Should I Brush or Floss First?

Some argue that flossing should come first because, when flossing, plaque and bits of food are loosened and should be brushed away after you’ve finished flossing. Undeniably, flossing is nasty. It’s very important, but kind of gross. Even in the cleanest mouth, the bacteria that you find under your gum line, known as anaerobes, is pretty smelly. You get stuff on your hands, you get stuff on the mirror and in general, it’s messy. So if you floss first, then you can brush the nastiness away. Fluoride from the toothpaste will make better contact if food wedged in between the teeth is removed before brushing.

The argument for brushing first and then flossing is that brushing your teeth first removes the bulk of the plaque on the teeth. Flossing afterward forces the remaining bit of fluoride left on the teeth from brushing into the in-between spaces.

What do I think? As long as you’re asking this question, it means you’re doing both, and that’s what matters. The synergy between flossing and brushing (and not the order in which you do them) will lengthen your life, improve your cognitive abilities, and will keep your teeth healthy and beautiful. Unfortunately, if people are going to do one or the other, they’re going to brush. Flossing tends to be thought of as secondary, maybe because we’ve been told since childhood the same phrase over and over, “Brush, then floss.”

Imagine staining only the front and back of a fence, but neglecting to paint the insides – sure, you’ve stained the front and back of the fence, but the insides are going to rot. The same goes with teeth – if you neglect to floss, you can still get cavities in between. It’s a widespread myth that you can get away with brushing only. Flossing cleans out the parts of the teeth that the toothbrush cannot reach. Brushing without flossing can result in cavities, gum disease, and even heart disease.

So, whether you brush first or floss first is your preference! I recommend that you stick with whatever works for you so that you stay in the habit of always brushing and flossing.