More than one way to brush a tooth
 

There are 2 types of people in this world. Thems what wet their toothbrush before putting toothpaste on, and thems what start with the paste.

So, which be you?

There needs to be third choice: those who wet the toothbrush before AND after putting toothpaste on.

And maybe a fourth choice: those who don't brush their teeth.

My toothbrush is already wet. Wetting it afterward (which I did for a while) just makes the toothpaste fall off. Bleh. Then it's a mess at the bottom of the sink and wasted paste. I just use less and wet beforehand (people use too much toothpaste, anyway.)

3rd option added. I'm not adding the fourth because those people don't deserve to be acknowledged.

I don't wet the brush at all.

You needed a poll to determine that I am a weirdo? And I see that I am not the only one :)

Toothpaste on, wet brush, brush teeth.

Toothpaste first, wet brush using entirely too strong a stream of water and lose first toothpaste application, curse, then turn down water, reapply toothpaste and water and then gag as I realize the water was on warm. Somewhere in this scenario I usually get a bit of toothpaste in my eye.

I don't wet the brush either. Just toothpaste and then Sonicare. The vibration is enough to fling toothpaste all over my mouth. If it were wetter, there would be an unacceptable mess.

Before and after... I like lots of water.

Where's the "squeeze toothpaste directly into mouth" option?

Water? What, you want to soften the bristles? Cheaters!

Paste on brush, brush in mouth, press power button. (And if you forget the order and press the button before putting the paste-covered brush safely into your oral cavity, enjoy your shower of teensy-tiny paste beads.)

wet brush, then paste. Otherwise it falls off.

Heh heh......I just watched Tori brush her teeth and it went as follows: apply toothpaste, hold under running water, toothpaste falls off, re-apply toothpaste and start brushing. Within seconds, her Sonicare has her looking like a rabid dog and she's trying not to let the foam drip all down the front of her shirt. I started laughing and told her about iSm's post.:D

If we're going to talk about bristle density, in my formerly-professional opinion, the softer the better, especially for your gums (you know, the thing supporting the bone that holds thems tooths in). Massage, don't scrape! (And brush at least twice daily. More often than that if you can swing a lunch time brush - or at least swish some water after lunch. Any less and that's when stuff gets caked on so hard you need a tougher scrub!)

you brush in the shower....dont you

Wet brush, apply dentifrice, wet dentifrice, brush teefs.

Paste first, then water, which, if done correctly, ensures the paste will NOT fall off. When applying paste, I aim the tip perpendicular to the bristles, so the paste goes into the bristles, not on top.

If I get the brush wet first, the toothpaste seems more likely to fall off, but maybe that's just me. As for no water at all - you people are crazy.

I think you're all neglecting the other pressing question, which is: how much toothpaste should you use? This is constant source of debate in our house. Me, I use a large, pea sized amount. My husband will use at least three times that much sqeezed into a long, thick strip perched precariously on top of the bristles. I'm not sure if he's trying to emulate the picture on the Crest box or what, but let me tell you... we go through a heck of a lot of toothpaste in our house.

retrieve brush from dental tool retention area (the ugly red plastic cup by the sink)
wet brush
remove paste cap
apply modest amount of paste, squeezing from the bottom
replace paste cap
insert said brush INTO mouth before engaging drive system (an important step unless you relish wearing said paste to work or as 'hair gel')
engage *makes Picard gesture*
spit
rinse
clean brush
return brush to assigned retention area

Yeah, the Crest box lies. No need for that much paste. I used to do the same but eventually realized I just make a huge mess of foam with all of that for no reason. I'd bet that your "large, pea sized amount" is about the same as the amount I dispense into my brush.

My other rule is that I have to brush my teeth over the sink, because otherwise I will make a mess. That's probably just my own failing.

Lather
Rinse
Repeat

Do they REALLY need instructions on shampoo bottles?!? And if so, those instructions are an infinite loop!

I prefer my brush wet

Interesting. At this moment is an almost dead heat: 7 votes each for wet first and paste first and six weirdos who wet before AND after.

If you wet it first the paste might slip off. Dry makes it stick better.
And to be honest I never thought about it before I clicked this thread.
:)

Here is another question as an extension of this thread:

Do you hold your head still and move the toothbrush, or hold the brusg still and move your head?

I didn't vote because my option isn't there. I have a Braun Oral B rechargeable electric brush. It works great, and I don't wet it at all.

I do too, but I still wet it (after applying toothpaste).

I've always been of the wet, afix paste, wet again persuasion; however, recently I was put on prescription paste which means no water. Just afix paste, brush, spit and go. No rinsing. Blech!

I miss you Tom's of Maine!

I just brushed my teeth. I don't move my head while I brush...
:)

I wet my brush first to rinse off any bugs that may have climbed on board while I wasn't looking (I hate when that happends! ;) ) then apply paste and brush. Yes, the sonic care gets too messy with more water.

Have you ever noticed that most people in movies or TV don't use paste at all? They just get whitening treatments or vaneers all the time!

As someone who has helped to recede her gumline, Skeletor style, because of hard brushing, I say the wetter the better.

Of course, that said, I apply paste then water. And I often water in between brushing to ensure optimal lubrication. And for those who think that sounds dirty, hat's off.

I'm actually trying to picture someone moving their head around the toothbrush. And now I have the giggles.

And you'd be surprised how well it works on the public. Most don't do it, but some do with shampoo. One of the biggest marketing successes was Alka Seltzer getting people to use two tabs instead of one (many companies do this, they were one of the pioneers). While not everyone uses two - enough do to have brought back Alka Seltzer from indigestion-aid extinction.

Just remember girls, if you brush your teeth topless you will be attacked by your man the whole time.

That reminds me of the great Sarah Silverman line "If you take a shower with your boyfriend, I guarantee by the time you step out of that shower, your breasts will be sparkling clean."

The toothbrush is going in my mouth, innit? Right, so I rinse the brush before applying paste and putting it in my mouth.

Why? Where was it before?

One never knows.

Oooh, if you think about all the nasty molecules that are floating around the air in our bathroom, it might truly be wise to do at least a rinse before the paste.

yup. Im grossed out now.
I think I'll go home and burn my toothbrush

Mythbusters says otherwise.

yeah, saw that. dont care. the 'blech' factor is in my mind now. (just as well, I need a new one anyway)

Hey, the directions say the pea-sized amount is for children 6 and under.

And just think of how much toothpaste we'd go through if the kids actually bothered to brush..... :D

Thankfully the instructions have been revised to say "Repeat if desired."

You know what I don't like? Satin brand floss. It's too slippery. Doesn't feel like it's doing anything. Bleh.

the same amount as now, as they usually go through ALL the motions, but dont ACTUALLY brush. just make swishing noises under the faucet and call it good.

at least, thats what I would do as a kid

I totally appreciate where you're coming from. But if you have teeth that are so close together that regular floss gets stuck in between, Satin floss is a great alternative to not flossing at all. (Although as I learned at my last cleaning, because the teeth are so tightly together, very little gets stuck in there and I get credit for flossing even when I haven't been. :D )

I guess it's also that nothing seems to come off with the Satin floss. With regular floss I see things fling off onto the bathroom mirror.
:D

If you want to think about something, just think about what it would be like kissing me if I used as much as you do. That'd be one nasty, pasty mess. Ick ick ick.

It's so nice to be a part of such a sharing group. ;)

But didja ever look at the floss itself? Maybe it's all clinging on. Didn't you just say that it felt icky in your hands? See? There you go.

*edit* D'oh! Nevermind, that was someone else.

AND sometimes it's too slippery to hold with your fingers, too.

What it says:

What I read at first: