Floss First, Brush After?

This article brought to you with support from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29741239/

Though many of us have different techniques and routines when it comes to preserving our oral hygiene, researchers and scientists have been attempting to come up with the best method in which to reduce dental and inter-dental plaque daily. The triangle of oral hygiene typically includes: brushing, flossing, and antibacterial rinse or wash. However, researchers from the Mashdad University of Medical Sciences have concluded that we may be maintaining our teeth with this triangle in the wrong order.

Adult man cleaning flossing his white teeth with dental fl… | Flickr

Most individuals tend to conduct their daily oral hygiene by brushing, flossing, and rinsing. They do this twice a day, once in the morning, and once at night, though many may choose to floss or brush throughout the day after meals. The researchers at Mashdad University of Medical Sciences began a study to see the dynamic between brushing first, or flossing first, in these daily routines. The researchers established two groups, one told to brush first throughout their daily routine, and one told to floss first. They measured the amount of dental and interdental plaque in each participant’s mouth prior to the experiment and post-experiment.  The team also measured the amount of fluoride concentrations present after each triad of procedural dental upkeep. The results they found were fascinating.

After two weeks of the experiment, the researchers began to already find differing results. The floss-brush group began to see less interdental and dental plaque concentrations, and an increase in fluoride retention. Though the marginal plaque concentration in both groups was relatively the same, it was proven that flossing before brushing could lead to better oral hygiene and long term oral health.

As you prepare to take care of your teeth tonight, try flossing before you brush!

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