Elevate Your Dental Hygiene – Brush Or Floss First
One of the most important aspects of general health is oral health. Maintaining the health of your smile is made possible by routine dental cleanings, daily flossing, and proper brushing twice a day.
Besides maintaining good dental hygiene, consuming less acidic and sugary food and lots of water can help you keep a healthy mouth. Adding tools like interdental brushes that slip between your teeth can dislodge and remove plaque from hard-to-reach areas.
Brush
Brushing and flossing are essential daily activities that prevent cavities and gum disease and contribute to a healthy smile. However, there is a lot of debate over the best order to complete these tasks.
Some people believe it is better to floss before brushing, as this can help to dislodge larger food particles between teeth before brushing them away. It also allows fluoride in toothpaste to reach more areas of the mouth.
Experts always encourage our patients to follow their oral hygiene routine and brush first, but they agree that flossing should be the next step for a healthier smile. Flossing removes plaque, bacteria, and food from hard-to-reach areas, which helps reduce your risk of cavities while you wait for your toothbrush to reach those hard-to-reach spots.
Moreover, when prioritizing dental hygiene and oral health, individuals may opt for essential procedures like wisdom teeth removal in Pasadena, ensuring proper dental alignment and reducing the risk of complications in the future.
Floss
Flossing removes food debris, plaque, and bacteria lodged between teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach. This helps keep your breath fresh, ward off cavities and gum disease, and reduces the risk of atherosclerosis, which can cause heart attacks or strokes.
Those who advocate flossing first claim that it allows you to remove more plaque before it hardens into tartar, which requires a dental professional to remove. They also point to a 2018 study that showed those who flossed before brushing saw a higher concentration of fluoride in their mouths.
Regardless of your approach, you must floss and brush your teeth twice daily to prevent plaque buildup, bad breath, cavities, gum disease, and other dental problems.
Brush Twice a Day
When you brush your teeth twice daily for two minutes each time, you remove more food particles and bacteria than if you only brush once daily. Be sure to use fluoride toothpaste with the ADA Seal of Acceptance and brush your teeth gently and thoroughly.
Flossing at least once daily is also essential for your dental hygiene routine. This helps to reduce your plaque and food accumulation, and it can help to prevent gingivitis, which can lead to tooth loss or a root canal.
Flossing is imperative if you have diseases that affect your gums, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or HIV/AIDS. It can also be helpful if you have bad breath, as it helps to remove bacteria from your mouth.
For comprehensive dental care and expert advice on oral hygiene practices, consider trusted dental practices like Art of Smiles in Pasadena, which is known for its commitment to patient wellness and dental excellence.
Floss Twice a Day
Flossing is one of the best weapons in your oral hygiene arsenal against bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease. It removes food debris and plaque from hard-to-reach areas of your mouth that brushing can’t reach.
Plaque starts to harden within 48 hours, so you’ll want to remove it immediately. Besides causing bad breath, plaque can lead to cavities and gum disease.
Flossing is a simple but important habit to make. It would help if you floss at least once daily, but it’s best to do it both morning and night. Be careful not to over-floss; too much flossing can damage your gum tissue and expose more of your teeth to bacteria.
Brush Your Tongue
If you brush and floss regularly, your breath is fresh, and your teeth are clean. However, many must realize that cleaning your tongue is essential for good oral health.
Keeping your tongue clean is vital for good dental hygiene because it eliminates bacteria that can cause gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath. This is because the taste buds on your tongue, called papillae, offer germs and bacteria a perfect place to hide and stay in your mouth.
The best way to remove these bacteria is by brushing your tongue. This can be done using regular toothbrushes or specialized tools such as interdental brushes and floss picks. Experts recommend brushing your tongue for two minutes at least once daily to prevent bad breath and improve oral health.
