“Should I brush first or floss first?” This question is asked everyday in every dental practice. If you are asking this, congratulations! You’ve already won. Because more than likely, you are doing both, which is what really counts. But what is the optimal sequence to get the best out of your daily smile chores – Brushing first or flossing first?
The arguments:
Brush First
Brushing first breaks up plaque on the teeth. Flossing afterwards will help remove this plaque while getting residual fluoride, left over from brushing, into the spaces between the teeth that brushing alone can’t reach.
Floss First
Flossing first will break up food particles in your teeth that can then be brush away. Fluoride can then reach the areas of your teeth that were previously blocked. Plus, flossing first gets it out of the way. Most people have been raised with the “Brush your teeth, then go to bed” mentality. Meaning, brushing your teeth is the last thing you do before you go to sleep. Flossing before brushing will keep you from skipping this important procedure.
Conclusion:
It’s a bit of a “chicken or the egg” conundrum. Most dentists agree: it really doesn’t matter which comes first. So see what best fits you and your lifestyle. Try flossing first for one week, then try brushing first for one week. See what feels best for you, your schedule and your teeth. As long as you are doing both, you’ll get good results. Mix in a couple of visits to your dentist each year and your smile will thank you!
Personally I don’t like to floss at all. I know that if I don’t floss before brushing I will never get it done. It’s funny to me that such a general dental question is split like that. Thanks for suggesting to try both ways and figure out which works best.
This is some really good information about how to take care of your teeth. I like that you talked about how doing either first is the help. It seems like it would be smart to ask your dentist if doing either one before the other will help.
This is a question that I ask myself every night when I brush and floss my teeth. I usually floss right before I brush, but I’ve heard of people doing the reverse for this process. It’s good to know that the order for cleaning my teeth doesn’t really matter, as long as I do this every day. Your explanation of how flossing removes food and debris from my mouth that blocks fluoride from reaching those spaces in my mouth is exactly how I feel about how flossing first is beneficial. After reading this, I feel better about the order I take to clean my teeth every night. Thanks for posting this!
Looks like a normal question but you write up very well about this, thanks for sharing.
I have never known whether to floss first or brush first. I’m glad to have your advice on the subject. I think there are some good arguments for both cases. Although most dentists agree that it really doesn’t matter like you mentioned, it comes down to personal preference. I think I will brush first, then floss, and then use a mouthwash to ensure that all of the food particles and plaque are brushed away. Thanks for sharing!
Firstly I want say very informative post. Good work and thanks for sharing with us. Second, as my opinion, sequence is not important, both brushing and flossing are important factors in daily life. They remove decay-causing plaque from teeth. But the most important thing is choose a toothbrush that gives you comfort feel in your hand and mouth. And brush your twice a day.
I like the idea that flossing first makes it easier to floss. That way you make a good habit of it. I think it just makes sense to floss first as well. It helps clean my teeth and gums better.