Mouthwash vs Flossing: Are They Interchangeable?
Mouthwash vs flossing - one of the topics we see more misconceptions about than pretty much anything else. People assume that if they floss every day, mouthwash isn’t necessary. Or vice versa - that daily rinsing negates the need for daily flossing.
They are NOT interchangeable. In fact, skipping either of these essential oral care habits leaves you vulnerable to painful, costly complications down the road - be it cavities, gum recession, or worse.
Think about it this way: a good plaque removal mouthwash reaches into the pockets around teeth that would otherwise get missed by your floss, whereas your floss physically dislodges food particles and plaque between teeth. You need both!
Learn more about the nuances between flossing vs mouthwash below and find tips on how to incorporate each into your daily routine the right way.
Key Takeaways
- Mouthwash rinses every surface in your mouth, including under and along the gumline.
- Floss physically removes the plaque and food that get trapped between teeth.
- The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends flossing once daily and says mouthwash is a helpful addition, not a replacement.
- Skipping floss or mouthwash leaves plaque untouched, and it can turn into tartar within 24-72 hours.
- LIVFRESH makes the best mouthwash for plaque removal thanks to an ingredient backed by 40 patents and 40 clinical studies.
The Role of Mouthwash
There are many types of mouthwashes, from antiseptic to anticavity mouthwash formulas and even specialized whitening varieties. They all share the same fundamental purpose. Covering the areas your toothbrush bristles and floss physically cannot reach.
What it CAN Do
The mouthwash contacts quite literally every surface in your oral cavity when you rinse (assuming you do so the right way). That includes the backs of your teeth, the roof of your mouth, your tongue, and the spaces along the gum line. Every nook and cranny where bacteria like to build up throughout the day (and overnight while you sleep).
This is the core principle behind adding mouthwash to your daily care routine - you’re preventing excessive plaque buildup and in turn, stopping tartar from ever having a chance to form. More specifically, LIVFRESH mouthwash is capable of delivering 72% better plaque reduction and 163% better tartar control.
There are many other benefits of mouthwash, including freshening breath. This is actually why many people first turn to it. Rinses like TheraBreath or Listerine can kill the sulfur-producing bacteria behind stinky breath.
What it CAN’T Do
Let’s set your expectations. Does whitening mouthwash work? In many cases, no. It doesn’t contact the tooth surface long enough to actually remove stains. You’ll want to stick to more specialized whitening products.
Mouthwash may not be as effective at physically dislodging food particles or plaque that is wedged between teeth, either. At least, not most formulas. LIVFRESH is a little different in that Activated Edathamil (the main ingredient) physically dissolves plaque on contact, while leaving behind a negative surface charge that prevents new plaque from sticking.
In general, though, the ADA says mouthwash is an addition to your daily oral care regimen. It’s not a replacement for flossing or brushing.
Why You Need to Floss
The other half of the mouthwash vs flossing debate is equally important. Especially if you have crowding or braces where there are extra places for plaque to hide.
What it CAN Do
Floss is the only step in your oral care ritual that can physically remove plaque and trapped food from between your teeth. Your toothbrush simply cannot reach the tight contact points where teeth touch. Plaque loves building up in those gaps because it can live there discreetly until it hardens into tartar - which requires a professional dental visit for removal.
The ADA recommends flossing AT LEAST once a day. There’s evidence behind the suggestion, too. Flossing (in addition to brushing) was able to reduce gingivitis dramatically more than brushing alone.
Dental experts we’ve talked to have confirmed that their patients who consistently floss have better checkups with less manual tartar scraping needed.
What it CAN’T Do
Floss can only remove the plaque and food particles it comes in contact with - and how much of those things floss comes in contact with is entirely dependent on your technique. A lot of people who floss daily still struggle to get a grip on plaque and tartar because they don’t even realize they’re doing it wrong!
It’s also worth noting that floss won’t do anything for the broad tooth surface itself, most of the gums, the roof of your mouth, or your tongue. Brushing won’t help these surfaces, either. That’s something only mouthwash can really do well.
Mouthwash vs Flossing: Do You Need Both?
It’s clearly not a matter of choosing between flossing vs mouthwash. You need both if you want to keep your oral health in check and enjoy better dental checkups. Each tool addresses the gaps the other leaves behind. Together, they round out your regimen.
Floss removes the bulk of gunk between your teeth. Or, at the very least, is able to loosen its grip on the tooth surface. This makes your mouthwash more productive, as it can work just on the stuff that got missed by floss.
That being said, is mouthwash better than flossing? Nope! You need both. Speaking of which…
Brushing, Flossing, and Mouthwash Are NOT Interchangeable!
You came here curious about mouthwash vs flossing, but we want to be very clear that the same goes for brushing. You cannot simply rinse in your car on the way to work because you forgot to brush your teeth - at least, not if you care about your oral health. This is the oral care trifecta:
- Brushing physically removes plaque from the front, back, and chewing surfaces of your teeth.
- Flossing eliminates plaque from between teeth.
- Mouthwash minimizes oral bacteria across the entire oral cavity while effectively rinsing away the plaque and food particles that manual removal methods missed.
Our simple recommendation: brush and use mouthwash twice a day, floss once a day.
How to Floss and Rinse Properly
Technique is just as important as the act itself. You can use mouthwash and floss every single day and still end up with not-so-pleasant dentist appointments because you weren’t doing it right. Here are some tips, starting with timing.
Mouthwash vs Flossing: Does Order Matter?
We get asked all the time, should I use mouthwash before or after brushing? How does flossing factor in? Does it really matter the order in which you do these things?
There was a study published in the Journal of Periodontology that showed that flossing BEFORE brushing led to much better plaque reduction than brushing first. Rinsing is the final step.
It makes sense when you think about it. Floss loosens debris and plaque from between teeth, and then brushing sweeps it away after the fact. This exposes more of the tooth surface to the active ingredients in mouthwash so the rinse can do its job effectively.
This is the order most dentists recommend: floss, brush, rinse.
The Right Way to Floss
Use at least 18 inches of floss. You can use floss sticks, but the issue we have with these is you can often end up reinserting plaque and debris back into gaps between your teeth since the surface area of your flosser is only half an inch or so.
Slide the floss gently between your teeth using a back-and-forth motion. Don’t snap it straight down on the gums. That’s just going to make them bleed, and you’re not really cleaning anything. With the floss between your teeth, curve it into a “C” shape against one tooth. Slide it up and down along the surface. Then, do the same thing against the other tooth surface.
This is where the name “flossing” comes from. You’re not going straight up and down. You’re literally wrapping the floss around the tooth surface for maximum coverage.
We recommend using a clean surface of floss for each tooth. The alternative to traditional flossing is water flossers. The ADA has accepted a few specific models as effective for removing plaque and reducing gingivitis.
Choosing the Right Mouthwash (and Using it Correctly)
Not all mouthwashes are made equal. Most are alcohol-heavy and difficult to commit to using twice daily because they burn so badly. Others are flat-out ineffective at actually removing plaque.
The active ingredients matter. Listerine loads up on essential oils, and a lot of other brands use cetylpyridinium chloride as an alternative. What makes LIVFRESH different is its patented ingredient Activated Edathamil. It dissolves plaque on contact and makes it harder for new plaque to form. With just 0.1% alcohol content, it won’t cause that notorious burn, either.
It’s easy to incorporate into your regimen on a daily basis. Rinse twice daily for 30-60 seconds each time. Really focus on moving the liquid around the entire mouth. Then spit it out and enjoy clean teeth that stay that way!
Regular Dental Visits Can’t Be Overlooked, Either
Even the best at-home care regimen can’t replace regular dental appointments. A dental hygienist has specialized tools to remove the tartar that inevitably forms on your teeth. Your dentist themselves will spot early signs of problems that could cascade into bigger issues.
Most dentists will want to see you twice a year. But there are special circumstances that may warrant booking an immediate appointment with your dentist:
- Bleeding gums that don’t get better with improved oral hygiene
- Horrible breath despite using a daily rinse
- Gums pulling away from the teeth or appearing to be receding
- Loose teeth or changes to your bite
- Pain, swelling, or sores that last more than a week
Call your dentist if you notice any of the above.
Bottom Line on Flossing vs Mouthwash
In closing, mouthwash vs flossing isn’t an “either-or” type of thing by any means. Both are essential aspects of oral care. They address completely different things. Be sure to stick to the twice-daily recommendation for mouthwash and the once-daily recommendation for flossing. Focus on technique, and use the right products.
If you haven’t already, get the mouthwash for bleeding gums and plaque removal. LIVFRESH mouthwash is backed by a satisfaction guarantee, as are our toothpastes, so you can see firsthand what a difference the products make in your routine!
Frequently asked questions
Is it okay to use mouthwash instead of flossing?
No! You need both. They do very different things to keep your oral health in check.
Is it better to only floss or only brush?
Brushing would be better than only flossing, but again, these are not interchangeable habits. You need to brush, floss, and rinse every single day.
What is a good substitute for flossing?
There isn’t one if you mean a substitute for flossing altogether. The only “substitute” for traditional floss that the ADA recommends is certain water flosser models. But you need to floss one way or another.
References
- American Dental Association. "Mouthwash (Mouthrinse)." MouthHealthy.org. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/mouthwash
- American Dental Association. "Flossing." MouthHealthy.org. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/flossing
- Mazhari F. et al. "The Effect of Toothbrushing and Flossing Sequence on Interdental Plaque Reduction and Fluoride Retention." Journal of Periodontology, 2018; 89(7):824-832. https://doi.org/10.1002/JPER.17-0149
- Sambunjak D. et al. "Flossing for the Management of Periodontal Diseases and Dental Caries in Adults." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008829.pub2
