Is Brushing or Flossing First Better?

Is Brushing or Flossing First Better?

By admin August 24th
Most people around the world are taught from an early age that brushing your teeth and flossing are the two most important activities for maintaining good oral hygiene.

Taking good care of your teeth prevents bad breath, nasty plaque build-up, cavities, and gum disease and is even more important during orthodontic treatment.. But there’s a long running debate about whether brushing or flossing first is the most effective way to clean our teeth and gums. Is there an ideal order for our oral hygiene routine?

The Dental Debate: Should I Brush or Floss First?

The basics of brushing and flossing are simple enough. Brushing teeth cleans the surfaces of the teeth and gums and removes food particles and bacteria that are forming on them. Flossing is done to remove food particles and plaque that are trapped between teeth. These pieces usually can’t be removed by brushing because the toothbrush bristles can’t get deep enough between teeth to remove them.

According to a 2018 study published in the Journal of Periodontology, researchers found that flossing before brushing seems to be the ideal sequence for the most effective cleaning.

Why is Flossing First Better?

The researchers of the study found that removing food particles and plaque before brushing promotes more effective cleaning. This is because there are fewer things that the toothbrush must work to remove, and it also allows your toothpaste to deliver more fluoride concentration to your teeth. Fluoride helps to strengthen and maintain healthy tooth enamel, which in turn helps fight against decay, cavities, and gum disease.

Flossing before brushing is also beneficial because it can further reduce the risk of gum disease. When you brush before flossing, there is a chance that you may push food particles or plaque between teeth or into your gums without realizing it. By flossing first, you can more easily remove these particles. This reduces the risk of gingivitis, which can lead to gum disease (aka periodontal disease) and possible bone loss.

Flossing first also reduces the amount of plaque you may accidentally swallow. Plaque is made up of millions of bacteria (about 1000 unique species have been identified), and when plaque is swallowed these bacteria are digested and can be transferred to other parts of the body. Swallowing too much plaque has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and other related health issues.

Tools That Can Make Flossing Easier
- Water Flossers (aka Oral Irrigators) use a steady stream of water to get between teeth, using water pressure to remove plaque and food particles. While they may not be quite as effective as traditional flossing, they have become increasingly popular over the years and are great for people who have sensitive teeth or gums.
- Interproximal Brushes are small, flexible brushes with bristles 360° around the brush. They are designed to get between teeth to remove food and plaque. They are commonly recommended for people with braces because they can also get between brackets and wires where typical floss can’t reach.
- Floss Picks and Floss Threaders are also useful for flossing in hard-to-reach places or for people with braces. Floss picks are small plastic tools that have a piece of floss on one end and a small plastic pick on the other. Floss threaders are specially designed to thread floss under orthodontic braces or other dental appliances where it can be difficult to floss normally.
Since 1989, Paquette Orthodontics has helped thousands of patients create and maintain healthy, beautiful smiles that last a lifetime. In addition to our orthodontic treatment options, Dr. Paquette is also a pioneer in the field of orthodontic treatment for pediatric sleep-disordered breathing. To see what Paquette Ortho can do for you, give us a call at (704) 799-3777 today or request a complimentary initial consultation.
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