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Do you brush or floss first? Which is better?


I floss first. My reasoning is that it helps to loosen the debris which you can then brush away right after. But I also use my Waterpik too which I absolutely love; it's addicting seeing all the food debris rinse away down the sink. So, for me, Floss --> Waterpik --> Brush :)

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Floss first
Brush for about two minutes
Rinse with mouthwash

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Of course floss first. I've never heard otherwise. I also like these:

https://smile.amazon.com/Sunstar-6326RA-Picks-Original-Count/dp/B079K5JTMZ/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=gum+picks&qid=1566279586&s=gateway&sr=8-7

And I use an electric toothbrush.

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I don’t floss, but I have a pile of TePe interdental brushes. I also have a professional home dentist kit, which I bought on Amazon (imagine all the pointy, scrapy things that dentists use). This combination (brushing last) seems to do the trick, as I’ve got no filings and I never have a problem when I visit the dentist and hygienist twice a year.

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When I hit 59, I decided to see the dentist/hygienist three times a year, and it has served me well.

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I don’t understand people who don’t bother. Sometimes I see really bad cases and think, good grief, go and sort your teeth out.

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You are obviously enlightened, but when will the Brits realize that Hedley & Wyche is to be avoided?

(Official video, unavoidable ad) https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/hedly-and-wyche/n10017

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👍

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I've always brushed first. I always thought it was the correct order because the dental hygienist always flosses after they brush your teeth. Maybe I have been doing it wrong my whole life?!

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Consider that while the hygienist might give you a final flossing after polishing your teeth, she has already spent quite some time removing calculus. It would be odd indeed (I think) if she polished your teeth first, then started scraping.

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Logically, flossing first makes the most sense. However, every time I've gone to the dentist, they flossed after the cleaning. I don't floss as often as I should but sometimes I get the bleeding gums. Brushing afterwards gets the taste of blood out of my mouth.

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Floss and then brush.

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floss, rinse, brush.

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Rinse, brush and then floss. Flossing first is messy. Most of the debris is removed by brushing and rinsing first. When you floss first you’re slinging yucky debris all over the place. Look at your mirror when you floss first! Eww!

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Yeah but with an electric toothbrush you’d be pushing some of the debris deeper into your tooth I’d think.

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Actually you don’t. It’s the other way around. We’ve used a Sonicare since becoming available, continuing to purchase new ones. It loosens debris if used correctly and changing brush heads when needed. My husband flosses before and it irks the hell out of me; debris on the nightstands, on the lamp, on the clock radio, etc. I proved to him there is hardly any debris when brushing and rinsing first.

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If you do it slow leaning over the sink that’s not an issue.

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As mentioned prior, the dental hygienist cleans the teeth....then flosses. S/he doesn’t floss first. Besides leaning over a sink and properly flossing is rather awkward; debris will still “fly”. Why not just start with a brushed rinsed mouth prior to flossing? Why deal with all the gunk before brushing?

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