A wet or dry toothbrush before brushing is a debate among many people. However, it doesn’t matter, because, in the end, the toothbrush gets wet before brushing!
A dry toothbrush increases friction between the bristles and teeth, while a wet option is moist and comfortable, making the experience pleasant. Whether wet the toothbrush before or after applying toothpaste, the most important detail is brushing twice daily, as dentists recommend.
Toothpaste contains a small amount of water to help it foam naturally. But wetting it before the brushing experience makes it more soft and comfortable. Dentists recommend that if you’re among the wetting team before brushing, don’t use too much water to avoid draining fluoride from the toothpaste. Diluting toothpaste means its efficacy is reduced.
Do you wet your toothbrush before putting toothpaste or not?
There is no scientific backing on whether to wet a toothbrush before or after you put toothpaste on a toothbrush. Nonetheless, adopting a consistent brushing formula is vital to get optimum results. As dentists recommend, brush twice daily, follow the circular motions and avoid putting too much pressure on the toothbrush.
Ensure that you send 45 seconds on each quadrant as an adult, supervise children to spend at least 30, and make it routine. Here are three variations of wetting a toothbrush and the benefits.
- Wetting before – makes the toothbrush bristles soft while rinsing off debris.
- Wetting after – Helps the toothpaste melt easily into the toothbrush to avoid rolling off.
- Not wetting your toothbrush – Apply toothpaste on a toothbrush and clean your teeth without extra steps or wondering what’s right or wrong.
Should you soak your toothbrush in water?
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends you replace a toothbrush every three months and immediately after getting sick. However, have you thought about how to keep it germ-free before the lapse of three months? You can use hot water to soak it or mouthwash to disinfect your toothbrush and ensure optimum oral health.
The bacteria living on your toothbrush builds up over time. You can use boiling water to kill the bacteria; boil a half cup of water, put it in a cup, dip the brush and let it stay there for three minutes.
Once you take it out of the hot water, use cold water to rinse it so that normal temperatures can be restored to avoid damaging the bristles.
Does water activate toothpaste?
Water activates toothpaste by solubilizing the non-ionic surfactants to help it foam easily. The non-ionic surfactants and detergent clean the mouth, combat bacteria, and help spread the paste throughout your oral cavity.
Once water mixes with abrasives in the toothpaste, it softens their cutting power, enabling them to clear plaque without harming your teeth.
After brushing:
- Spit the toothpaste foam and gunk from your mouth.
- Don’t use non-fluoridated water or mouthwash to rinse your mouth because leaving toothpaste on teeth overnight keeps the benefit of strengthening them.
- Rinse off toothpaste foam after brushing washes away the fluoride from your teeth.
Should you dry your toothbrush after use?
Your toothbrush should not be free of all bacteria because that will create room for other microorganisms, yeast, and fungi. Some of these natural bacteria are necessary for the mouth.
The ADA found no evidence of negative effects from normal bacteria on a toothbrush.
Now, can you brush your teeth with only water if such bacteria are in the mouth? No, not at all. Your toothbrush is the most important tool to clean your teeth. Therefore, a toothbrush and water will remove food debris from your mouth without toothpaste.
After brushing, leave the toothbrush in the open to dry because the bacteria on it are anaerobic, meaning they die on exposure to oxygen.
Leave your toothbrush in the open air to dry and get rid of most bacteria before storing it to prevent mold, which can cause diseases like gingivitis.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are you supposed to wash your toothbrush with soap?
Washing your toothbrush with soap might sound like a perfect idea because soap removes all dirt and bacteria. However, soap might be too harsh to the sensitive tissues inside your mouth and lead to irritation then inflammation. If you decide to use soap, ensure that you rinse off the toothbrush with a lot of water to avoid transferring soap to your mouth.
Should you cover your toothbrush in the bathroom?
Covering your toothbrush in the bathroom is unnecessary because the cover locks in germs that can easily transfer to your mouth. Keep your toothbrush in the open air after brushing so that it remains dry. If you’re traveling, only use the covers when the toothbrush is completely dry.
How long does it take for a toothbrush to dry after using it?
Placing your toothbrush in an open container with the head up is the right way, and it will take 30 minutes to dry up. Before putting your toothbrush away, check to confirm whether the bristles are dry.
Should you brush your teeth before or after breakfast?
To best preserve your enamel, brush after waking up other than after breakfast. However, if you decide to brush after breakfast, wait for 30 to 60 minutes, then brush to avoid eroding your enamel.
How much toothpaste should you put on your toothbrush?
From the toothpaste ads on TV, it looks like covering the entire toothbrush is the best way. However, a considerable pea-sized dab on the toothbrush surface will suffice in cleaning your teeth. Ensure that children brush under the supervision and apply less toothpaste to their brush.
Final Verdict
Some people wet their toothbrush before applying toothpaste while others do the opposite, and others brush without subjecting both to water.
The best part is that it doesn’t matter how you do it as long as you brush twice a day, as dentists recommend. However, if you wet your toothbrush before applying toothpaste to soften the bristles, it’s time to dampen it and get a softer option.
This is because there’s no reason enough to use a hard or medium toothbrush to clean your teeth.
Also read – Do Hotels Have Toothbrushes?