Designer Smiles

Should You Brush or Floss First?

A girl flossing

The importance of dental hygiene cannot be overlooked. When you maintain good oral hygiene even your general health is better. There is no way better of maintaining good oral hygiene than brushing and flossing your teeth daily.

What confuses most is what should come first. A lot of people ask themselves questions like should I floss first or brush, should I floss before brushing, or do I floss or brush first? Some people don’t even see the sense of following any order. They believe that as long as they have done it the there is no problem.

Well, that should not be the case. Experts recommend that you floss then brush. In this article, we will discuss why do you floss first and we will also give you some tips. By the time you are done, you will be sure whether to floss or brush teeth first.

Flossing and Brushing

Brushing your teeth daily is important but it is not enough to keep away dental decay and gum diseases away. You need to floss your teeth daily as well. Flossing your teeth is an effective way of removing plaque on your teeth.

Plaque on your teeth is usually the mother of many dental problems so when it is removed, your teeth are at a lower risk.

Why Should You Floss First?

A lot of people brush their teeth then floss but that should not be the case. When you floss after brushing it means the plaque, food remains, and bacteria removed still remain in your mouth until you brush your teeth again probably after about 12 hours.

Bacteria grows fast so the risk of developing gum disease is very high. But when you floss then brush your teeth remains as clean as possible. Brushing your teeth after flossing removes all the food remains and plaque. The fluoride in your toothpaste also protects your teeth.

General Tips for Oral Health

Now that you know whether to floss or brush first, let us look at some tips that will help you maintain a healthy smile.

  • Floss your teeth daily. You can floss your teeth before going to sleep or in the morning. Just ensure to brush them after flossing.
  • Avoid using a toothpick to remove food that remains caught between your teeth. Instead, use dental floss. A toothpick can damage your gums which can further lead to infections.
  • Brushing your teeth at least twice is mandatory. If possible, brush after every meal.
  • Don’t be too aggressive while you are flossing and brushing your teeth.
  • Don’t just brush your teeth, brush your tongue as well to fight bacteria that cause bad breath.
  • Ensure to visit a dentist every six months.

For dentistry in Coral Springs, contact us. Our clinic uses the latest technology and you can count on our experience!