"sometimes it's worth questioning even our best habits now and then."
Totally agree with this. I've had similar experiences where I thought my routine was spot-on, only to find out later there was a better way. Like you mentioned about flossing before brushing—I actually asked my dentist about that exact thing last visit. She said flossing first does help loosen debris, but she also mentioned mouthwash timing matters too. Apparently, using mouthwash immediately after brushing can rinse away the fluoride from toothpaste, reducing its effectiveness. Her recommendation was to either use mouthwash at a different time of day or wait at least 30 minutes after brushing.
Have you tried adjusting when you use mouthwash? I switched mine to midday after lunch, and honestly, my teeth feel cleaner throughout the day. Might be worth experimenting with if you're still tweaking your routine...
I've been doing the midday mouthwash thing too, mostly because I got tired of feeling like I was literally spitting money down the drain after brushing, lol. My dentist also mentioned the fluoride thing—she said something like,
and I was like, great, now you tell me after I've wasted gallons of mouthwash over the years..."using mouthwash immediately after brushing can rinse away the fluoride from toothpaste"
Honestly though, switching it up has been pretty good. I used to think my routine was perfect until I realized half my toothpaste benefits were probably swirling down the sink. Now I floss first (which still feels weirdly rebellious), brush, and then do mouthwash after lunch or whenever I remember. Teeth feel cleaner, wallet feels happier—win-win.
I switched to flossing first a while back too, and honestly, it felt super weird at first—like putting socks on before pants or something. But now it makes sense... loosening up all the gunk before brushing just feels cleaner. My dentist also suggested skipping the rinse altogether after brushing at night, just spit and leave the fluoride on your teeth overnight. Took some getting used to, but my checkups have been way better since.
I tried the floss-first thing too, but honestly, it still feels kinda backwards to me. Does it actually make a noticeable difference at your checkups, or could it be more about technique overall? My orthodontist never mentioned skipping the rinse afterward either—now I'm curious if that's something more dentists recommend rather than orthodontists. Might give it a shot though... anything to shorten those awkward chair conversations about plaque build-up.
"Does it actually make a noticeable difference at your checkups, or could it be more about technique overall?"
Honestly, I think it's mostly about consistency and thoroughness rather than order. I switched to flossing first a while back, but the real game changer was just slowing down and flossing properly around each bracket. My hygienist definitely noticed less plaque afterward... awkward chair convos reduced by like 80%, lol.
