If you've ever stood at the bathroom sink staring at your reflection wondering do you brush your teeth before or after flossing, you aren't the only one. It's one of those minor life debates, like whether the toilet paper roll should hang over or under, that everyone seems to have an opinion on. Most of us just do what our parents taught us or whatever feels right in the moment, but there actually is some logic behind picking an order.
For a long time, the standard advice was pretty vague. People just wanted you to do both, and the order was a distant second in importance. However, as dental science has evolved, researchers have started looking closer at the mechanics of how we clean our mouths. It turns out that flipping your routine might actually make a noticeable difference in how clean your teeth get.
The case for flossing before you brush
Most dental professionals these days will tell you to floss first. If you've been a "brush then floss" person your whole life, this might feel a little backwards, but the reasoning is pretty solid. Think of it like cleaning a house. You wouldn't mop the floors and then decide to sweep the dust off the ceiling fans, right? You'd just be getting more dirt on your clean floors.
When you floss first, you're basically loosening up all the "gunk"—the plaque and leftover bits of today's lunch—that's hiding in the tight spaces between your teeth. If you brush after you've loosened all that stuff up, the bristles of your toothbrush can actually sweep it away and out of your mouth.
Another huge benefit of flossing first is that it clears the path for your toothpaste. Most toothpastes contain fluoride, which is great for strengthening enamel and preventing cavities. If the spaces between your teeth are packed with plaque, that fluoride can't get in there to do its job. By flossing first, you're clearing the "alleys" between your teeth so the toothpaste can actually reach those hidden surfaces.
Why brushing first is the common habit
Despite the benefits of flossing first, plenty of people still reach for the toothbrush as soon as they walk into the bathroom. It's a hard habit to break. Brushing feels like the "main event" of oral hygiene. It gives you that immediate minty-fresh feeling and makes your mouth feel clean right away.
Some people argue that brushing first helps remove the bulk of the plaque from the easy-to-reach surfaces, meaning you aren't just pushing surface-level plaque deeper into the gaps when you floss. While that sounds logical on paper, it doesn't quite hold up to the idea of "clearing the way" for the toothpaste. If you brush first, you're often leaving a slurry of toothpaste and dislodged food trapped between your teeth when you finally do get around to flossing.
What the research actually says
You don't just have to take my word for it. There have been actual studies on this specific topic. A few years back, a study published in the Journal of Periodontology looked at a group of people and tracked their plaque levels based on the order of their routine.
The researchers found that the "floss-first" group ended up with significantly less plaque between their teeth compared to the group that brushed first. They also found that the fluoride concentration in the mouth was higher in the group that flossed first. It basically confirmed what many dentists had been suspected: flossing makes the brushing step more effective.
Dealing with the "lazy factor"
Let's be real for a second—the biggest hurdle to a good oral hygiene routine isn't the order; it's the fact that flossing is kind of a chore. Most of us are tired at the end of the day. If we brush our teeth first, we get that clean feeling, our mouth tastes like mint, and we think, "Yeah, I'm good," and then we skip the flossing altogether.
This is a huge psychological reason to do you brush your teeth before or after flossing in the recommended order. If you get the "hard" part out of the way first, you're much more likely to actually finish the job. Once you've flossed, you have to brush to get the dislodged debris out. But if you brush first, it's all too easy to look at the floss container and tell yourself you'll do it tomorrow.
Does it really matter if you can't switch?
Now, if you're reading this and thinking, "I've brushed before flossing for thirty years and my dentist says my teeth are perfect," then honestly, don't sweat it too much. The most important thing is that you're doing both.
While flossing first is technically more efficient, doing it in the "wrong" order is still a million times better than not flossing at all. Consistency is the real king here. If your brain is hardwired to brush first and trying to change that makes you stop flossing entirely, then stick to what works for you. Your dentist would much rather see a "brush-then-floss" patient than someone who doesn't floss because they're overthinking the process.
A quick tip on technique
Regardless of when you do it, how you floss matters just as much as the order. Don't just snap the string between your teeth and call it a day. You want to wrap the floss around the side of the tooth in a "C" shape and gently slide it up and down. This helps you get under the gum line where the really stubborn bacteria like to hang out.
What about water flossers?
If you use a water flosser (like a Waterpik), the same general rules apply. Using the water flosser first can help blast out the larger particles of food, making your brushing session much more effective. Plus, it's a lot less messy to use a water flosser before your mouth is full of toothpaste foam.
The bottom line on the debate
At the end of the day, if you want the gold star from your dental hygienist, try to make the switch to flossing before you brush. It helps clear out the debris, allows your toothpaste to reach the nooks and crannies, and ensures you don't skip the flossing part of your routine.
But again, don't let the "perfect" be the enemy of the "good." If you're currently in the habit of flossing after you brush, you're already doing better than a huge chunk of the population. The fact that you're even asking do you brush your teeth before or after flossing shows you're on the right track.
Just keep at it, stay consistent, and maybe try flossing first tonight just to see how it feels. You might be surprised at how much cleaner your mouth feels when you let the brush do the final cleanup. Your gums (and your dentist) will definitely thank you for it in the long run. After all, you only have to floss the teeth you want to keep!