This post may contain affiliate links that support the site at no cost to you. 

If you’re trying to get your oral hygiene routine as good as it can possibly be, you know that a daily flossing routine is a huge part of it. 

Flossing (or flossing alternatives, if you really can’t do it) is an important part of good dental hygiene and even our overall health. 

(Did you know that poor oral health is related to heart disease, osteoporosis, and dementia, among other health problems? The American Dental Association summarizes the research here.)

Whether you’re just getting started with regular flossing or you’re upgrading from good to optimal oral health, you might be wondering what time of day gets you the best results from flossing. 

The best time to floss….

Is the time that you’ll actually do it! The most important thing about flossing for good oral hygiene is doing it daily. It takes 24-36 hours for plaque to harden on your teeth, so if you’re flossing every day, you’re removing it easily. Gingivitis, the very beginning of periodontal disease, can also set in in just a day or two! 

So: if you’re currently flossing every morning and someone told you you shouldn’t floss in the morning, don’t change up your routine right away. 

Ask yourself: if I move this to a different spot in my daily routine, am I still going to do it every day? Am I still going to do a thorough job and floss the right way?

If you’re flossing in the morning in a way that removes plaque (sawing motion up and down the sides of your teeth, taking out all the interdental plaque), don’t switch to flossing before bed and start doing a crappy job. If you’re doing a great job in the morning but you’re half asleep by bedtime, stick with the morning. 

Bottom line: the best time to floss is the time that you’re the best at flossing. 

But there is actually a best time to floss.

But with that said: 

If you’re doing an equally good job morning and night…you’re better off flossing at night. 

You can prevent plaque buildup at any time of day, but flossing at night helps remove food particles and food debris that might be left behind from your day. Especially, you want to get rid of sugary foods that might have gotten stuck between your teeth that might lead to tooth decay if it sits overnight. 

And, like, an effective cleaning and that freshly flossed mouth feeling right before bed? The dream. That alone makes night the best time to floss.

Most people don’t love to floss–honestly, I use floss picks and a water flosser because I used to struggle with bad breath, and I still don’t love to floss. But it becomes second nature after a while, and when you’re used to a clean mouth it’s like you can feel that sticky film forming on your back teeth in the evening, and you get up and floss. 

If you just can’t bring yourself to floss regularly

Consider alternatives! 

I have a whole post about alternatives to flossing for people who can’t use traditional types of floss here: Best Alternative to Flossing If You Hate To Floss

There are a lot of different options out there now, but they all work to remove leftover food and remove plaque from between your teeth. Whether you opt for interdental cleaning picks, water flossers, or those tiny brushes, you’re setting your oral health foundation right. 

You might need to try a couple options to find what’s right for you, but the consequences of gum disease can be really serious, so it’s worth trying a few things to find the one you’re willing to do daily. 

Best oral health routine suggestions

I have a whole post about this too (I seem to talk about teeth a lot): Waterpik vs. Flossing – What to Use When For Perfect Teeth

But basically: 

• You’re brushing twice per day, morning and night. Electric toothbrushes are best. 
• You’re using mouthwash once or twice per day — I prefer a xylitol mouthwash over an alcohol-based one. Xylitol kills the sugar bacteria in your mouth without harming your healthy oral bacteria.
• You’re flossing once or twice per day. It’s not risky to floss twice a day as long as you’re not being too rough. You can choose a flossing alternative here. 
• If you like, you’re also using a water flosser once or twice per day. I use my water flosser after flossing with a floss pick. I feel like the floss pick loosens things up and then the water flosser blasts it out. 

For me this looks like:

AM: 

• tongue scraper
• water flosser
• mouthwash
• brush

PM: 

• string floss
• water flosser
• mouthwash
• brush

If this seems like overkill to you… I didn’t do it until I had some serious issues with bad breath a couple years ago. After spending months constantly worried about breathing near someone else, it is well worth it to me to spend an extra four minutes a day on good oral health. 

Final thoughts

I hope this helps on your dental care routine journey! 

The truth is that taking care of your teeth is a way of showing yourself love and investing in your health. It’s often not easy to come home tired and commit to flossing, or regular brushing, or all the other parts of proper oral health. But it’s an investment in your health, and it’s so worth it. 

Pin this post to come back to it!