Which One Comes First, Brushing Or Flossing?

Dental hygiene is essential from a young age because it guarantees a healthy and beautiful smile. It also contributes to overall health because dental diseases and infections could spread if not taken care of.

A suitable dental hygiene procedure for many people involves flossing and brushing twice a day. Brushing helps clean teeth surfaces while flossing removes the food particles, plaque, and tartar between the teeth and under the gums.

However, many people wonder which one to do first for cleaner teeth and gums. Doing both is essential, but the order determines how effective they are. Many people usually brush before flossing, which has resulted in a great debate on the topic.

However, researchers have conducted numerous studies and determined that it is better to floss first, then brush.

Benefits Of Flossing First

It makes it easier to remove plaque

Floss gets to places that brush bristles can't reach even when you brush correctly, breaking up the plaque and tartar buildup between the teeth. Therefore, brushing after flossing makes it easier to remove the smaller buildup particles, leaving every surface and gap clean.

Flossing before brushing guarantees that you rinse your mouth afterward. It is easy to forget to rinse after flossing if you brush first, which might result in you swallowing some plaque. While the amounts might be negligible each time, it accumulates over time, resulting in some health complications.

Some people hate this approach because they say it leaves a lot of gunk on their floss. However, that is a minor issue because most people throw away their floss pieces after one use anyway. Also, if you consider that a hygiene risk, you can use water floss, which helps push the gunk out of the gaps even before brushing.

Increases fluoride surface area

Fluoride toothpaste helps strengthen the enamel and prevent tooth decay or cavities. Flossing before brushing increases the surface area on which the fluoride interacts with your teeth, protecting every surface.

Also, experts advise rinsing your mouth with a little water after brushing. That way, the fluoride from your toothpaste remains in your mouth.

Reduces gum disease

When you brush before flossing, there are high chances that you will push the plaque and tartar in the gaps under your gums unknowingly. When left unchecked for a long time, it causes gum disease and tooth decay.

The fluoride that remains in the mouth after brushing also plays a significant role in fighting the bacteria that cause gum disease.

You don’t forget to floss

Many people don't like flossing, which increases their chances of forgetting or getting lazy after brushing. However, you will never forget to do it if you floss before brushing.