Do You Floss Then Brush or Brush Then Floss?

Updated on October 02, 2011
✩.!. asks from Boulder, CO
28 answers

I floss then brush and my husband does the opposite. I say I want to clean the gunk out and then brush to finish cleaning. He says he wants to clean first and the flossing is to get the gunk that was left over. We are probably both right in our own ways and this is completely JFF, so just curious - floss before brush or brush then floss?

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Featured Answers

J.H.

answers from San Antonio on

I floss, brush and then rinse with mouthwash.

Why? Cause the dentist told me this is the best way to do it. (Tell hubby that some random chick on the internet's dentist said you're right! hehe!)

4 moms found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Floss first. Once the gunk between the teeth is removes the fluoride and what not from the tooth paste can get between the teeth better. Floss is kinda dry so no what not gets past the gunk.

3 moms found this helpful
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C.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

I floss then brush. The reason I started doing that is because my hygienist suggested it in order to get me to floss more regularly. She said a lot of people brush then stop, feeling that their teeth are clean enough. Well, if you just floss you'll never stop right there because everyone likes to get the minty toothpaste freshness. So, since then (several years ago), I have rarely skipped flossing.

2 moms found this helpful

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B..

answers from Dallas on

I floss, rinse my mouth out with lots of water, then brush.

4 moms found this helpful
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S.F.

answers from Utica on

I floss and then brush for the same reason as you

3 moms found this helpful

J.B.

answers from Houston on

Brush then floss, when I floss ;)

2 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

At the Dentist, they floss then polish the teeth.. That is the way I was taught.

2 moms found this helpful

T.C.

answers from Dallas on

Floss then brush. If you brush then floss, then you put more gunk on your teeth and would need to brush again. :-)

Actually I think I do that - I brush, then floss, then brush!

2 moms found this helpful

L.B.

answers from Biloxi on

Brush then floss then rinse with mouth wash.
My dentist explained it this way - when you floss first, then brush, you are just brushing crud back into the areas between your teeth.
That was enough to convince me. LOL

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J.C.

answers from Rockford on

I always brush first then floss.

2 moms found this helpful

C.W.

answers from Lynchburg on

Brush
Floss
Re brush

**mouthwash IF it is going to be a 'special' night***

LOL
michele/cat

2 moms found this helpful

⊱.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

brush, floss, then rinse w/ mouth wash

1 mom found this helpful

C.M.

answers from Washington DC on

brush, floss, and then rinse.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

I brush, floss and brush again. You are both half right IMO:). Lol

1 mom found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I brush, floss, brush, listerine

Try to make sure I stay clean. I also wear a nightguard and I clean it in Efferdent which is for dentures but works great on nightguards!

1 mom found this helpful

A.S.

answers from Iowa City on

I brush then floss. I asked my dentist about it once and he said it doesn't matter which way you do it as long as it gets done.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Kansas City on

It doesn't matter too much the order in which you do it. I'm just glad you are both flossing!! As for hygienist flossing after the polish, that is to remove the pumice from inbetween your teeth and check for any tartar that may have been missed during scaling (scraping). Personally, I like to floss before brushing bc if you don't get the food and plaque all the way dislodged, your tooth brush can help sweep it away. Yea for flossing!! I absolutely cannot believe how many people don't floss. It's like taking a shower and not washing between you fingers and toes. Gross!! It takes less than a minute and does so much for your health in general.

1 mom found this helpful

I.X.

answers from Los Angeles on

floss then brush. Thats what my dental hygienists do too. Don't know it it really matters.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.

answers from Las Vegas on

Brush rinse, floss rinse. It's the same order my hygienist does it.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.2.

answers from Chicago on

floss - rinse - brush - rinse

My hygienist used to floss and then polish / clean my teeth and that would drive me crazy cuz I'd feel like there was still stuff between my teeth ... they needed to be flossed again! I mentioned something to her once and since then she's always done it the way I prefer (my husband goes to her too and he never paid much attention until I said something and then he realized she flosses then cleans but naturally he doesn't care which way she does it).

1 mom found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from Houston on

I used to floss first, then brush. My husband did the opposite. We had this conversation about a year ago. He asked me how they do it at the dentist & he was right! Clean with the scraper, polish, floss, then flouride. So now I do it that way; brush first then floss. I don't like mouthwash, so I just rinse with water after flossing :)

1 mom found this helpful

J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Floss then brush.
My theory is like yours. I want to get the gunk out then brush it all away.
I can't do it the other way, I still feel like I have to brush after, lol.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

brush, floss and rinse....

1 mom found this helpful
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L..

answers from Roanoke on

I brush, then use a water pic with mouthwash in the water (waaaaaaay better than floss). My husband does the opposite.

1 mom found this helpful
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F.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

I brush, rinse, then floss, and brush again.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Brush then floss.
Then there are people who also use water picks, too.
My mom, for one.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

1 mom found this helpful

T.C.

answers from Austin on

I brush, then floss. Sometimes I floss while climbing into bed, which really bugs my husband. He can't floss without looking in a mirror.

1 mom found this helpful
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