Settle This, IX: Toothbrushing Time
April 7th, 2010 | by TJ |
This is our faucet.
Internet, before I get into the part of the post where I ask you to settle something, first let me explain what we’re working with here.
One, that’s our faucet.
Two, I KNOW it’s not the most attractive of faucets. I scrubbed it. I swear it’s very clean. We live in older military housing. I think our house is quite nice, but faucets that have seen better days are part of the package.
Three, in case you’re not familiar with this kind of faucet, I have diagrammed it for you. The red arrow indicates that you push the knob UP to turn it on. The fire on the left shows that you TWIST in that direction to make the water warm or hot. Hence the fire. The paw print on the right indicates the direction that you TWIST for cold water. I don’t know the symbol for cold. Hence, paw print.
(GODDAMNIT, SNOW FLAKE. I could have used a SNOW FLAKE. I am not going back and redoing the picture, but just so you know, I totally just realized that I COULD HAVE used a snow flake.)
Anyway, no matter what direction the knob is twisted, you can still push it up to turn on the water.
So, Phil and I brush our teeth – him then me, or me then them, depending on who gets there first. Personally, I tend to turn the water on first and then set the appropriate temperature by twisting if necessary when I wash my hands. When I brush my teeth, I turn the water on first, but I don’t stick my hand under the water, I stick my toothbrush under the water. Since I don’t have any nerves in my toothbrush and I don’t have the patience or attention to detail necessary to notice which way the knob is turned, I often don’t find out if the water is on hot or cold until I put the toothbrush in my mouth.
I’ve come to realize, after living with Phil for a year now, that toothbrushing water temperature is one of those things that people do a certain way and that’s just the way they do them and any other way is completely alien. For example, there’s the temperature at which I brush my teeth, also known as the correct temperature, and the temperature at which Phil brushes his teeth, also known as the most horrible way to brush your teeth in existence.
It’s so bad that if Phil brushes his teeth before me and I stick my toothbrush into Phil-temperature water and then into my mouth I need to START OVER. It’s awful. It’s jarring. It just can’t be DONE that way.
Thinking that determining who brushes their teeth with the correct water temperature would make a good “Settle This” post, I asked Phil about it last night. I also threw in another question – about when he wets his toothbrush.
Y’all, if you were to judge Phil and I based solely on our toothbrushing methods, YOU WOULD HAVE DOOMED THIS RELATIONSHIP FROM THE START.
Anyway, Internet. I am not telling you who is who. I’m not telling you which is the correct way and which is Phil’s way. I just want to know, from you, what YOU PERSONALLY DO.
Also note that I’m not looking for advice or a solution. I KNOW I can look at the knob to determine the temperature before I put my toothbrush in my mouth. I KNOW I can test the water with my finger. I know all those things. I appreciate the help you genuinely want to give me, but trust me – I’m fine. Really. I’m not going to die from this.
Phil might die from Unbelievably Wronginosis, but I’m totally fine.
So. Settle This.
Question 1: When you brush your teeth, do you prefer
A. Cool/Cold water
B. Warm/Hot water
Question 2: When you brush your teeth, do you wet your toothbrush
A. Before toothpaste application
B. After toothpaste application
C. Both before and after toothpaste application
D. Do not wet it at all
Internet, I’m not going to lie to you – there are right and wrong answers to these questions. Right and very, very, very wrong. And how you answer WILL color how I look at you from now until the end of time. No pressure!
Aannnd… begin!
By lak on Apr 7, 2010
A and B.
Hot water on your toothbrush is gross.
[Reply]
By Morrissimo on Apr 7, 2010
Q1: A
Q2: A
Any differing opinions, while intriguing in an academic sense, are clearly incorrect.
[Reply]
By Fyurae on Apr 7, 2010
Cold water makes my mouth feel cleaner, but I have sensitive teeth so sometimes I go with warm because the cold is uncomfortable. I wet my toothbrush before and after. The first wetting is to rinse out any possible dust, then apply the toothpaste, then turn the water on hard to drill the toothpaste down into the bristles because otherwise it will always fall off before I get the toothbrush to my mouth.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 11:29 am
Hm, the second wettening as a toothpaste smoosher. Interesting.
[Reply]
By Brad on Apr 7, 2010
1) Don’t care. We brush our teeth in the shower, so I guess warm?
2) B
[Reply]
Adlib Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 10:25 am
Brushing the teeth in the shower is something, like TJ said, is completely alien to me. I’m sure it works for you though! Just never heard of it. :)
[Reply]
Adlib Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 10:26 am
Oof, THAT is completely alien. Silly me.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 am
I sometimes have an extra toothbrush in the shower for days when I’m in a rush.
I am rarely in a rush these days.
[Reply]
By Jade on Apr 7, 2010
1. A
2. C
Is it sad that it took me a minute to remember when I wet my toothbrush? It’s so ingrained, I had to really stop and consider.
Now I’m coming up with reasons for why I do it that way. Brain.hurt. :(
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 am
It’s SO ingrained, that’s why it’s SO WEIRD to realize other people do it so differently!
[Reply]
By Marc on Apr 7, 2010
1. A
2. A
[Reply]
By Awlbiste on Apr 7, 2010
B and A. Hot/warm water applied before the toothpaste.
[Reply]
By Jen on Apr 7, 2010
1. B
2. A
[Reply]
By Adlib on Apr 7, 2010
1. A – It’s refreshing, kinda like Fyurae said.
2. A – then I tap it to get excess water off so it doesn’t drip down my arm.
I hope I’m right. :) I’m with Iak, hot water is gross.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 11:48 am
Drips – an excellent consideration.
[Reply]
By Delicia on Apr 7, 2010
Question 1: Honestly it doesnt matter to me, but if I had to pick I’d say A. cool/cold.
My husband has sensitive teeth so he has to do warm.
Question 2: Definately B.
Judge away!
[Reply]
By Kestrel on Apr 7, 2010
1 – A
2 – C; A is also an acceptable answer.
[Reply]
By Lesley G. on Apr 7, 2010
B and C :)
I have sensitive teeth, so I don’t dare put ice cold anything on there, especially first thing in the morning.
I also own a very curious cat, and that absolutely necessitates that I wash my toothbrush before I use it. I run it under the water after the toothpaste is on to help stick it to the bristles because, goddamit, I’m not rummaging in my cleavage again trying to get what looks like Tooth Fairy spooge out of my bra.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 11:48 am
TOOTH FAIRY SPOOGE!
That made my ENTIRE LIFE.
[Reply]
By Peregwyn on Apr 7, 2010
1. I prefer A, but have grown used to B since in my current house with the 2 temp control faucet thingy, turning on the cold with my left hand is hard, so I don’t do it, I use the hot and hope it is warm.
2. B
[Reply]
By barb. on Apr 7, 2010
I have to say A and C. Warm/hot toothpaste TOTALLY makes me gag, and if my toothbrush and toothpaste aren’t both dripping with water, well. It’s just not wet enough, that’s all. And did I mention my super-sensitive gag reflex? I cannot change the way I brush my teeth, or I *will* suffer the ignominy of losing my cookies right there in the sink, which completely ruins the whole point of BRUSHING MY TEETH.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
I know your pain. Every time I brush my tongue, I gag. Every day. Twice a day. I’m standing at the sink, hoping for a miracle. This is why it’s SO IMPORTANT to do it CORRECTLY, am I RIGHT?
[Reply]
barb. Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
I couldn’t have said it better myself!
[Reply]
By Kelektra on Apr 7, 2010
I am probably the worst person to ask this.
I brush in the shower in the morning, so, hot. Very hot. The toothbrush is, then, generally wet before toothpaste application.
Toothbrushing at night is a “whatever temp the water is” and I will wet the toothbrush both before and after toothpaste application.
[Reply]
By Kara on Apr 7, 2010
Question 1:
A. Cool/Cold water
Question 2:
B. After toothpaste application
But, Question 1 kind of fails during the summer, since here in the Valley of the Sun, the water coming out of the faucet is warm to hot no matter what. But you know that since you live here too.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
When I was visiting my parents in February in PA, I was blown away by hold ICE COLD the water came out of the taps. I forgot that that could happen!
[Reply]
By Chibi Jeebs on Apr 7, 2010
Cool leaning towards warm because I have sensitive teeth, but HOT water is gross. I wet my toothbrush before toothpaste application.
[Reply]
By DD on Apr 7, 2010
A & C. Period.
[Reply]
By Diane on Apr 7, 2010
A. Has to be cold — HAS TO. Warm water toothbrushing was something I never even considered as a possibility until I had a roommate who did it. GAG CITY.
C. First time, to rinse any bleh off the bristles, second time to flatten the toothpaste for easier distribution to more than one tooth.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
I never thought of the “flattening” aspect. I had to pause and think about WHEN I wet my brush, but I never thought about the whys of what people may do.
[Reply]
By Melissa on Apr 7, 2010
1. A
2. C
I was shocked when I realized that my son brushes his teeth with warm water. Ick.
[Reply]
By Ashley on Apr 7, 2010
1)A
2)C
My boyfriend also pointed out that I spit twice and tap the toothbrush against the side of the sink three times when I’m done. Now I’m self-conscious about my toothy adventures.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
I didn’t even think about my tapping and other brushing procedures. I’m going to have to re-analyze.
[Reply]
By cindy w on Apr 7, 2010
A for both questions. Cool/cold and before toothpaste.
You know how you can easily solve this, right? One trip to Home Depot. New faucet with separate hot/cold taps. Done.
[Reply]
By Courtney on Apr 7, 2010
I’m not super picky, but I prefer cold water on my toothbrush. By the time my toothbrush becomes lukewarm from sitting in my mouth, I have to rinse it again or I will be sick. BODY temperature toothbrushing is NOT COOL.
If, for some reason, my toothbrush becomes dirty or unhygienic in any way (real or imagined), I have to blast that sucker with hot water because hot water gets things cleaner, right? Then I switch back to cold.
For question 2, I wet my toothbrush before applying toothpaste. I hate how wet toothpaste looks. Slimy. Yech.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
I have never considered the appearance of wet toothpaste, but now it is all I can think of!
[Reply]
By Dechion on Apr 7, 2010
1. A
2. A
[Reply]
By Leah @ L4L on Apr 7, 2010
1) A
2) C
I get grossed out thinking about an un-wet toothbrush btw.
[Reply]
By Melme on Apr 7, 2010
1) A – Water HAS TO BE cold. Just thinking of brushing makes me squirm a little.
2) B – I wet after applying toothpaste. Not super picky about it, it’s just how I do it.
Also, four taps of the brush on the sink when I’m done.
[Reply]
Melme Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 10:54 am
*Just thinking of brushing with hot water makes me squirm… See, I didn’t even want to type that! ;)
[Reply]
By Figworth on Apr 7, 2010
Errrr… D? Am I alone here?
[Reply]
By Bennet on Apr 7, 2010
A and B. And this was a mind-broadening post – it never even dawned on me that anyone might use warm water to brush their teeth.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
These posts always end up blowing me away. It just never occurs to me that my way isn’t, you know, THE WAY.
[Reply]
By Francine on Apr 7, 2010
1. A
2. C
[Reply]
By Carmen on Apr 7, 2010
The water MUST be cold. Hot water is gross.
Most days, I wet the brush before & after, but sometimes just after.
My husband uses the correct (cold) water, but DOES NOT WET AT ALL. Clearly wrong. Why would you want toothpaste suds made out of saliva, for one. Secondly, who has enough saliva in their mouth to generate suds? Good god, man, wet the brush.
Leo and I have had many discussion about this of late, as we now have two kids with teeth that need brushing. I INSIST that the brushes need wetting, he INSISTS that they don’t. He is wrong. That is all.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Obviously, since Phil and I are are such polar opposite ends of the spectrum, we will have to decide, pre-child, who will be handling the toothbrush discussions.
[Reply]
By Dammerung on Apr 7, 2010
1.A
2.A
Cold water and before toothpaste.
[Reply]
By Amy on Apr 7, 2010
A and C
Although I wouldn’t care if the water was warm. I’m just to lazy (and sustainable) to let the water run enough to get warm. So I brush with cold water.
[Reply]
By Jen_Ann_W on Apr 7, 2010
A and C – Hot water is only meant to be ingested when it has a flavor such as coffee, tea, or cocoa mix. And I rinse my brush before applying toothpaste to get any dust/loose cat hair off, then after applying paste to smoosh it into the bristles.
My weirdo husband brushes in the shower. Which, ew. He also hates drinking cold water – he says he got used to lukewarm water in the Army, because drinking cold water after PT would give him cramps.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
I avoid that problem by not exercising. Ever.
[Reply]
By HokieJayBee on Apr 7, 2010
1. A, hot water and minty flavors would make me vomiticious.
2. Used to be C, now I’m an A. I started using the more liquidy Colgate toothpaste with the breath mint strips floating in it in little pieces. You can’t rinse it after or you rinse it off the brush.
[Reply]
By Ratshag on Apr 7, 2010
1. A
2. A or D (wet toothpaste is just plain icky)
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
It’s wet in your mouth, though.
[Reply]
By Clark on Apr 7, 2010
A & C
Although, we live in the North GA mountains and are on a private well fed water system and the water in the Winter is slightly above freezing out of the tap. We have a two handled faucet and I have been known to turn on the hot side just a bit to rinse with, but that would make the water temp just on the cool side, not frigid. I always wet with straight cold, both before and after toothpaste application.
[Reply]
By Alex on Apr 7, 2010
For the first question I’ll go with A. But I really don’t care.
Second question: C.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
HOW CAN YOU NOT CARE?
[Reply]
By Liz on Apr 7, 2010
1. A. I can even tolerate warm water on my toothbrush, just not hot.
2. A. Sometimes I do B as well. I don’t really care either way.
[Reply]
By z-man on Apr 7, 2010
A and C.
I use the latter to rinse it clean, and I prefer a little extra water on my toothpaste when I stick it in my mouth.
[Reply]
By Maerdred on Apr 7, 2010
A.
A.
[Reply]
By ysabelkid on Apr 7, 2010
A and B. Although I prefer my water tepid, not cold, but most certainly not hot. And sometimes I rinse before adding toothpaste, too, just in case (my bathroom is known as kitty haven around these parts, and hair gets everywhere).
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Excellent reasoning for the pre-rinse.
[Reply]
By Julie on Apr 7, 2010
A & C
[Reply]
By Malene on Apr 7, 2010
Question 1: Cool/Cold water always. It has to be cold.
Question 2: Both before and after. Since I like the brushhead to be cool and again on top of the toothpaste to cool it down extra.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
So for you, it’s not wetness – it’s ALL about temperature.
[Reply]
Malene Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 11:47 pm
Exactly!
[Reply]
By Evie on Apr 7, 2010
1) A
2) A
warm water? that is so gross!
[Reply]
By Llinkla on Apr 7, 2010
Cold water pre toothpaste rinse. If you do warm or hot the bristles feel all soft and non scrubby. Mid brush I turn on the water to let it get as hot as possible while I finish. (Yes I know there is a dead fish in a dried up lake because of me. I watched sesame street too.) After brushing I rinse the brush in steaming hot water to kill off whatever was fine in my mouth but is horrible and life threatening now thats its on my brush.
This actually got a lot of people thinking lol. I love these everyday post TJ! Its amazing how differently people do the same task.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Wow, half and half! Very well thought out reasoning, as well!
[Reply]
By Kelly on Apr 7, 2010
Warm water. Cold hurts my teeth, hot is kind of gross. Wet the toothbrush before the toothpaste because I’m paranoid about dust mites. After brushing and rinsing my mouth out with the warm water, like @Llinkla, I rinse the brush off with HOT water.
[Reply]
By Ale on Apr 7, 2010
B (luke warm, not hot)- because my teeth are sensitive and it was also pointed out to me that warm water and soap are what I would normally use when washing my hands to remove germs, so wouldn’t it make sense to use warm water and toothpaste to remove germs from your mouth. Followed by mouthwash.
A
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Interesting – warm for washing. Good connection!
[Reply]
By Imalinata on Apr 7, 2010
Cold water and I wet it after there’s toothpaste. If there’s not enough water, I’ll wet it again (cold of course) mid-brushing.
Even when I’m in a rush and brush my teeth in the shower, I’m still getting it prepped at the sink and using cold water.
Warm water is definitely only for flavored beverages (or if you’re dying of dehydration, left your bottle of water in the car on a hot day, and absolutely can’t wait to get cold water) or for gargling with if I have a sore throat.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
So sometimes you brush in the shower, but you don’t have a specific shower toothbrush? Interesting. I always thought shower brushers were either all the time shower brushers, or had a dedicated shower tooth brush, like me.
[Reply]
Imalinata Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Yeah, brushing my teeth in the shower usually happens because I spent too much time in front of the computer procrastinating. No matter how little time I have, I’ll still stand under the water for several minutes getting warm regardless, so it’s easier to just get my toothbrush ready before I get in so I’m at least doing something productive other than standing there.
Besides, to me, a dedicated toothbrush in the shower means that I’ve got toothpaste in there too. How do you know you didn’t get soap on either your toothbrush or on the toothpaste tube that will then be transferred to your toothbrush?
[Reply]
Diane Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
We keep our toothbrushes and other bathroom sundries in a rubbermaid tub with a latching flip top on the back of the toilet tank. It’s probably a pretty weird thing to do, but it started back in our first apartment together which was A. Super tiny, and B. Infested with creepy crawlies. I just felt like something was going to scamper across my toothbrush in the night.
Anyway, my point in saying that is that I can reach the toothbrush and toothpaste from the sink OR the shower, which is the most convenient thing ever when I’m in a hurry.
[Reply]
By Turtlechelle on Apr 7, 2010
A – cold just feels cleaner
B – honestly never even thought about this. I’ve just always done it that way. Huh.
[Reply]
By Kailen on Apr 7, 2010
A & C.
I have sensitive teeth, so I sometimes have to use warm water, but it’s disgusting and I usually opt to just deal with it and use the cool water.
I also brush my teeth in the shower (in the morning) just because it’s something to do while letting the conditioner sit on my head for a minute.
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
I tend to my armpits while I condition! You’re welcome for sharing that information with you! Ha!
[Reply]
Kailen Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Hey, that’s actually a good idea. Sharing is caring! I’m not grossed out by the idea of someone tending to their pits. It’s better than letting it run wild.
[Reply]
By Wendy on Apr 7, 2010
B and C. I have really sensative teeth so cold water hurts them. I have no idea why I wet it twice.
Do you guys agree on the very important issue of leaving water running vs. shutting it off while brushing is in progress?
I can not stand when people leave the water running. So wasteful. I sometimes come in and turn the water off when my husband is brushing. Super annoying (to him) but I can’t help myself
[Reply]
TJ Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
I’m about half and half with leaving the water on, to be completely honest. Half of the time I go into the bedroom to dance at Phil while I brush, and I turn off the water then.
[Reply]
By Khronos on Apr 7, 2010
OK, mine’s probably weird.
Answer to question 1: BOTH.
Answer to question 2: C.
Explanation: I run really hot water over the toothbrush because in my mind (whether it’s true or not) the hot water will kill any gross things that might be living on the toothbrush. Then I apply the toothpaste, then run really COLD water over it, because teeth should be brushed with cold water. So if I had a new toothbrush every day, I’d definitely answer A to the first question.
[Reply]
By Jason on Apr 7, 2010
1. A Cool Water
2. B After toothpaste application
[Reply]
By Sarah Lena on Apr 7, 2010
B & C ..
.. but I also realize that I’m very weird on a multitude of levels, and it will not hurt my feelings AT ALL to find out this is one of them.
[Reply]
By Andy C. on Apr 7, 2010
Question 1: B. Warm/Hot water
Question 2: C. Both before and after toothpaste application
I realize this is probably the most wrong answer possible, but after failing on the condiment question too, what can I do?
[Reply]
By Boffors on Apr 7, 2010
I am with Khronos. I have to run very hot water over the toothbrush first to kill/wash off the things my mind says may have come to be on the brush. Have two cats and I think they get up on things and rub their butt on my stuff sometimes (have never seen them do this, but they are sneaky). Then I apply toothpaste and then use cold water to “smoosh” the paste into the brush. I would use the hot water for this step but it melts away the gel part of my gel/paste toothpaste.
[Reply]
By June on Apr 7, 2010
A (seriously, how is B even a choice for question 1??)
C*
*This assumes that the “after” in C is the rinsing off of the toothbrush when I am done.
[Reply]
By Debi on Apr 7, 2010
A and C
[Reply]
By Matt on Apr 7, 2010
A. Cool/Cold water
B. After toothpaste application
[Reply]
By Kirsten on Apr 7, 2010
So I like to be weird, sorry.
For Question 1 – I choose both A and B. A BEFORE brushing and B AFTER brushing, but it can’t be HOT, must be luke warm. I KNOW, right?
And for question 2 – Meh, B or C, depends on how awake I am at the time.
[Reply]
By Katie on Apr 7, 2010
A
C
If I don’t wet the toothbrush both before and after applying toothpaste, it feels dry and the bristles feel too stiff.
I love reading these answers b/c it makes me feel so much less alone in my quirks.
[Reply]
By Pablo on Apr 7, 2010
A and A. I can’t really see the merits of 2B and 2C since the risk of washing off the paste seems very counter-productive.
[Reply]
By Random Guy on Apr 7, 2010
I use cold water, and wet the toothbrush after applying the toothpaste….which is weird because the whole point of using the water is to soften the brush area of the toothbrush….
[Reply]
By Katie on Apr 7, 2010
B and C
[Reply]
By CWanderlust on Apr 7, 2010
Definitely B for question 1.
Warm water though, not hot.
There are a few reasons for this…
1. As previously stated by others, sensitive teeth.
2. How can you clean ANYTHING with cold water?
It’s not really clean then. Think about it….
You eat with your teeth, you eat off of dishes…would you wash your dishes with COLD water? No. Why? Because they wouldn’t be clean! I rest my case.
‘C’ is my answer to question #2.
Rinse, apply toothpaste, rinse again to ‘settle the paste into the bristles’ also to ‘warm’ the toothpaste – see answer #1.
And I’d just like to add, for all those that brush with COLD water, I will never be kissing you.
[Reply]
By Flame on Apr 7, 2010
1. A
2. C
[Reply]
By M.Amanda on Apr 7, 2010
Q1: A, COLD. Warm=ick.
Q2: B, After toothpaste application.
[Reply]
By Shin Ae on Apr 7, 2010
1. B–Hot water, as hot as I can handle.
2. C–Before and after. Also using super hot water to scald any germs (I’m aware the tap water is not really hot enough to do that, but whatever).
[Reply]
By Marie Green on Apr 7, 2010
A and A. Must be cold water. And you shouldn’t wet the paste after it’s on the brush b/c it rinses off some (much? most?) of the flouride. My dentist friend told me so. ;)
[Reply]
By Paula on Apr 7, 2010
A. And B, for toothpaste flattening/smooshing. Also, I rinse the bristles when I am done and then dry off the entire toothbrush before putting it away. Bristles to bottom.
[Reply]
By Jesse on Apr 7, 2010
AA Like the airline, or the alcoholic group.
[Reply]
By Dinsdale on Apr 7, 2010
A and B. Anything else is just wrong.
Although I do also rinse my brush (with cold water) in the middle of brushing, and finish off brushing without toothpaste – to, I don’t know, make sure the toothpaste is gone or something? I don’t understand people who just brush, spit, and are done.
[Reply]
By Erica on Apr 7, 2010
A and C. Well, sometimes A and A, but only if I tried A and C (for the toothpaste flattening thing) and then the water knocks off the toothpaste instead of flattening it. :(
[Reply]
By Gauntlet on Apr 7, 2010
A, then A/C.
Also, regarding gag reflex while brushing teeth? My oral hygienist recommended pre-rinsing with a little bit of Listerine to numb the mouth.
For me, it’s mostly for the back teeth.
[Reply]
By Kristin H on Apr 7, 2010
A and A. And not that you asked, but smooshing down the toothpaste is a total necessity with kids; otherwise they end up spitting the whole chunk o’ paste out on the first spit. Just for the record, I smoosh their toothpaste down on my lip. Using my fingers or mouth seems too germy. I think the water wouldn’t smoosh it down far enough.
[Reply]
By Kimberly on Apr 7, 2010
B: Warm/hot
C: Before and after
I grew up brushing with cold, but in grade 8, my home ec teacher told us that we needed to rinse plates/pots in hot water after washing them in hot water because rinsing in cold water doesn’t make the dishes as…clean? Anyway, I started brushing with hot water then because it made sense that warmer water made things cleaner.
I also have a dishwasher, so rinse temperature doesn’t matter to me. Take that, Mrs. Tuttle!
[Reply]
By Iain on Apr 7, 2010
A and B
When I was a kid living in Aussie, we weren’t allowed to waste water so I couldn’t use water at all. We had a cup of water that we could rinse our toothbrush in at the end.
So now I use inordinate amounts of water. Thanks, New Zealand! =D
[Reply]
By Bumwaller on Apr 7, 2010
A and C, thanks for asking.
[Reply]
By Christine on Apr 7, 2010
Q1: B, because the toothpaste is minty (and therefore cold) enough as it is. Plus with warm/hot water you can tell exactly which crevice of your mouth has been thoroughly rinsed when compared with the still-tingly-therefore-not-thoroughly-rinsed parts.
Q2: A, because who knows what invisible crap has embedded itself into the bristles of my brush since it was last used?
[Reply]
By Cobaltlantern on Apr 8, 2010
Cold, and both before and after.
[Reply]
By Gnarf on Apr 8, 2010
A and B
[Reply]
By ADRnLn on Apr 8, 2010
A and A.
I have read your blog for some time now and havent commented until now.
I actually have those exact same faucets and ran into the same problem. I then discovered that if you use a small screw driver with a flat head on it you can remove that top cap. (Dont worry, it has notches to help you get it back in place with the correct orientation.) Then there is a philips head screw that holds the whole shindig in position. I ended up using the flat head screwdriver to scrape the random crud that ends up inside and a clorox bath to take care of the rest. It shouldnt take that long and looks soooo much better when its done. Hope that helps!
[Reply]
By Stacey on Apr 8, 2010
A & A
If I run the toothbrush under the water post-toothpaste application it knocks the toothpaste off.
Also, to rinse I use the faucet water fountain-style and drink straight from it. If I don’t, the toothpaste taste is too strong and I feel sick.
[Reply]
By Kuechenpsychologin on Apr 8, 2010
A: Cold to warm. I don’t really care as long as it isn’t hot, but for the sake of the argument, cold.
B: I wet it before the tooth paste! What kind of maniac does that afterwards? Oh, wait, my ex-boyfriend who still is my best friend does. Nonetheless, I’m -very- peculiar about that point of the whole routine.
Also? I’m able to keep the foam inside my mouth, and said mouth -closed- most of the time while brushing. Him? Drooling foam all around like he’s having rabies. Oh well…
[Reply]
Kuechenpsychologin Reply:
April 9th, 2010 at 1:39 am
Ah. Hum. Hrr-hrrm. This is embarassing. So… this morning? I noticed that I wet my toothbrush -after- applying the toothpaste. Always have done so. So… you other people are the maniacs. I apologize to the other half of the population. ^^
[Reply]
By lak on Apr 8, 2010
so … which one of you is the cold water user and which is the hot?!
[Reply]
By Canth on Apr 8, 2010
B/C
Hot water to get the bristles softened up, and possibly clean off any old toothpaste remains. (you do dishes with hot water as well right?)
And water before to clean brush, and water after toothpaste to make sure it is moist when entering in mouth to create better foam mixture instead of just relying on saliva.
[Reply]
By JEC on Apr 8, 2010
I don’t really care what temperature the water is but when left to my own devices I guess I’m using cold/cool water 99% of the time.
I wet the toothbrush before applying toothpaste.
[Reply]
By Jessi on Apr 8, 2010
A and C. Warm water on toothbrush = extreme ick.
I wet the toothbrush first to rinse it and then put on the toothpaste and then wet it again to make the toothpaste taste less minty. I can’t explain why water works that particular magic, but I hate the taste of mint and wetting seems to help.
[Reply]
By Bre on Apr 8, 2010
Question 1: When you brush your teeth, do you prefer
A. Cool/Cold water
Question 2: When you brush your teeth, do you wet your toothbrush
C. Both before and after toothpaste application
[Reply]
By Flaime on Apr 8, 2010
A & A
[Reply]
By Reddirt on Apr 8, 2010
Question 1: When you brush your teeth, do you prefer
B. Warm water
(Tooth sensitivity demans this be done)
Question 2: When you brush your teeth, do you wet your toothbrush
C. Both before and after toothpaste application
(How else will the toothpaste lather appropriately. I don’t want to have a mouthful of foamy, morning breath, lather.)
[Reply]
By Mj on Apr 9, 2010
Ok, alot late here, but Q1 is B, Q2 is C but really doesn’t matter.
I was taught as a kid to run the bristles under hot water to soften them. So I do.
My husband thinks it is gross – he only does cold water. We have been married for nearly 14 years now, so obviously this isn’t a marriage deal breaker.
[Reply]
By Shan on Apr 9, 2010
B. Hot water has a sterilizing effect that toothpaste alone doesn’t have.
C. First time to clean/sterilize the brush, 2nd to get the paste to stick to the bristles. If I don’t wet it after, inevitably it will fall off the brush onto the counter.
[Reply]