While it may be surprising, a study has found that flossing first followed by brushing with a fluoride toothpaste is more effective in removing interdental plaque than brushing first, flossing second. In addition, flossing before brushing results in greater fluoride retention between teeth.
Most people brush, floss and then use mouthwash. And some just brush, skipping the other two steps. As it turns out, it's actually more effective to floss, use mouthwash, then brush, according to dentists — and they don't recommend skipping any steps.
Flossing before brushing will remove food, plaque, and saliva from the gum line and between the teeth. Then when brushing, these particles are removed. This also allows fluoride and toothpaste to get into those now-vacant areas where food was trapped.
The Best Time to Floss Is Whenever You Can
Once again, the ADA says that it doesn't matter what time of day you floss, as long as it gets done! Studies done in 2018 showed that if you floss before you brush your teeth, you can get a better clean.
In addition, flossing before brushing results in greater fluoride retention between teeth. This is because flossing loosens the bacteria, plaque, and other residue between teeth. When followed by brushing and rinsing with water, more particles are flushed out from those hard-to-reach interdental spaces.
Flossing after brushing is often the go-to order for most people. After all, brushing helps remove plaque and food from tooth surfaces, leaving the tighter spots to the floss.
That's why the American Dental Association recommends you floss once a day to remove food particles and plaque – the sticky film on your teeth that can lead to cavities and gum disease. Plaque contains cavity-causing bacteria that feed on leftover food in your mouth.
Does it Matter What Time of Day You Floss? In the grand scheme of things, it really doesn't matter if you floss first thing in the morning or right before bed every night. Ultimately, what matters is that you are flossing regularly and properly so that your teeth stay healthy and free of dental decay.
First, the evening allows for more time to properly floss so you don't rush through it. Second, flossing will remove food particles from between your teeth, which provides a good period of time for your teeth to be free of any particles that generate plaque as you sleep.
Plaque-creating bacteria take 4-12 hours to develop. So, flossing more than once a day really has no benefits unless you have something stuck in your teeth. Dentists warn that flossing more than once a day can cause serious damage to your gum tissue—if you are flossing the wrong way.
Although you may choose to do it in the morning or afternoon, many prefer to floss at night to prevent food and debris from remaining in the crevices of the teeth overnight. This could prevent the build-up of plaque too, which is a cause of tooth decay.
Is it ever too late to start flossing? The good news is that it is never too late to start flossing whatever is your age. Keeping your teeth in top condition is crucial to your dental health and hygiene. Flossing is one way you can achieve the best state for your teeth.
When you don't floss, plaque builds up between your teeth and gums. This can cause gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease. Gingivitis causes your gums to become red, swollen, irritated, and easily bleed when you brush.
After you slide the floss between your teeth, you should bend it around the tooth and let it plunge beneath the gum line (in a perfect world, it should plunge around 2 – 3 millimeters down).
The stink of halitosis will linger on your dental floss after you have flossed your teeth. Take a whiff of your floss when you're done. If it smells, that means you have bad breath and the smell on the floss is coming out of your mouth. If the floss does not have a strong odor, it likely means you're in the clear.
A water flosser can help remove food particles between teeth. It also can remove plaque from teeth. If you use standard dental floss, and you don't have bleeding or other problems, there's no need to change.
While flossing, you will want to gently move the floss around each tooth and should not touch the gums. Moving the floss in the opposite direction of the gum line can help decrease the risk hitting the gums while you floss.
There are two sides to each space between your teeth and you must floss each side separately so as not to injure the triangle of gum tissue between your teeth. Run the floss up and down the surface of the tooth, making sure you are going down to the gum line and then up to the highest contact point between the teeth.
Wrap the tooth with floss in a “C” shape. Move the floss up and down the side of the tooth surface and gently under the gumline. Repeat on the next tooth.
If flossing isn't done, plaque and tartar can build up. And, if plaque and tartar buildup is left unchecked, this could lead to cavities and gum disease. And despite the fact that gum disease and tooth loss are more common in adults over age 65, gum disease and tooth loss can occur much earlier.
Forgetting to floss can:
Make you fall victim to gum disease: If you don't remove plaque from the surfaces of the teeth as well as from the gumline, it can severely affect the gums. In fact, it can irritate and infect the gums to make them swell and bleed.
After two weeks of not flossing, plaque and tartar will start to accumulate between your teeth. Brushing cleans the surface but cannot go in between teeth – that's where flossing proves to be essential. Plaque and tartar create a sticky, bacteria-laden, acidic film.
Thus, the best way to maintain a healthy oral hygiene routine is to not skip a day of flossing. For an ideal oral hygiene routine, brush your teeth and tongue, floss, and rinse your mouth with mouthwash twice a day.
If you skip flossing, the plaque and tartar will build up and may potentially lead to periodontal/gum disease.