interdental
1
6.7
- adjective
- /ˌɪntərˈdɛntəl/
- Specialized
- The hygienist showed me how to use an interdental brush for better oral care.
Examples
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The interdental space can trap food particles.
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Some sounds in English, like 'th', are produced with an interdental tongue position.
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Food particles often get stuck in interdental spaces, so flossing is important.
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She showed me how to use an interdental cleaner effectively.
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For optimal dental care, use interdental brushes to clean the spaces between your teeth.
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The dentist recommended a specific interdental product to maintain good oral hygiene.
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Patients should consider using interdental cleaners to prevent plaque buildup between their teeth.
Surface Forms
Morphology
interdental = dental (transparent) = inter + dent + al
Formed by prefixing 'inter-' to 'dental', producing the geographic/positional meaning 'between the teeth'.
Etymology
Interdental comes from inter- 'between' and dental 'relating to teeth'. So something called interdental, such as an interdental brush, fits or happens 'between the teeth', which is why flossing cleans interdental spaces.