What is the most effective sequence for your oral hygiene routine? Recent research suggests flossing before brushing your teeth is the way to go. This approach is superior for eliminating dental plaque on tooth surfaces and boosts the fluoride concentration in your mouth. Flossing before brushing helps strengthen your tooth enamel, making it more resistant to decay.
A straightforward two-step dental care routine can wipe out plaque and fortify teeth. And remember, your journey to optimal oral health is a partnership beyond the dental chair.
The Importance of Flossing with Orthodontics
You might wonder if flossing makes a difference during your orthodontic treatment. The answer is yes!
A disciplined oral care routine is necessary to avoid other dental problems. Orthodontic appliances don’t damage the teeth but can create nooks and crannies that are challenging to clean. These tricky spots can accumulate plaque and food, leading to permanent white marks (decalcification), cavities, swollen gums, bad breath, and even periodontal disease.
Flossing plays a vital role in maintaining the health of your teeth and gums, and it’s even more critical when you have orthodontic appliances.
- Target Hidden Areas: Braces, aligners, and other orthodontic appliances often create numerous small spaces that are difficult to clean with a toothbrush alone. Flossing can reach these secluded spots, minimizing the risk of plaque buildup.
- Prevent Gum Disease: Accumulated plaque between teeth and along the gumline can lead to gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Regular flossing helps reduce plaque accumulation and prevent this condition early.
- Preserve Tooth Enamel: Plaque and tartar can erode the enamel of your teeth. Flossing contributes to enamel preservation by eliminating this plaque and its harmful hidden particles and bacteria.
- Reduce Bad Breath: Food particles caught in orthodontic appliances can cause persistent bad breath. Flossing aids in removing these particles, thus helping to keep your breath fresh.
- Protect Overall Oral Health: Poor oral hygiene can lead to cavities, mouth sores, and even more severe conditions like periodontal disease. Consistent flossing complements brushing to provide thorough oral care.
Tips for Becoming an Active Participant in Your Oral Health
Maintaining a healthy smile while undergoing orthodontic treatment is a collaborative effort. It involves you, your dentist, and your orthodontist. Your responsibilities include:
- Brushing for two minutes after each meal or snack. Can’t brush right away? Rinse your mouth with water as a temporary measure.
- Prioritizing flossing at least once daily, optimally, before brushing.
- Ensuring your teeth are squeaky clean before going to sleep.
- Getting regular dental check-ups every 4-6 months for cleanings and assessments.
- Avoiding sugary foods and beverages that can lead to tooth decay and decalcification.
Top Tools and Tips for Oral Care
Navigating the maze of oral hygiene can be challenging when wearing braces or other orthodontic appliances. While instrumental in aligning your teeth, these devices also create additional areas in your mouth that can trap food and bacteria. The key to maintaining optimal oral health lies in regular cleaning and using the right tools for effective cleaning. Knowing what’s available can significantly enhance your daily oral care routine, making it more accessible, more efficient, and, ultimately, more effective.
Many tools are available to enhance oral hygiene, from brushes designed to reach tight spaces to water irrigators that flush out debris. Here’s a roundup of indispensable tools that can up your oral hygiene game and some pro tips from orthodontists to get the most out of them.
- Interproximal Brushes: These specialized brushes are fantastic for removing plaque and food particles between teeth and around brackets and wires.
- Water Flossers: These devices use water pressure to clean between teeth and around orthodontic devices, making them highly efficient at removing trapped particles.
- Fluoride Mouth Rinse: Whether you opt for over-the-counter or prescription strength, a daily fluoride rinse can help strengthen tooth enamel and ward off decalcification.
- Floss Threaders: These are essential for threading floss through the spaces between teeth and wires, enabling you to clean hard-to-reach areas.
- Orthodontic Flossers: These flossers are explicitly designed to navigate around wires and brackets, thereby making the flossing process more accessible and effective.
- Rubber-Tipped Gum Stimulators: These tools can gently massage the gums, stimulating blood flow.
Your orthodontist may recommend specific techniques, like dipping an interproximal brush into a fluoride rinse for targeted protection or using a fluoride rinse as the liquid in your water irrigator, to make your oral care regimen even more effective. You can even ask your general dentist about using a prescription toothpaste to help fortify your teeth while in treatment!
Why Trust an AAO-Certified Orthodontist?
Consider partnering with an American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) orthodontist to attain a stunning, healthy smile at any age. AAO orthodontists specialize in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, ensuring your teeth and jaws are correctly aligned. They bring a wealth of skill and experience to help you achieve your best smile. To find an AAO-certified orthodontist near you, visit aaoinfo.org/locator.
FAQs
A Guide to Optimal Oral Hygiene. What is the most effective sequence for your oral hygiene routine? Recent research suggests flossing before brushing your teeth is the way to go. This approach is superior for eliminating dental plaque on tooth surfaces and boosts the fluoride concentration in your mouth.
Does the ADA recommend brushing or flossing first? ›
Should I brush or floss first? Either way is acceptable as long as you do a thorough job. Some people like to floss before brushing to better ensure that any material between teeth is swept out of the mouth. Others prefer to first clean their mouth by brushing before working with floss between their teeth.
What is the correct order for oral hygiene? ›
Most people brush, floss and then use mouthwash. And some just brush, skipping the other two steps. As it turns out, it's actually more effective to floss, use mouthwash, then brush, according to dentists — and they don't recommend skipping any steps.
Should you brush your teeth before or after interdental cleaning? ›
Should I use interdental brushes before or after brushing? According to the Oral Health Foundation, we should perform interdental cleaning before brushing to maximise its effectiveness. The study found that flossing loosens bacteria and debris from between the teeth, making them easier to clean.
What is the correct order for performing a dental cleaning? ›
- Dental Cleanings: Step-By-Step. Some of us who attend regular dental cleanings do not know much about the dental cleaning process. ...
- Examination. ...
- Removal of Plaque and Tartar (Scaling) ...
- Polish Cleaning With Toothpaste. ...
- Flossing, Rinsing. ...
- Fluoride Treatment. ...
- All Done!
While it may be surprising, a study has found that flossing first followed by brushing with a fluoride toothpaste is more effective in removing interdental plaque than brushing first, flossing second. In addition, flossing before brushing results in greater fluoride retention between teeth.
Do dentists recommend brushing before or after breakfast? ›
Breakfast staples like orange juice and coffee are notoriously acidic. Brushing your teeth right after eating or drinking acidic foods can cause damage to your tooth enamel. The American Dental Association recommends waiting at least 60 minutes after eating or drinking acidic foods or drinks before brushing your teeth.
What is the golden rule for oral hygiene? ›
Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Clean between your teeth daily using floss or interdental brushes. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and limit added sugar intake. Visit the dentist regularly for check-ups and preventative care.
What is the correct order for the dental hygiene process of care? ›
Flossing first can provide better results, but overall, if you're brushing and flossing daily, you're doing a great job with your oral health, regardless of which order you choose. However, it's still important to use mouthwash last, as the product won't work as well if rinsed away during subsequent oral hygiene steps.
What is the best order to clean your teeth? ›
For the most effective cleaning, complete them in this order.
- Floss first. Flossing works best to remove food particles and plaque between teeth. ...
- Rinse next. Rinsing with water or mouthwash washes away the debris removed in step one to prepare for more effective brushing. ...
- Brush last.
According to the dentist in Sugar Land, TX, brushing, and flossing both are important for your dental health. However, if you have to choose one, flossing is more important and sufficient if done properly. The aim of flossing is to remove the plaque, which consists of active colonies of destructive bacteria.
Can I use interdental brushes instead of flossing? ›
In response, the British Society of Periodontology said: 'Evidence supports the use of small interdental brushes for cleaning between the teeth where there is space to do so, in preference to flossing… Floss is not a waste of time – it is a viable alternative to interdental brushing where appropriate.
Do you throw away interdental brushes? ›
If the bristles start to look worn or shabby, or if the wire starts to fatigue (bend or twist), we recommend you throw it out and replace it with a new one. Often an interdental brush may only last for 1-2 weeks.
What is the proper order for brushing flossing and rinsing ADA? ›
A proper dental routine consists of five steps: rinsing, brushing, flossing, tongue scraping, and a final rinse.
Should I use mouthwash before or after brushing? ›
The Mayo Clinic recommends using mouthwash after brushing and flossing your teeth. However, the National Health Service (NHS) recommends avoiding mouthwash right after brushing, since this may wash away the fluoride from your toothpaste. Instead, the NHS recommends using mouthwash at a different time of day.
What is the best teeth cleaning routine? ›
Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Clean between teeth regularly, aiming for once a day. Use dental floss or a special brush or wooden or plastic pick recommended by a dental professional.
What is the ADA approved brushing technique? ›
In general, the American Dental Association suggests that people place the toothbrush against the gumline at a 45-degree angle to remove plaque from above and just below the gingival margin, and move the toothbrush gently back and forth in short strokes.
Should I brush and floss before dentist? ›
Brushing Teeth Before The Dentist
You absolutely can brush (and floss) your teeth the day of your next office visit. However, if you are planning to undergo a full teeth cleaning, any residual food particles or stains will be effectively removed whether you brush your teeth or not.
Does the ADA recommend water flossing? ›
The water, like traditional floss, removes food from between teeth. Water flossers that have earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance have been tested to be safe and effective at removing a sticky film called plaque, which puts you at a higher risk for cavities and gum disease.
What's more important, brushing or flossing? ›
According to the dentist in Sugar Land, TX, brushing, and flossing both are important for your dental health. However, if you have to choose one, flossing is more important and sufficient if done properly. The aim of flossing is to remove the plaque, which consists of active colonies of destructive bacteria.
