Even the American Dental Association says whether to floss or brush first is up to you, noting that, "either way is acceptable as long as you do a thorough job." What the ADA does recommend, though, is that you brush twice a day and clean between your teeth with floss or another interdental cleaner (e.g. a soft toothpick) at least once a day.

Reminder: Flossing is important because it helps remove debris and plaque that builds up between your teeth, lowering your risk of gum disease (aka gingivitis) and tooth decay, points out Mark Wolff, D.D.S., Ph.D., dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.

Eventually, plaque can harden and turn into tartar, which requires a professional oral cleaning to eliminate (read: brushing and flossing are no longer effective).

Brushing after you floss gives you the chance to brush away the gunk you pull out from between your teeth vs.

Think of it this way: Your toothbrush does a pretty solid job of getting food and plaque off the surface of your teeth, and even at dislodging some of the stuff that's between them, says Wolff.

The study randomly assigned people to brush before flossing, while others had to floss before brushing, and researchers measured their levels of plaque and fluoride before and after.

TL;DR — You can technically floss or brush first, as long as you're flossing at least once a day and brushing at least twice?

You can use these instead of traditional string floss for your once-daily flossing since they basically both do the same thing, says Wolff.

Just take it from Wolff: "I typically clean between my teeth with a soft toothpick or interdental brush while sitting in my car," he says.

Doing so for at least two minutes helps remove plaque and debris that was once lurking between your teeth, says Wolff.

Colgate 360 Advanced Optic White Toothbrush (Buy It, $7 for two, amazon.com) — can clean your teeth sufficiently; the ADA has no preference.

"If you swish after brushing, [they] can continue to decrease the amount of plaque on your teeth, provide fluoride, and reduce gingivitis," explains Wolff.

Crest Pro-Health Advanced Extra Whitening Mouthwash (Buy It, $7, amazon.com) — while others might like those designed for sensitive teeth — Sensodyne Pronamel Mouthwash (Buy It, $19, amazon.com)