# 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:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**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, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/41 "2009-05-04T15:38:09Z")
I would think that drying would be a much more effective way of getting rid of bacteria than rinsing with plain water. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/42 "2009-05-04T16:46:08Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I have to admit to being boggled. The last time I checked the inside of my mouth, it was wet. > > Yup, just checked right now: Wet. > > So why exactly do I need to get toothpaste wet previous to sticking it in my mouth, again? Lucky you. Due to various medications, I have a perpetually dry mouth, and the dental problems that go with it. While my mouth isn’t completely dry, my saliva is pretty thick and sticky. ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/43 "2009-05-04T16:51:39Z")
I’ll chime in. . . I do it! Time for a poll I think. ---
**Author:** ![Gus\_Gusterson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@Gus\_Gusterson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gus_Gusterson)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/44 "2009-05-04T17:01:56Z")
I apply the toothpaste first and then wet it on the brush. My wife wets the brush and then applies the toothpaste. Sometimes, her way gets water in the toothpaste tube. My way does not. My way is thus better. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/45 "2009-05-04T20:07:33Z")
Another vote for the apply-then-wet camp. 1.) Toothpaste sticks better to a dry brush. (Less chance of a “d’oh, my fresh glob of toothpaste just took a dive into the sink on its way to my mouth” moment.) 2.) Less time spent waving around a wet brush. 3.) More wetness (brush + paste = greater surface area than brush alone). 4.) Well… just… **'cause**! Now I’m all curious if there’s any corellation with over/under toilet paper roll installation… ---
**Author:** ![hroark2112](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hroark2112](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hroark2112)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/46 "2009-05-04T20:21:20Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > 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. Wet. Paste. Wet. Brush. Spit. Brush. Spit. Rinse. Always take vitamins BEFORE brushing just in case you get that nasty vitamin taste on your tongue. Also, the cheese goes in the middle of the burger. Cheese is always best when it’s cooked inside the burger. Trust me on this. Also, no lettuce or other rabbit food. Lettuce belongs in a salad. Pure burger, cheese, bacon, mayo/ketchup. Just my opinion. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/47 "2009-05-04T21:39:24Z")
Put on toothpaste, wet it, brush, spit, rinse mouth. Wipe mouth with paper towel. Rinse off brush and wipe it with the same paper towel before putting it back on the charger stand. [Opt.: Discover toothpaste dribble on shirt when have just passed too late to turn back now.] ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/48 "2009-05-05T00:40:38Z")
> [@Casserole](#): > > My question is: Is anybody about to change their tooth brushing methodology, just once, to see what all the hubbub is about? I’ve always been of the “put toothpaste on brush, swipe it under running water, then brush” persuasion. But by an odd coincidence, the question of why I did that occurred to me a few weeks ago, and I tried it without the “swipe” step. Result: Yuck. As other posters have pointed out, even the tiny bit of water that my swipe allows to adhere to the paste and brush makes a big difference. Without it, the paste didn’t readily foam, and it just felt kinda gross in my mouth. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/49 "2009-05-05T01:10:09Z")
Fill cup with water, pour into mouth to swirl and swish around. While swishing, refill cup and set aside. Rinse off brush, apply paste, spit out water and commence brushing. After brushing, pour cup of ready water into mouth to swirl and swish around thoroughly. Rinse brush and put brush away whilst swishing, then spit out water. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/50 "2009-05-05T14:22:38Z")
So either you have to bring a cup into the bathroom every day or keep something you drink out of next to your toilet? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/51 "2009-05-05T14:45:19Z")
Well, where do you keep your toothbrush if not next the toilet as well? I’m a wetter, paster, rewetter, brusher. ---
**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 5, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/52 "2009-05-05T14:46:58Z")
Yeah, what’s this cup business? Who needs a cup to rinse his mouth? ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/53 "2009-05-05T15:11:25Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Yeah, what’s this cup business? Who needs a cup to rinse his mouth? Diogenes would be ashamed. **Lionne** , my toothbrush is made of a magical material that repels germs. 😉 (I have a very large mirror instead of a medicine cabinet, or it would be in there.) ---
**Author:** ![Casserole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b77776/32.png) [@Casserole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casserole)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/54 "2009-05-05T15:12:20Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Yeah, what’s this cup business? Who needs a cup to rinse his mouth? Civilised people. 😉 I also use a cup… I never thought of it as a unique phenomenon, having a bathroom cup. Also doubles as a drinking cup if you’re ever parched in the middle of the night ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/55 "2009-05-05T15:38:10Z")
Toothpaste is soap for your teeth. It works best when in a lather, which is motivated by the application of water. I maintain that all these crazed new toothpaste ingredients, like “whitening bleach” and “calcium” and “for sensitive teeth” are all mostly nonsense. All you need is a bristley brush and some minty flavoured lather to get your teeth plenty clean enough. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192/56 "2009-05-05T15:45:18Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I maintain that all these crazed new toothpaste ingredients, like “whitening bleach” and “calcium” and “for sensitive teeth” are all mostly nonsense. All you need is a bristley brush and some minty flavoured lather to get your teeth plenty clean enough. 1.) Some people put things in their mouth (coffee, tea, tobacco) that stain their teeth (not just food residue), which a regular toothpaste won’t do the best job getting rid of. 2.) Toothpastes for sensitive teeth, IIRC, actually do something in terms of blocking up the pores or desensitizing the nerves. 3.) I’m with you on the calcium. What, like teeth are little calcium sponges? Maybe I’ll just start bathing in food instead of injesting it. :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-put-water-over-toothpaste/495192.md?page=2)