There is an ongoing argument on which came first, the chicken or the egg. No, I’m just joking; that’s not what we’re here to talk about. The argument is actually about which should you do first, brush or floss? Â
How you take care of your teeth and gums is important. The two steps of brushing and flossing are the steps that you should be taking every day. Now for some, they brush first and then floss; for others, they floss first and then brush. Let’s get into it and finally answer which should come first.Â
What does brushing do for my teeth?
Since we were young, we have been taught about the importance of brushing our teeth. Our parent or guardian gives us the basic rundown of how to brush our teeth and why we do it. They may have told us that it helps to keep our breath smelling nice and our teeth looking clean. The truth is that brushing has many more benefits than those. Â
When you brush your teeth, food and plaque are removed from the surface. The plaque that builds up on the teeth contains bacteria, which can affect your health negatively if the amount of bacteria is too much for your mouth. In addition, when you eat sugar, the plaque creates an acid that can break down your tooth’s enamel. If the plaque continues to build up, especially on your gums, the bacteria can travel through your body and cause problems elsewhere. So, in general, brushing helps take away the plaque and bacteria that you don’t need in your mouth and other organ systems.  Â
What does flossing do for my teeth?
Now let’s talk about flossing. The bacteria we spoke of earlier can stay in the spaces between your teeth and under your gums. Unfortunately, brushing alone cannot remove the plaque and bacteria in between. This is where flossing comes in. The roll of string you get when you visit the dentist is the best way to get them out.  Â
Many don’t enjoy using traditional floss. It can be a little messy and hard to reach the back. Thankfully, other floss forms are on the market, so you can still get your floss on. If traditional floss isn’t the thing for you, try the handle floss, dental pick, or a water flosser.  Â
Which Step Comes First
All right, now that we know what both do let’s answer the age-old question, should you brush or floss first? Drum-roll, please….. You should floss before you brush! Â
Surprisingly, there is evidence that supports flossing before you brush. The floss does the job of removing the plague from the places the brush can’t reach. After that, the brush can do its job, and when you rinse with water, everything is flushed out. Flossing and then brushing results in greater fluoride retention from your toothpaste than vice versa.  Â
Good dental hygiene, in general, involves both brushing and flossing. The most important thing to remember is that you do both. Remember to brush twice a day and floss once a day.Â
Other than brushing your teeth and flossing, here are some other oral health tips you can implement. Â
- Use mouthwash after brushing & flossing Â
- Drink a lot of waterÂ
- Eat a healthy diet (limit sugary drinks and foods)Â
- Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months or sooner if the bristles are irregularÂ
- Schedule regular dental appointments and cleaningsÂ
If you’re looking to visit the dentist or get a dental cleaning, find a MyCHN location near you and schedule a dental appointment today. Now that we’ve settled this age-old question, it’s time for you to get brushing and flossing!Â
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Tolulope Ayoola
Tolulope Ayoola is the creative marketing content writer at MyCHN. She graduated from the University of Houston-Downtown with a degree in Technical Communications. Her goal and mission is to make healthcare patient content more relatable and interesting to interact with. She combines her creative eye with her technical communication skills to create content for patients. Tolu's past work includes creating blogs, press releases, and social media content for different sectors. She enjoys spending time with her family, writing, and listening to music & podcasts.
