with hot water,
this post was submitted on 23 Jan 2026
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Neither, but if I were to, it would be before applying toothpaste
Both
If you would like to stoke the flames of controversy, channel your inner Siracusa and investigate:
- Toothpaste squeeze technique? From the end, the centre, or hulk grip the entire tube
- Where does everyone keep their brushes? Countertop, vanity, in a cup, or outside the washroom
- Does everyone spit the same? A few times while brushing, or once at the end like a rabid dog
- Cup or no cup?
- Brush rinsing and drying? From faucet to resting place, quick shake dry, tap on the sink edge, thumb the bristles, or dry with hand towel
Enjoy the arguments. For your data, I don't use water at all before brushing, only after to rinse the brush itself once I'm finished. I'm glad you posted this, it's reminded me of Hypercritical and I'm due for another listen through.
I got one question as well! A little bit of a background: my wife and I have the same electric toothbrush. My looks pretty much as new, while hers is all crusty and scaly, especially at the charging base.
I came to the conclusion that the only difference in what we do is that I shake twice when I'm done. As a dude, it comes naturally. However, she's never acquired the habit to "shake afterwards" and just puts the wet toothbrush back on the charging base.
So my question is: do you shake the water off before putting the toothbrush away?
And to answer OP: I rinse the toothbrush before putting toothpaste on, she wets it after.
That is something I had thought of when I was considering an electric toothbrush; why don't the charging bases cradle the middle of the brush so it can lay on its side? It could fit in a drawer or a vanity that way, and wouldn't risk becoming coated in dried saliva paste. Must be since it's not as elegant or something.
Anyway, I'm still using manual brushes (I know), but I both tap on the sink edge and use a thumb a few times across the bristles after a rinse to flick the water off. Not 100% effective, but it's fine for the short lifespan of a manual brush.
Finally, another no water data point.
Only before, in order to rudimentarily clean it before putting anything on it. I wouldn't see a point in doing that afterwards and would also need to be careful not to wash off the toothpaste that's already on it.
After the toothpaste.
But I do wet my hands first before I add soap to them, when washing my hands. It makes the soap work better and I use less soap.
1 - wetting it after risks washing away the toothpaste. 2 - Your friends have too much free time.
Says the person browsing fediverse and commenting on a toothbrush question.
Neither, toothpaste only. I do rinse it when I'm done though.
Me either, i never even knew this was a thing some people do. I just looked it up and there's no reason to do it other than personal preference
Neither
Yes.
after. my toothpaste is sufficiently viscous that I don't need to worry about losing any to the water
Toothpaste, then water, then brush, then water.
Both but it has to be hot water.
Yes.
I dip it in hydrogen peroxide for extra cleaning power.
I don't
Before? to clean it? And after so it foams better (I'm not sure this is true, but it feels right)
Wet before with cold water. The missus uses warm water because she has sensitive teeth, but she wets after the paste.
Also, just spit after, no rinsing the mouth.
I often wet my toothbrush before toothpaste, and sometimes drip a bit of hot water on the bristles just before brushing!