Floss or Brush first?

We care for ourselves with elaborate cleansing rituals for our skin, hair, nails, mouth and digestive system. Each can have various costs and daily time constraints. When it comes to oral health the minimal cost and 2-3 minutes of effort required can pay dividends towards total systemic health.

It doesn’t matter whether you brush first or floss. The goal for both is to disrupt plaque on the entire surface of each tooth in your mouth. If this goal is met daily then you will never experience caries or gum disease.

Some people swish with mouthwash to freshen breath. Products like Listerine can significantly reduce bacteria in the mouth for around 30 mins.  Brushing your gums and scraping your tongue can have similar positive effects as tooth brushing; as it also disrupts plaque on soft surfaces.