What Is the Best Time to Clean Between Your Teeth—Before or After Brushing?

The most important take home message about cleaning between your teeth is to do it. As long as you do a thorough job, it does not matter if you floss first or brush first. Pick a time of day when you can devote an extra couple of minutes to your dental care. People who are too tired at the end of the day may benefit from cleaning between their teeth first thing in the morning or after lunch. Others might like to go to bed with a clean mouth.

And don’t forget, children need to clean between their teeth too! Start as soon as your child has two teeth that touch. Because cleaning between teeth demands more manual dexterity than very young children have, children are not usually able to do a thorough job on their own until age 10 or 11.

Keep in mind that cleaning between your teeth should not be painful. If you do it too hard, you could damage the tissue between your teeth. If you’re too gentle, you might not be getting the food out. It’s normal to feel some discomfort when you first start, but don’t give up. With daily brushing and cleaning between your teeth, that discomfort should ease within a week or two. If your pain persists, make sure to mention the problem to Dr. Thor at your next visit to Yahara Dental.

Source:  American Dental Association:  mouthhealthy.org