[Closed] finally figured out the best floss-mouthwash routine

I dunno, flossing first just makes me stress more because I feel like brushing afterward pushes stuff back into those tight spots around the brackets. Doesn't mouthwash first sorta loosen things up better...? Or is that just me being paranoid again?

I get where you're coming from, but honestly, flossing first has always worked better for me. When I had braces, I used to think mouthwash would loosen things up too...but it mostly just made my mouth feel minty without actually helping much with stuck food. Flossing first seemed to clear out the tight spots around the brackets better, and then brushing afterward felt like a final sweep-up. But hey, everyone's different - whatever keeps you from stressing is probably the best routine for you.

"whatever keeps you from stressing is probably the best routine for you."

Couldn't agree more with this. My daughter struggled a lot with braces at first, and we tried every possible combo. Eventually, flossing first was our winner too - but honestly, comfort and consistency matter most in the long run.

"comfort and consistency matter most in the long run."

True, comfort is key...but I'd argue flossing after brushing worked better for me personally. Felt like brushing first loosened things up, making flossing easier - especially around tricky brackets. Guess everyone's mileage varies a bit.

Interesting, I've always flossed first myself - felt like it cleared the way for brushing to really do its thing. But now you've got me curious about switching it up. Did you notice any difference in gum sensitivity or bleeding when you changed your routine? Might give brushing-first a shot and see how it goes...