Brush first? Floss first?

The American Dental Association says that flossing is integral to oral hygiene routine. The recommendation is brushing with fluoride for at least two minutes at twice daily, accompanied by once daily flossing. It keeps plaque, cavities, and gum disease at bay. Now, on flossing, some people floss daily as recommended, others floss only when they feel something’s stuck in between their teeth, while the rest, almost never floss. We all understand that flossing removes food debris, plaque and bacteria in between teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach.

Though it’s a simple, routine task, flossing seems tedious for most people for some reason or other. But apart from that, those who floss wonder if there is a specific sequence for better results – does flossing follow brushing, or is it the other way around.

Some experts say that patients can have flexibility. How frequently and thoroughly you clean your mouth is more important than the specific sequence. This suggest that it’s up to you to determine your routine. What works best for you is your personal preference. When are you most likely to thoroughly clean your teeth.

However, there are dentists and other medical professionals who differ and have their own preferences. For example, some periodontists, those who specialize in gum diseases, advice flossing before brushing. They claim that doing so loosens up plaque that you can brush away. Most people brush first simply because it’s the first thing in a routine they do. Then again, all of the research leads to the fact that it doesn’t really matter when you brush your teeth first and clean between them later. As long as you follow the brush twice a day, floss once a day rule, it’s beneficial.

Flossing Properly

What does matter, though, is that you floss properly. To make sure you’re actually removing plaque, you should place the floss between two teeth, curve it around the shape of one tooth, move it up and down (not forward and backward) a couple times, and then repeat around the other tooth. You floss not to get food out from between teeth, you floss to remove plaque from below the gum line that’s in between teeth. There’s a distinction.

Traditional dental floss, as well as dental picks, interdental brushes and water flossers can do the work. But for your unique mouth conditions, seek your dentist’s advice and how they are used properly.

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Better Understanding of Brushing and Flossing

At Overlake Dental in Bellevue, we encourage and promote flossing, and whatever sequence you choose to do it is alright, for as long as the recommended standards are followed.

Benefits of Dental Sealants for Children

Dental sealants are a treatment for children’s teeth designed to be applied on the chewing surfaces of teeth to protect teeth by preventing cavities from forming. The sealant is a thin, plastic coating made of biocompatible acrylic usually painted on the back teeth – premolars and molars. It quickly bonds into the depressions and grooves of the teeth, forming a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth. Teeth have recesses on their biting surfaces; the back teeth have fissures or grooves and some front teeth have pits. Food debris and bacteria get stuck in these depressions making the teeth highly susceptible to tooth decay. These teeth are also hard to reach for cleaning; tooth brushing is not always enough to keep them clean.

Dental sealants are mainly used in children who are at higher risk of tooth decay, and are usually placed as soon as the adult molar teeth come through. Once applied, sealants protect against 80% of cavities for 2 years and continue to protect against 50% of cavities for up to 4 years. Children aged 6 to 11 years without sealants have almost three times more first molar cavities than children with sealants.

Having sealants is Good for Oral Health

It’s a simple and quick procedure, it is not expensive, and is quite accessible – it can be applied by a dentist, dental hygienist, or other qualified dental professional. This can be done in dental offices or using portable dental equipment in community settings like a school. However, given its benefits, the treatment is still underused.

Sealant use increased by about 75% among low-income children and remained at about 43% among higher-income children from 1999–2004 to 2011–2016. Less than half of children aged 6 to 11 years have dental sealants. Low-income children are 15% less likely to get sealants and twice as likely to have untreated cavities.

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Dental Sealants for Children at Overlake Dental

If you are considering dental sealants for your child, come over to Overlake Dental in Bellevue and let’s talk more about ensuring a healthy future for your child’s oral health.

Kid’s Oral Health Education Starts in The Home

A lot of children get cavities, or what is known also as caries or tooth decay. In fact, cavities are one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in the US. When cavities go untreated, children experience toothache leading to other infections. The experience interrupts their eating, speaking, including playing and learning. Compared to kids with better oral health, they are the ones who often miss school, are less attentive or participative in class, and get lower grades.

Let’s look at some statistics. About 1 of 5 children aged 5-11 years and 1 of 7 adolescents aged 12-19 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth each. About one-fourth of children aged 5-19 years from low-income families are twice as likely (25%) to have cavities, compared with children from higher-income households (11%).

However, cavities are preventable. There are many ways children can prevent or delay cavities on their teeth. Notable are: application of fluoride varnish that can prevent 33% of cavities in the primary teeth; application of dental sealants that prevents 80% of cavities; drinking community fluoridated tap water that can lead to fewer cavities; brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste.
For babies, parents, guardians, and caregivers can (a) wipe gums twice a day with a soft, clean cloth in the morning after the first feeding and right before bed to wipe away bacteria and sugars that can cause cavities, (b) start brushing twice a day with a soft, small‑bristled toothbrush and plain water when teeth start to erupt, (c) visit the dentist by your baby’s first birthday to spot early problems, and (d) see about putting fluoride varnish on your child’s teeth by your dentist as soon as the first tooth appears.

For children, no longer babies, parents, guardians, and caregivers can (a) teach kids how to brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, (b) encourage drinking tap water with fluoride, and (c) ask your child’s dentist to apply dental sealants when appropriate.

Other tips: Teach the child younger than 6 years to use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and always spit it out rather than swallow. Check out your community water supply if it is fluoridated, and if not, ask your dentist or family doctor if your child needs oral fluoride supplements (drops, tablets, or lozenges).

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Child’s Dentist Appointments at Overlake Dental in Bellevue

Learn more about your children’s oral health status by regular dentist visits. While dental health education starts in the home, it’s always best to seek professional assistance.