The order of the steps in your oral care routine matters. Start with a water flosser, and follow it up with a toothbrush. "We have a general rule of thumb: A water flosser should probably be used once a day before brushing," says Dr. Creaven. "There are active ingredients in your toothpaste, and you don't want to wash them away after you brush." Some research suggests that adding a water flosser to your routine can improve your dental hygiene significantly. One clinical trial showed that people who use a water flosser once a day and brush their teeth twice a day had improved gingival health, compared to people who brush twice daily and don't wet floss at all. Other research has indicated that routine water flossing (in addition to regular brushing) can reduce plaque and gum bleeding. "As long as those practices are maintained, I encourage those patients who like water flossers to incorporate them into their routines as often or as little as they like," says Dr. Kunen.