Should You Brush or Floss First?
The age-old question: should you brush your teeth first or should you floss your teeth first? PerioSciences has the answer for you! For many people, they might not even bother thinking about the order, but it may actually make a difference in this case. Most dentists recommend brushing and flossing every day to make sure you have a healthy and happy smile for years to come. But have you ever considered that dentists rarely specify which should be done first? The team at PerioSciences has pondered this conundrum for quite some time now and here is our best answer as to whether or not we should brush or floss first.
Floss Before Your Brush
Both flossing and brushing are great for your teeth and oral health. But flossing before you brush may make a significant difference. The purpose of flossing is to get into those hard to reach places where bacteria and plaque love to hide. If you floss first, you can get into these areas and break up any bacteria and plaque that are present. Then, when you follow with brushing, your toothbrush should get the rest of the bacteria and plaque left on the surfaces of your teeth, theoretically, leaving your mouth bacteria-free!
The problem with brushing and then flossing is you typically leave bacteria in your mouth. In this order, you first brush the surfaces of your teeth and then you floss to break up the plaque and bacteria between your teeth. But this plaque and bacteria are never brushed away, so you are left with it in your mouth until the next time you brush. Yuck! Try our floss and brush trick and maybe the next time you’re in the office at the dentist’s they’ll make note of your improved dental hygiene.
The Coup de Grâce on Bacteria
Lastly, if you’re really looking to leave your mouth feeling fresh and clean; add not only flossing and brushing to your regime but a quality mouthwash and oral gel as well. Doing so will give your mouth everything it deserves and could possibly need to help you feel great but also be as healthy as can be!