There is no doubt that brushing and flossing twice a day are arguably the best way to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, but is there a benefit to doing ones of these before the other during your hygiene routine?
Patients often ask us "Should I be brushing or flossing first?" Although there are good and valid arguments for which one you should be doing first, we believe that flossing before you brush is the most beneficial in helping prevent tooth decay and gum disease and this is our logic.
By flossing first you will remove the plaque biofilm that is sitting on top of the tooth's surface (specifically in between the teeth). This is important because by having a "clean" tooth surface it will allow the fluoride minerals in the toothpaste (when you're brushing afterwards) to reach these areas in between the teeth and have direct contact with the tooth's enamel surface. This direct contact allows the fluoride to strengthen the tooth's enamel (the most outer layer of the tooth) and maximize it's cavity preventing abilities.
If this plaque is not removed from the surface of the tooth before brushing, a lower amount of fluoride minerals will be able to penetrate through the plaque layer and reach the enamel, therefore reducing it's abilities to protect the tooth from decay.
Also, by flossing first you are loosening the pieces of food that might be stuck in between them. Brushing and rinsing afterwards will remove these loose pieces of food, thus leaving less food behind that can potentially lead to tooth decay and/or gum disease.
PS: How effective you are being when you're brushing or flossing is more important than which one you're doing first, so make sure you have mastered your brushing and flossing techniques!
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. We hope this tip helps you understand the logic behind flossing before you brush. If you have any questions please leave them in the comment section below. If you enjoyed and found it educational please share it with your friends and family and follow us on Instagram. It only takes 1 minute of your time and it helps us out a lot. Thanks :)