# Why do some people put water OVER toothpaste? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 3, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192 "2009-05-03T17:29:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/21 "2009-05-03T23:54:23Z")
Grab toothbrush. Slap some toothpaste on not. Stick it under the water briefly. Brush. That’s just normal. Anything else is abnormal. Like, who puts cheese on the bottom of a burger, and the lettuce on top? How is this relevant? I don’t know exactly, but I know wrong when I hear it, and anyone going in dry with the toothbrush is just wrong. …So much for the spirit of GQ. ---
**Author:** ![wunderkammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ed8c4c/32.png) [@wunderkammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wunderkammer)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/22 "2009-05-04T00:30:42Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > I don’t believe that I have ever seen this in person, but **in toothpaste commercials** , often, you see a loaded toothbrush going under the faucet. > > Why? The image of water splashing onto the toothpaste they’re trying to sell is a lot flashier than the image of squeezing toothpaste onto a dampened brush. Plus, in real life, doing it in that order eliminates the need to wave a dripping wet brush around while I open the toothpaste, squeeze it on, etc. Makes sense. > [@Philster](#): > > Like, who puts cheese on the bottom of a burger, and the lettuce on top? How is this relevant? I don’t know exactly, but I know wrong when I hear it, and anyone going in dry with the toothbrush is just wrong. Me me me! Bottom bun is usually thinner, right? I like to put a cheesy, hydrophobic barrier between the juicy burger and the feeble bottom bun, leaving the big, dry top half to soak up all the juicy condiments. Sometimes I even flip the whole thing over, too. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/23 "2009-05-04T00:41:57Z")
I do it like the OP: Wet brush, add toothpaste, stick in mouth. I’ve experimented with the other way, but I’ve never noticed any difference. I’d rather make sure my toothbrush is well rinsed off before I put anything on it. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/24 "2009-05-04T00:42:42Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > The mouse doesn’t object? No, they actually like it. Especially when you [clean the balls.](http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Mouse-Ball) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/25 "2009-05-04T02:03:11Z")
if you don’t add water, sometimes the toothpaste falls off too. So i like to wet it, and let it sink into the brush, and then I’ll bring it up to the mouth, cuz nothing sucks more than loosing all the paste onto your shirt cuz it wasn’t sticking right… ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/26 "2009-05-04T04:26:48Z")
Am I the only one who wets the brush, puts on toothpaste, then _wets it again_? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/27 "2009-05-04T04:37:44Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > Now, it’s a bit silly to wet the toothbrush, then put toothpaste on, then wet it again… I let the faucet run full blast on the bristles for a few seconds to wash away any bacteria that may have been multiplying on them since my last brushing. Then I apply paste and re-wet. > [@bouv](#): > > Am I the only one who wets the brush, puts on toothpaste, then _wets it again_? Nope. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/28 "2009-05-04T04:38:15Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Am I the only one who wets the brush, puts on toothpaste, then _wets it again_? Nope, this is also my standard operating procedure. Frankly, I’ve found that toothpaste foams more readily when it’s on a wet toothpaste and has been wetted after being applied to the toothbrush (a Sonic Elite to be specific). Anyone who doesn’t wet it afterwards is dealing with an overly-dry and overly-pastey substance. ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/29 "2009-05-04T07:24:48Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Am I the only one who wets the brush, puts on toothpaste, then _wets it again_? I do that, too. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/30 "2009-05-04T09:29:29Z")
I wet before and after applying paste. The first time is to rinse off the brush, I find wetting the paste after application to increase the lubrication, particularly of the first couple of brushes. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/31 "2009-05-04T10:11:58Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > I let the faucet run full blast on the bristles for a few seconds to wash away any bacteria that may have been multiplying on them since my last brushing. Does that work? ---
**Author:** ![Oglomott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oglomott/32/3543_2.png) [@Oglomott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oglomott)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/32 "2009-05-04T10:54:13Z")
I’m another no-wetter. I was taught as a small child to wet the toothbrush after the toothpaste was applied. But something put me off it, and it seemed disgusting, so I stopped adding water. Still don’t to this day. Never thought it was “wrong” :eek: ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/33 "2009-05-04T11:47:06Z")
I do it because I put the toothpaste on a dry brush. ---
**Author:** ![Wiltshire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ea5d25/32.png) [@Wiltshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wiltshire)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/34 "2009-05-04T11:59:18Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I have to admit to being boggled. The last time I checked the inside of my mouth, it was wet. Well, other parts of the human anatomy are wet too, but there’s still a market for lube. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/35 "2009-05-04T12:19:08Z")
> [@Ro0sh](#): > > if you don’t add water, sometimes the toothpaste falls off too. > So i like to wet it, and let it sink into the brush, and then I’ll bring it up to the mouth, cuz nothing sucks more than loosing all the paste onto your shirt cuz it wasn’t sticking right… Word. I wet it after because it pushes the toothpaste into the bristles, and adds moisture. Pshyeah. ---
**Author:** ![Casserole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b77776/32.png) [@Casserole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casserole)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/36 "2009-05-04T12:29:18Z")
My question is: Is anybody about to change their tooth brushing methodology, just once, to see what all the hubbub is about? I personally wet, apply, and rinse my mouth 🙂 What worries me more is how movie actors never rinse out their mouths after brushing their teeth. They just spit and hang up the foamy toothbrush… ick!! (At least… I assume the toothbrush is foamy. Movies never tend to dwell on the teeth-brushing parts…) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/37 "2009-05-04T14:08:57Z")
To me it always looks like they’re brushing without toothpaste. Probably because watching someone with foam dribbling down his or her chin is pretty gross. ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/38 "2009-05-04T14:23:48Z")
I’m also in the apply-wet-brush camp. I’ve tried skipping the wetting step entirely a few times, and was less than happy with the result. It’s not all that much water that clings to the paste/brush assembly, but it’s enough to make a very noticeable difference to me. My issue with toothpaste commercials is _how much of the stuff they stick on the brush_. I have tried loading up a toothbrush like [this](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_i2tTNonulCM/R7t3T7qDxTI/AAAAAAAAAB0/JrUU1wJMeFo/s400/ist2_2301636_tooth_paste%5B1%5D.jpg) a few times, and thought I was going to drown in foam. I use perhaps a third of the amount depicted in that image, and _still_ frequently spit a glob of undissolved toothpaste out. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/39 "2009-05-04T14:27:00Z")
You people are wetness-deprived. I run a fire hose in through the corner of my mouth throughout brushing. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/40 "2009-05-04T15:18:34Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Does that work? I’m not aware of any experiments done comparing the cultures of an un-rinsed brush to a thoroughly rinsed one, but I would guess a thorough rinsing would have to have some positive effect. It only takes a few seconds and a little water and it makes me feel better. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192.md?page=3)