Should You Floss Before or After Brushing? (2024)

FAQs

Should You Floss Before or After Brushing? ›

Flossing before brushing helps strengthen your tooth enamel, making it more resistant to decay. A straightforward two-step dental care routine can wipe out plaque and fortify teeth.

A study out of The Journal of Periodontology in 2018⁽¹⁾ suggests that flossing first has notable benefits. In the study, flossing first led to a reduction in total plaque and an increase in fluoride concentration between the teeth that was statistically significant.

So sequentially flossing, using mouthwash and then brushing your teeth is the best order to follow for maximum results. But Dr. Catrise Austin, a dentist based in New York City, said she'd rather people regularly clean their teeth in any order than skip it because they don't know which order to follow.

The Best Time to Floss

Nighttime flossing may also be more effective because of the reduced levels in the mouth of saliva, which naturally helps to clean and protect teeth and gums, during the evening hours. Brushing and flossing can together compensate for the absence of saliva and keep your mouth clean until morning.

That's why the American Dental Association recommends you floss once a day to remove food particles and plaque – the sticky film on your teeth that can lead to cavities and gum disease. Plaque contains cavity-causing bacteria that feed on leftover food in your mouth.

Water flossing does not push bacteria into the periodontal pocket, rather it removes the bacteria from the periodontal pocket and is highly effective at reducing the total aerobic flora. Braun and Ciancio found that 90% pocket penetration was achieved when probing depths were < 6 mm.

Which order is best when it comes to your oral care routine? Most people brush, then floss, then waterpik (if they have one)… but did you know the “best” order is actually: Floss – to dislodge food particles. Waterpik – to flush everything away.

When oral hygiene is neglected, plaque buildup occurs. This leads to weakened tooth structure and cavities as well as inflamed gums. Excessive plaque buildup can take a while, and a cavity will not appear after one missed brushing and flossing session.

We highly recommend always waiting at least 30 minutes after eating or drinking anything acidic before brushing or flossing, unless you've only consumed non-acidic foods or beverages.

Is it better to use mouthwash before or after brushing? ›

Similarly, if you're wondering whether to use mouthwash before or after brushing, there is a general consensus that using it after brushing is more effective for your oral health. Anti-microbial properties of oral rinses can be diminished if you brush your teeth right after.

While flossing plays a role in removing plaque and imbedded food particles and reaching below the gumline, new clinical studies show that regular use of Listerine® Antiseptic offers patients 5x more sustained plaque reduction above the gumline between dental hygiene visits than brushing and flossing alone.

Breakfast staples like orange juice and coffee are notoriously acidic. Brushing your teeth right after eating or drinking acidic foods can cause damage to your tooth enamel. The American Dental Association recommends waiting at least 60 minutes after eating or drinking acidic foods or drinks before brushing your teeth.

Brushing Your Teeth the Right Way

Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, brush your teeth for two minutes, taking care to brush up and down toward the gum lines and behind your back teeth. You should also use this time to floss your teeth to ensure all debris is gone before you go to bed.

Therefore, our recommendation is to consider using your Waterpik water flosser first before brushing your teeth. This will allow the stuck-on debris to dislodge and then you can easily brush the remaining area free of all particles.

According to the dentist in Sugar Land, TX, brushing, and flossing both are important for your dental health. However, if you have to choose one, flossing is more important and sufficient if done properly. The aim of flossing is to remove the plaque, which consists of active colonies of destructive bacteria.

Hold your toothbrush at a slight angle against your teeth and brush with short back-and-forth motions. Brush the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth, as well as your tongue. Floss your teeth one at a time, rubbing the floss against the side of the tooth in an up-and-down motion.