If you wet your toothbrush before brushing your teeth, is it more effective?

Question

I know people who just smear toothpaste on dry toothbrushes then brush their teeth afterward. Is there any advantage to wetting your brush before you put it in your mouth (i mean aside from the fact that you get more bubbles?)

Thanks. This has been bugging me for sometime now.

Answer 1

I'm a dentist and I find there is no advantage or disadvantage to wetting the brush first. It's more of a personal preference. As the other posts stated, wetting the brush softens the bristles. A dry brush feels harsher and more abrasive against the teeth. The purpose of brushing is to remove food debris and the invisible slimy film called plaque. Toothpaste is added to give a good taste, scrub fluoride into the teeth, and works as an abrasive to further help remove the plaque. It's important to use a soft brush and an approved toothpaste so that it's not too abrasive and cause removal of tooth structure.

Do I wet my brush? Usually not, but that's just my method. My wife who is also a dentist applies the toothpaste to a dry brush, wets it, and then brushes.

The most important thing is that you brush well covering all the surfaces of the teeth, and brush for a long enough time, 3-5 min for the entire mouth.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

I'm a dental assistant and No, wetting your brush does not make any difference in being more effective. I think it's just habit for most people. they more then likely saw their parents or someone else doing it and they just did it also. As for the bubbles it isn't the water it's the Zinc Oxide that makes the foam. And too much makes the tissue inside your mouth slough off. Just make sure you are using a soft toothbrush anymore then that it will cause gum recession and grooves and divits in your teeth...Well I hope that helps A little more then asked :)

Answer 3

i usually wet the toothbrush because it helps the toothpaste stick better, and plus the brush is not as hard on my teeth.

Answer 4

Well, I once read somewhere that scientists recommend rinsing your hands before you use liquid soap. I think it makes the soap more effective at killing germs. So I imagine the toothbrush deal might be similar.

Answer 5

i feel that it helps the paste to stick to the brush better--i know that it doesn't hit the sink before i get it into my mouth as often as it did when i use a dry brush.

Answer 6

i wet it so that the tooth brush could slide along my teeth making them cleaner.

Answer 7

ya i wet mine and it's seems to stick better and make my teeth cleaner.

Answer 8

i think so, after all it softens up the bristles so that you get a better brushing and its not so rough on your gums

Answer 9

Just a matter of preference.

Answer 10

well ya i guess it makes it foamy so its easier.