am I the only one confused about flossing before or after brushing?

I've heard the floss-first thing too, something about loosening plaque so brushing can clear it away better. Honestly, I switched recently and my kid's dentist recommended it as well—seems legit, but who knows if it's a huge difference long-term?

I've been flossing first for years now, mostly because my dentist mentioned the plaque-loosening thing too. Honestly, I haven't noticed a huge difference in terms of dental visits or anything dramatic, but it does feel cleaner after brushing. Maybe it's psychological, who knows?

One thing I've learned over the years is that consistency matters way more than the exact order. My husband still brushes first and flosses after, and his teeth are perfectly fine—no cavities or issues at all. So while dentists might have their preferences or recommendations, I think as long as you're flossing regularly and properly, you're probably doing enough.

Dental advice seems to shift every few years anyway...remember when we were all supposed to use mouthwash religiously? Now my dentist says it's optional unless you have specific issues. Go figure!

I've always wondered about the mouthwash thing too—my dentist used to push it pretty hard, but last visit she barely mentioned it. Makes me wonder how much of dental advice is just trends or marketing. Anyway, speaking of flossing, does anyone else find it tricky to floss properly around the back teeth? I mean, I floss regularly, but I'm never totally sure I'm getting those back molars right. Sometimes it feels like I'm just awkwardly jabbing around back there. Is there a trick to it or am I just overthinking again? Also, does anyone use those floss pick things instead of regular floss—is that just as effective or am I better off sticking with traditional floss?