Do You Floss Before or After You Brush?

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Do You Floss Before or After You Brush?

June 23, 2009

I know this question seems somewhat trivial, but it has sparked an earnest debate at my house and the debate continued here at Sugar HQ. I'm not sure if your answer says anything about your character or commitment to dental health, but folks tend to fall clearly on one side or the other. So tell me . . .

Source: Getty

25 Comments

sparklestar 3 years 46 weeks

I don't floss but I use listerine! I feel this is punishment enough. =)

zeppelinrules 3 years 46 weeks

when i went to school for dental assisting, they said to floss first, then brush

flyingchange 3 years 46 weeks

Wow, it had never occurred to me to floss before brushing (probably because I only time I remember to floss is WHILE I'm brushing.... "oh yeah, I should probably floss, too") but flossing beforehand makes sense. I think I will switch!

ferret 3 years 47 weeks

I rinse, floss, brush, waterpik. Is that an overkill? :) I never was so diligent about flossing until my hygenist said this to me, You know how your mouth feels fuzzy in the morning after you wake up? That's building up between your teeth, and brushing can't get there. Now I can't get that out of my mind!

3 years 47 weeks

I floss first, then rinse, brush, floss, rinse, floss, brush, spam, eggs, bacon and spam.

Renees3 3 years 47 weeks

i floss first. That's what the dentist told me is best so I follow his rules! I recently had an allergic reaction to mouthwash so now I'm terrified to try anymore

ellieb 3 years 47 weeks

I like to floss while brushing-- start brushing, after a minute or so, floss, then finish brushing. It all tastes like toothpaste and it helps the paste get in between my teeth. I find that my mouth feels cleaner longer with this method.

KayEff 3 years 47 weeks

I like to floss first... it's more satisfying to see the gunk that comes off!

bethinabox 3 years 47 weeks

I brush, floss, then rinse with listerine. :)

chelseacbboyles 3 years 47 weeks

I brush then floss - the order is for no reason whatsoever! I am happy for advice on what is the "better" way to do it! I will do whatever it takes because good hygiene is important to me (espeially dental).

ImJessica 3 years 47 weeks

You're supposed to floss before. Brushing cleans the spaces you cleared by flossing.

bleached 3 years 47 weeks

It used to be brush, floss, rinse but my wonderful dental hygienist said that flossing before is better. So that's what I do now.

Antioxidant 3 years 47 weeks

Floss, brush, then rinse.

3 years 47 weeks

I asked my dentist and she said, both ways are fine. She would recommend to floss first. But I guess the best way would be brush - floss - brush - use mouthwash...

hottpink 3 years 47 weeks

I floss then brush. That's the way my dental hygienist does it.

GlowingMoon 3 years 47 weeks

I'm with Kimpossible. It happens to be the order my hygienist does it.

sweetpeabrina 3 years 47 weeks

I rinse (to loosen and get out initial gunk), then brush (to clean teeth), and finally floss (to get what's left).

bengalspice 3 years 47 weeks

brush then floss ... because i feel flossing gets the stuff brushing didn't ... and then i use mouthwash

Ayu 3 years 47 weeks

I bursh first, then floss. When I eat cereal in the evening, I have particulary lot of residue stuck between my teeth, so I first remove that with the toothbrush and then clear under my gums with floss.

teegaall 3 years 47 weeks

Floss then brush, same reason as Advah.

Advah 3 years 47 weeks

I floss then brush, because I feel brushing helps removing what flossing didn't. It seems logical to me, but I'm not sure it actually is the way to go so I'm happy to hear advice!

ShariB 3 years 47 weeks

I do it the way my dental hygienist does it -- floss then brush.

rodrive 3 years 47 weeks

if i eat something like popcorn, i floss first then brush. but usually, i brush first then floss, and use tom's of maine to rinse. please don't put alcohol into your mouth people!! my periodontist told me that its horrible for your mouth and teeth, (listerine) contrary to what people want what you to think. just read the ingredient list on a bottle of listerine. we don't like to eat stuff we can't pronounce, so our mouthwash shouldn't be any different :) sorry i went off on a tangent. and who answered this survey with "i don't floss"! lol!!