Believe it or not, this is one of those cases where you can do whichever seems most natural to you. The main purpose of both brushing and flossing is plaque removal. When done properly, brushing takes care of plaque removal on the outer surface of the teeth, while flossing gets into those hard to reach areas between teeth and just below the gum line.
Prevent Decay One Day at a Time
It does seem like there should be a right way and a wrong way to effectively ditch the plaque, but in terms of which action you choose to do first, Drs. Michelle and Scott Weninger want you to know that it’s entirely up to you. There is no wrong answer as long as you take your time to brush and floss thoroughly. Removal of decay-causing plaque is the ultimate goal to maintain optimal oral health.
How Do I Know If I’m Getting All of the Plaque?
Because plaque is hard to see unless it gets out of control, you may wonder how you’ll know if you’ve been brushing and flossing effectively. Many pharmacies and stores that sell oral hygiene products also sell handy-dandy little plaque disclosing tablets. After you clean your teeth and gums, you chew the tablet to reveal the location of any lingering plaque. Special red dye stains the plaque, allowing you to pinpoint those areas for additional cleaning.
What is the Best Way to Keep Plaque at Bay?
Make brushing and flossing as comfortable as possible. Find a soft-bristled toothbrush that feels good in your hand and is a good fit for your mouth. There are numerous shapes and styles, so if the freebie from your dentist is not your favorite, go with an option you prefer. Tilt the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle towards the gums. This is crucial since plaque like to hide at and just below the gum line. Brush in short, small circles, spending time on each tooth. By the time you effectively tackle the outer tooth surfaces, inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces, you should have spent a full two minutes brushing.
You would think two whole minutes of brushing would take care of business. Plaque thinks otherwise as it lurks in those tight spaces between teeth and just under the gum line. This is where flossing takes over. Flossing each day dislodges the plaque from these hard to reach areas before it can cause damage. If traditional floss is difficult to manage, you have options. Dental flossers are available in just about any store you would find regular dental hygiene products. Talk to your dentist to learn about your options.
The team at Weninger Dentistry is happy to answer questions about which toothbrush and floss option is right for you. If they notice that certain areas of your mouth are more prone to plaque build-up, they will let you know so you can pinpoint the hot spots. Remember, the order in which you brush and floss is not important; it is the fact that you do both effectively.