Flossing - Before of after Brushing?

Question

Now according to the ADA you're suppose to floss after brushing and this makes no sense to me. My professor said the same thing and I didn't believe him until I looked on the ADA's website. I read in other books that it's better to floss before brushing, because you have to clean any garbage you re circulate in your mouth, which makes perfect sense to me

I'm not asking what YOU personally think is the best thing, I just want to know what is the philosophy behind flossing after brushing the teeth; there must be a good reason.

Answer 1

My uncle is a dentist and he also says that it's better to floss after you brushed your teeth
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It's because after you brush your teeth you get about most of the particles stuck in your teeth out and if you floss after the brushing you can maximize the chance of getting all of the food things out.
Whereas if you floss before you brush, there might be still some things left between your teeth even after you're finished.

Answer 2

I am a dental hygiene student and we were told by our professors that everyone should floss BEFORE brushing so you are correct. I guess there is a debate, which there always is, between publishers/ authors.
I personally like to floss after brushing but it does make much more sense to floss first. You could always brush, floss, brush if you are concerned. The most important thing though is not WHEN you floss but that you floss once a day.

Answer 3

Flossing after brushing is better. It's because after you brush your teeth you get about most of the particles stuck on your teeth out and if you floss after that you can maximize the chance of taking out all of the particles stuck in between your teeth.
Whereas if you floss before you brush, there might be still some things left between your teeth even after you're finished.

Answer 4

the philosophy behind flossing after brushing is so that more emphasis is put on brushing than flossing. Many children don't like to brush their teeth, if they were to floss first and than brush; they'll do satisfactory flossing but mediocre on brushing. Since it's nearly impossible to monitor children to brush and floss effectively, you can emphasis the more important part of teeth hygiene by putting them in a habit of brushing first.

I guess fact wise flossing first and than brushing is more effective in your oral hygiene. Since this seems to be growing into a standard, it only means people are more concerned about their oral hygiene and willing to put equal effort in brushing and flossing effectively.

It's kinda of like when you have jockage in the private area. Doctors would tell you put on your socks first before your underwear, boxers, or coverings around your junk because putting on socks first prevents the fungi's on your feet to spreading to your grind area worsening the jockage.

Answer 5

when you brush you are cleaning the garbage in your mouth. after that you floss to get in between any areas that your brush missed. if you do it before you can't tell if you got it all out or not.

Answer 6

Personally, I floss after. It actually hurts to the brush my teeth after flossing. Its not very comfortable.

Answer 7

You need to brush first to rid your mouth of bacteria. That way if you floss a little too rough and cause a bleed you lessen the chance of infection.

Answer 8

Well, that is a good question. Every dentist I go to, they do it differently. 2 dentists did it after and the one I go to now does it before. I just do what I choose to do and rationalize that-hey, atleast I am flossing!

Answer 9

if you floss after you brush but before you rinse there is still some of the abrasives in the toothpaste and they can help remove the stains and help with plaque

Answer 10

well if you floss correctly you won't leave any debris in your mouth so it won't matter either way. i usually floss before but after doesn't seem too illogical either.