This review looked at how interdental brushes work for people wearing fixed braces. The main goal was to see if these small brushes help keep gums healthy and clean. They compared using these brushes to just flossing or using special orthodontic toothbrushes.
The results showed that adding interdental brushes could reduce plaque and gum inflammation. This effect was even better when combined with special orthodontic toothbrushes. However, using monotufted brushes or water flossers did not show clear advantages over other methods.
Safety issues were rarely reported in the studies. The main problem is that the studies were very different from each other. They used different ways to measure gum health and followed patients for only a short time. This makes it hard to be sure about the best treatment.
More high-quality studies with longer follow-up are needed. Doctors need better data before making strong recommendations. Right now, the information only gives us a tentative idea of what might work best.