Flossing before or after brushing?

[kt]

Just curious because my friend says she flosses after brushing, but I floss before brushing my teeth. Her logic is that the brushing lossens up stuff between teeth and flossing finishes the job. I figure flossing would do a better job at loosening stuff in between places that brushing wouldn't reach and brushing takes care of everything else.

 

[Excelsior]

Before, of course. Brushing cleans up the crap that the floss loosens up.

 

[IAteYourMother]

I don't care. I do it whenver I feel like it, like now.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I go after, but whatever..

 

[MX2]

Before, sometimes after, meh

 

[laketrout]

yeah, basically when I remember. But that makes sense to do it before. I'm pretty sure my dentist "flosses" me before any real cleaning begins. That reminds me..I need to make an appointment!

 

[Kalvin00]

after for me...

 

[bobsmith1492]

Before, like Excelsior said - brushing removes stuff the floss pulls out.

I used to brush, floss, then brush before going to the dentist though.... What does that count as?

 

[DainBramaged]

Originally posted by: MX2times
Before, sometimes after, meh

 

[BW86]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
Before, of course. Brushing cleans up the crap that the floss loosens up.

 

[theslickvik]

Before but here's the rub, you should rinse with an antisceptic (Listerene/Scope) as it will drain all the residual plaque that is there after flossing. Many times floss loosens the plaque but doesnt take all of it out. Using Listerene in tandem with the floss helps eliminate the problem

UCSF Class of 2003 Dental

 

[walrus]

Before, I've not given this subject enough thought to post a good reason, but always before.

 

[bleeb]

why not before and after. that way, you can't lose.

 

[AgentUnknown]

Originally posted by: theslickvik
Before but here's the rub, you should rinse with an antisceptic (Listerene/Scope) as it will drain all the residual plaque that is there after flossing. Many times floss loosens the plaque but doesnt take all of it out. Using Listerene in tandem with the floss helps eliminate the problem

UCSF Class of 2003 Dental

Nice, UCSF! 2006 NYU.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
Before, of course. Brushing cleans up the crap that the floss loosens up.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

I don't, a week after I got my Sonicare I wasn't getting anything out with the floss, so I ditched it. Sonicare FTW!

 

[kt]

Originally posted by: theslickvik
Before but here's the rub, you should rinse with an antisceptic (Listerene/Scope) as it will drain all the residual plaque that is there after flossing. Many times floss loosens the plaque but doesnt take all of it out. Using Listerene in tandem with the floss helps eliminate the problem

UCSF Class of 2003 Dental

What if I use flouride rinse? I use Listerene/Scope in the morning and flouride rinse at night.

 

[Miramonti]

After, so you can clear the teeth and get some bacteria-killing paste in there. hello?

 

[RaiderJ]

Floss > Listerine > Brush

No cavities yet!

 

[electrosoccertux]

Originally posted by: kt
Just curious because my friend says she flosses after brushing, but I floss before brushing my teeth. Her logic is that the brushing lossens up stuff between teeth and flossing finishes the job. I figure flossing would do a better job at loosening stuff in between places that brushing wouldn't reach and brushing takes care of everything else.

Before because that pulls out all the bacteria that have been building up in between your teeth. If you wait till after brushing to floss, and you stir up all that bacteria, you basically returned your teeth to the state they were in before you brushed, namely covered in bacteria.

 

[electrosoccertux]

Originally posted by: RaiderJ
Floss > Listerine > Brush

No cavities yet!

hm, I would think the other way would be better. Brushing will inevitably miss a few bacterias here and there, but swishing Listerine around can't miss anything.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: RaiderJ
Floss > Listerine > Brush

No cavities yet!

Floss w/Listerine + Brush > *

 

[montanafan]

Usually it's - Brush, Floss, Listerene

But sometimes it's - Floss, Listerene, Brush

I don't think it really matters that much as long as you do the cleaning.

 

[B00ne]

I brush, floss and then rinse with mouthwash

 

[Pepsei]

guys, this is a text book opening discussions you can have when you meet random people (read chicks). try it.