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Should I wet the toothbrush before washing them? What would be the best time? Before putting the toothpaste or after? Today we bring you the answer and the reasons.
Introduction
There is nothing more mechanical and daily than brushing your teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste. It is an operation that we do even several times a day from a very young age, more or less willingly, but always with the same dynamics.
The common practice is to take the toothbrush and rinse it under the water, put the toothpaste on it, and start brushing. Each of us has his technique. Some start from the lower arch, some from the upper one. We have those who make semi-circular movements and those who instead move the toothbrush from top to bottom. But we all bathe the toothbrush and then use toothpaste.
The debate about whether or not the toothbrush should be wet seems eternal, and there are opinions for all tastes. However, experts have a different opinion which will be discussed in this article.
Why do people prefer wetting their toothbrushes before or after using the toothpaste?
The first ways to wash your teeth emerged in 3,000 BC. Since then, it seems that unanimity has not been reached as to the best way to leave your teeth and mouth clean. This debate is revived on social networks or WhatsApp networks from time to time.
Some always wet the toothbrush before applying the toothpaste. This is an attempt to make the toothpaste stick to the toothbrush and soften the bristles before brushing. Those who wet it before adding the paste also believe that we eliminated the bacteria in this way. The water removes bacteria that the brush could have caught since the last time it was used. In addition to this, there’s softening of the bristles.
On the other side who wet the toothbrush after putting the toothpaste to make sure it becomes foam. In addition, some do both, and other people do not do either. Those who wet it after pouring the paste believe that this is better because the paste clings to the brush and thus does not fall.
Wetting the toothbrush before cleaning it is a common gesture with which people consider that we are helping to improve the operation of the brush. However, this is not so. It is important to correct some of these habits to increase the effectiveness of their dental hygiene.
Why should you not wet your toothbrush?
As said earlier, we have people who wet their toothbrushes before cleaning their teeth. Some even wet it before putting the toothpaste on the brush, for we must know that we have been acting in the wrong way.
The problem is that wetting the toothbrush before brushing only raises the mouth’s humidity level. When this is raised, there is an increase in foam formation. This gives a wrong gesture which many consider that they are cleaning our mouth well. Foam does not mean you are cleaning your mouth well. It only reduces the effectiveness of our brushing since the brush cannot drag the dirt with due force.
The reality is that neither of these options is valid. Wetting the brush, sooner or later, will only cause the toothpaste to lose all its strength and not be able to drag the dirt well. Also, when you wet your toothbrush after adding toothpaste, you may dilute it and thereby reduce its effectiveness.
So, when we brush our teeth, they should be dry. Or, in case it is made of very hard bristles, wet it as little as possible. And it is not even advisable to use a too hard-bristled toothbrush as it can damage the gums and enamel.
The bristles need to be hard to some extent. That is the way to drag the dirt well. If your gums are sensitive and can’t stand the hardness, you can buy specific brushes with soft bristles. And also, accompany it with a toothpaste that protects our gums. However, the best option will always be to go to our consultation to see the reason for your sensitivity.
If you like to wet your toothbrush to soften the bristles, you should probably use a toothbrush with softer bristles. Instead of buying a toothbrush with hard bristles, go for a soft one. This way, you can better put the toothpaste that will be fixed directly on the toothbrush and from there to our teeth.
The correct way of brushing
We should do more often than we do to rinse our mouths with water before starting to brush. It helps eliminate the large remains of food that may remain in our mouths. The water can remove leftovers, especially between the teeth, and neutralize the acidity of some foods that we have eaten. Such foods could weaken the enamel and make it very vulnerable to brushing. Damaged enamel could lead to serious damage to our teeth.
Brushing dry teeth using a dry toothbrush is more effective against plaque and tartar because you can apply the needed force.
You should also use a dry toothbrush on children from early childhood to avoid the risks of ingesting toothpaste.
You may not feel convenient using a dry toothbrush. You may consider it important to wet the brush before applying the toothpaste. Remember that you should use the minimum amount of water possible to avoid excess moisture in the act of oral hygiene. A wet toothbrush and diluted toothpaste will mean that brushing efficiency will be reduced.
In any case, always remember that the important thing is that you brush your teeth after each meal. Also, you have to complement tooth brushing with habits such as flossing, rinsing, etc. So that you can tackle the correct cleaning of both the teeth and the tongue, the gums, and the rest of the mouth, it is very important to remove any remaining food that can affect each of our teeth.
Remember that if you have any questions regarding dental hygiene, it is best to go to your dentist’s office. Only a dental professional has the necessary knowledge to solve these situations.