A study published in the Journal of Periodontology showed that flossing before brushing led to a reduction in total plaque and an increase in fluoride concentration between the teeth.

How often should you floss?

Regardless of which order you choose, it's crucial to both brush and floss regularly to maintain good oral hygiene. The American Dental Association recommends flossing at least once a day. Sticking to a consistent, daily routine is the most important factor for success.

Should You Floss Before Or After Brushing?

WHY ORAL-B - FLOSS

Should You Floss Before Or After Brushing?

Last updated 06/25

This blog has been reviewed and approved by Dr Robert Lee, a dental professional of 35 years

Table Of Contents

Key Takeaways

Flossing before brushing can help remove debris and plaque, allowing for better brushing afterwards.
Flossing after brushing can help distribute fluoride more effectively and dislodge any remaining plaque.
The most important factor is consistency—brush twice a day and floss once daily.
Focus on using proper technique and the right tools to clean your teeth effectively.

Person pulling string floss out of container

Why Do We Floss and Brush?

Before diving into the pros and cons of whether you should floss before or after brushing, let's understand the importance of both. Brushing your teeth helps remove plaque and bacteria from the surface of your teeth, which is essential for the prevention of cavities and gum disease. Flossing is crucial for cleaning between your teeth, where your toothbrush can’t reach. This is where a lot of food particles and plaque tend to hide, potentially leading to gum inflammation and tooth decay.

But what’s the best way to go about them? Does the order in which you do them matter? The short answer is: Yes, it can. The order in which you floss and brush may impact how effectively you clean your teeth and gums.

Flossing Before Brushing: What’s the Benefit?

Flossing before brushing can offer several advantages. One of the primary benefits of flossing first is that it removes food particles, plaque, and debris from between your teeth. Once these particles are dislodged, brushing afterwards can help to more effectively clean the surfaces of your teeth, ensuring that no remnants are left behind.

A 2018 study published in the Journal of Periodontology found that flossing before brushing can help reduce plaque buildup and improve overall oral hygiene. Flossing first may also increase fluoride exposure to the spaces between your teeth. When you brush after flossing, the fluoride from your toothpaste can better reach those hard-to-clean spots between your teeth, helping to strengthen the enamel and fight cavities.

Flossing first also helps to gently clean the gumline. This action helps remove plaque buildup at the edge of the gums, which is key to reducing inflammation and improving overall gum health over time. By removing debris from between your teeth first, you create a cleaner surface for your toothbrush to work on.

In addition, flossing before brushing can improve the overall feel of your mouth. Removing food particles and plaque with floss first means that when you brush, you’re not just spreading debris around your mouth—you’re brushing a cleaner surface, which results in a fresher, cleaner feeling.

Flossing After Brushing: What’s the Advantage?

On the other hand, many people prefer to floss after brushing their teeth. The main benefit of this order is that brushing first helps remove a lot of the plaque and bacteria from the surfaces of your teeth, making it easier to floss effectively. If your teeth are already cleaner, flossing afterwards may be a more focused approach to cleaning the areas between your teeth, ensuring that you’re removing any remaining debris.

Flossing after brushing can help to dislodge any remaining bits of plaque or food that were left behind during brushing. This can be particularly helpful if you have tight spaces between your teeth. Getting rid of any leftover debris can further reduce your risk of cavities and gum disease.

Flossing after brushing might also be beneficial for gum health as you’re sweeping away any leftover plaque from the gum line, which helps prevent the development of gum disease (gingivitis). This is very important for preventing gum inflammation (gingivitis). If you notice bleeding when you floss, it's often a sign that plaque has accumulated at the gumline, and consistent, gentle flossing is needed to help restore your gums to health.

So, Which One Is Better—Before or After Brushing?

Ultimately, the order in which you floss and brush depends on what works best for you. Looking at the research and expert opinions can help you decide. One study in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene shows no difference between flossing before or after brushing for plaque removal. The American Dental Association (ADA) says as long as you floss thoroughly, it doesn’t matter when you do it. The most important thing is to make flossing a daily habit. The benefits of flossing far outweigh any benefits of timing.

Flossing before brushing helps dislodge plaque and food particles, giving your toothbrush the best chance of thoroughly cleaning your teeth. By brushing afterwards, you are more effectively brushing away the dislodged plaque and food debris. But again, either is by far better than nothing. So, it’s ultimately your call.

Summary

In the end, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to the question of whether you should floss before or after brushing your teeth. Both methods have their advantages, but the key to good oral hygiene is consistently brushing twice a day and flossing at least once. Flossing before brushing may give your toothbrush a cleaner surface to work with, while flossing after brushing may help push fluoride into those hard-to-reach spaces.

Ultimately, the most important thing is that you’re brushing twice a day and flossing once a day regardless of what order you do them in. When you do both correctly, and consistently, you’re helping to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other oral health problems. The best method is the one you’ll stick with. So as long as people are flossing daily, everyone’s a winner.

Good Oral Hygiene Starts with Oral-B

Keep your teeth clean and help reduce the risk of oral health issues such as cavities, staining, and bad breath. Plaque forms on teeth as a sticky film. Additionally, plaque contains substances that feed on sugar from food and drinks. As these substances metabolize sugar, they release acids that can erode tooth enamel. This can lead to cavities and other problems. But help is just a toothbrush away.

Here are a few suggestions to help establish a regular, effective routine.

Brush 2X/day with an Oral-B iO Electric Toothbrush: To help reduce plaque buildup and protect your teeth and gums, a thorough yet gentle cleaning is key. An electric toothbrush like the Oral-B iO can help maintain the health of teeth and gums better than a manual toothbrush.
Brush with Fresh Bristles Every 3 Months: Get back to a more complete clean by replacing your toothbrush head every 3 months. A brush head in optimal bristle condition, such as the Oral-B Ultimate Clean brush head, helps remove plaque and has different bristle lengths that reach deep into the spaces between your teeth, where plaque loves to hide.

By maintaining a complete oral care routine that consists of an electric toothbrush, targeted flossing, and fluoride toothpaste, you can help support a clean, strong smile.

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FAQs

While either order is acceptable, flossing before brushing is recommended as it helps dislodge plaque and food particles, allowing the fluoride in your toothpaste to reach teeth more effectively.
A study published in the Journal of Periodontology showed that flossing before brushing led to a reduction in total plaque and an increase in fluoride concentration between the teeth.
Regardless of which order you choose, it's crucial to both brush and floss regularly to maintain good oral hygiene. The American Dental Association recommends flossing at least once a day. Sticking to a consistent, daily routine is the most important factor for success.

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