# Do you wet your toothbrush before brushing? (a poll) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 25, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973 "2004-10-25T01:47:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/21 "2004-10-25T04:03:20Z")
One time, half asleep, I inadvertently put the paste on the brush and the brush in my mouth without water anywhere in the process. That woke me up. It just felt gross in my mouth. I always do water, paste, brush. I always end up spitting half way through and then continue brushing. If I have to do that more than once, then I’ll usually rinse the brush and reapply new paste. I always rinse with mouthwash afterwards, too. For those of you who use water, do you use warm or cold? I like the taste of cold, but have used warm before and it softens the bristles nicely. Feels good, but isn’t as refreshing to me. ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/22 "2004-10-25T04:17:57Z")
Paste and brush. Spit and rinse. About half the time, I’ll rinse the brush with cold water, add another dab of paste and brush some more. After, I rinse the brush in the hottest water possible. Like **Magiver** , I want a bathroom autoclave. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/23 "2004-10-25T06:06:10Z")
What **FilmGeek** said. A clean, wet brush to get rid of the toothpaste film feels great. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/24 "2004-10-25T06:15:15Z")
I do, using warm water. I spit at least a couple of times per brushing. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/25 "2004-10-25T06:58:03Z")
Another water, paste, water, brush. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/26 "2004-10-25T07:03:00Z")
Water, paste, brush. I prefer cold water. I _like_ the foam. I also water, reapply paste, brush again after the first one. I like to be thorough. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/27 "2004-10-25T09:21:26Z")
Paste, brush. “Water first” softens up the bristles, but that makes the brushing less effective. If you want soft, why not just rub your teeth with your finger? ---
**Author:** ![Low\_Key\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@Low\_Key\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Low_Key_1)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/28 "2004-10-25T12:01:11Z")
Water, paste, water, brush I spit a few times during brushing. Maybe tonight I’ll try the paste, brush approach. Somehow I feel like I won’t like it, but always worth a try. Never really given any thought to my tooth brushing ritual before now I must say… ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/29 "2004-10-25T12:17:16Z")
Paste, water, brush. Dry bristles hurt my gums. And I always brush for at least two minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Tikster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@Tikster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikster)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/30 "2004-10-25T12:19:29Z")
water, paste, water, brush Tikster ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/31 "2004-10-25T12:57:01Z")
Dry toothbrushes feel rougher because, as the bristles dried, they became stuck together. Rub the dry brush to unstick the bristles… it will “soften” the brush. Very useful tip when water doesn’t enter the activity at any point. Or massage the tootpaste into the brush. I’ve never wet the brush after applying toothpaste, though. Water/Paste/Brush. I’ve also tried Water/Brush, Paste/Brush, and the aforementioned Brush. And let’s not forget Mouthwash/SpitOnBrush/Paste/Brush, for sheer burning sensation. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/32 "2004-10-25T13:06:37Z")
Paste, water, brush. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/33 "2004-10-25T13:18:51Z")
Wash the brush first just to be clean. Then it’s paste, water, brush, lather, rinse repeat. No, wait… As for water temp, I like cold but warm is OK. My (oh so particular) roomie HAS to have cold water or else he gags. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/34 "2004-10-25T13:20:25Z")
(warm) Water, paste, water, brush. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/35 "2004-10-25T13:23:37Z")
Water (cold), paste, brush. Lather, rinse, repeat. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/36 "2004-10-25T13:26:57Z")
I gotta wash off the brush first. Then I can put the paste on. When you think about a fly (or anything else) sitting on your toothbrush and feeding on any paste residue or whatever. Just the idea that an insect puked or worse on the toothbrush I’m about to put it in my mouth and NOT **at least** rinse it off. Nope…I’m not gonna do it. It wouldn’t be prudent. Btw I like to brush my teeth while I’m showering (every morning and every night). I keep a tube of toothpaste handy and while the hot water is doing its job. I’ll hit those pearly whites several times. Rinse…another dose of paste…rinse…got all my teeth and never a cavity at 42 y/o. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/37 "2004-10-25T13:55:56Z")
Most of the time I wash the brush in cold water, brush, then rinse it afterwards. But sometimes I skip the initial wash if I’m in a hurry for some reason. Hope I don’t throw off the poll. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BytopianDream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de0a6/32.png) [@BytopianDream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BytopianDream)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/38 "2004-10-25T14:10:11Z")
Water, paste, water, brush. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/39 "2004-10-25T14:21:05Z")
Paste, water, brush. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973/40 "2004-10-25T14:40:26Z")
Water, paste, brush, then rinse off brush and brush some more with just water, rinsing brush a few times to get rid of residue. For those that like the foam, the new Aquafresh Extreme Clean toothpaste is specifically made to create more foam. I like it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wet-your-toothbrush-before-brushing-a-poll/270973.md?page=3)