sure about using them just the once. It would work out quite pricey.

I think many use them until they start wearing thin. I'll use one for a week or so.

However, as for who is right I'd say you both are, Oldwoman70!

Whatever suits you

You only need to change them when the filaments are worn.

www.tepe.com/uk/tips-and-advice/your-teeth/how-to-use-interdental-brushes/

I think you are right Oldwoman70