When it comes to maintaining a healthy smile, most people know that both brushing and flossing are essential. Do you know how often you should floss, though, or when? While brushing after every meal is ideal, dentists recommend flossing just once daily. If you’re wondering whether to floss before or after brushing, read on to find out. 

When to Do It

It does not matter when you floss as long as you do so every day. Therefore, the best time to do it is whenever works best for you or at the same time every day. Though, it is wise to devise a routine and stick to it. The same applies to whether you floss before or after brushing. Some people prefer to floss first so they can brush away any plaque that they dislodge, while others like brushing first so their mouth is minty fresh when cleaning between their teeth. At the end of the day, either approach will contribute to your oral hygiene—as long as you do it right. 

How to Do It

How you floss is far more important than when you do it. To clean between the teeth properly, you need approximately 18 inches of dental floss. Wrap most of it around your middle fingers, leaving roughly 2 inches between them. Hold the remaining floss between your foreigners and thumbs, and slide it between two teeth, making sure to hug both of them just beneath the gum line. Unwrap a clean piece before moving to the next tooth. 

Flossing can help you maintain a beautiful smile, but it’s still important to visit your dentist regularly. If it has been a while since your last appointment, turn to Bert E. Bathiany IV, DMD. With two Kentucky locations for optimum convenience—one in Florence and another in Fort Thomas—they provide preventive and pediatric dental care. Both practices are warm and inviting, and every member of their team strives to put patients of all ages at ease. To make a dentist appointment for you or one of your children, visit their website. You can also call (859) 525-2100 to talk to a pediatric dentist in Florence or (859) 781-4100 to schedule a cleaning in Fort Thomas.