Brushing vs Flossing: Which comes first?

You probably know that brushing and flossing are both important aspects of maintaining your oral health, but do you know which you should do first? Today, our Lloydminster dentists share the answer and explain the importance of both. 

Reasons to Brush

The reasons to brush one's teeth need no introduction, it is one of the first lessons in cleanliness that many children learn. We recommend our patients brush their teeth at least twice a day. Brushing cleans our teeth and clears out plaque and bacteria that can have a negative effect on our oral health. When done properly, brushing excels at cleaning the surfaces of teeth as well as at cleaning our gums.

Brushing twice a day helps by keeping teeth and gums clean, limiting the buildup of harmful bacteria and helping to prevent gum disease and tooth decay. This routine complements your regular visits to the dentist for dental cleanings and exams.

Reasons to Floss

Flossing is important because it helps keep the areas of our mouth clean that brushing does not always reach. Flossing ideally keeps the spaces between our teeth, as well as just below the gum line, free of unwanted bacteria and buildup. Flossing is an important part of your oral and overall health. 

We recommend flossing at least once a day. Oral hygiene care is largely about routine and habit, so we also recommend leaving your floss somewhere clearly visible near your toothbrush so you don't forget this important step.

Should you brush or floss first?

While the most important thing is that you do both activities, we recommend flossing before brushing your teeth.

We recommend flossing first because of its ability to loosen the bacteria and food debris both on and between our teeth. By flossing first, you can make brushing more successful at removing food particles. 

Another benefit applies if you use toothpaste with fluoride. Fluoride is a compound of fluorine with another element or group, and it helps keep teeth clean. If you floss after brushing, it is more likely to remove the fluoride in your toothpaste, which might make it less effective.

We should always try and do the best we can when it comes to maintaining an excellent standard of oral health care, and sometimes small changes can have a large impact on our dental care routines. Choosing to brush after flossing could be one of those small changes with a big (and positive) impact! 

For more advice or to book a preventive hygiene exam, contact our Lloydminster dentists.