This debate about toothbrushes is tearing the internet apart
- Published
Wet or dry? People can't agree on how to brush their teeth
We live in a highly partisan age, where people seem divided on everything, from politics, or where the Midlands is actually located, to Die Hard's festive credentials, and even to how best to slice your toast.
So it shouldn't come as much of surprise that people on Twitter are now arguing over the best way to apply toothpaste to a toothbrush.
It all started with this tweet about whether the toothbrush's head should be wet before adding the toothpaste.
Well, sure enough, the simple question provoked a fierce controversy - a new 'Watergate', if you will.
But the discussion quickly spun off into a wider debate about toothbrush etiquette. For some, it isn't enough to just casually wet the brush beforehand.
Then, there were outliers like this person.
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Furthermore, it seems that the way you use your toothbrush reveals a lot about you as a person.
With so much division on the topic, we asked the experts for their take on the wet-or-dry debate - and it seems even they can't agree on a definitive answer.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, told BBC Three: "Controversially, the most effective application is to not use water at all, and just use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. This is because the water weakens the bristles and makes them less effective at cleaning the teeth."
As for best practice overall, he advised: "Brush your teeth for two minutes last thing at night and at least one other time during the day with a fluoride toothpaste. Bush at a 45-degree angle to remove any food debris and bacteria from along the gum line."
However, Prof Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser with the British Dental Association, says: "Toothpaste is essentially a means of getting fluoride in contact with teeth, which makes them more resistant to tooth decay. You can use either approach to brushing, but a moist brush is likely to make the experience more pleasant.
"The important point is that teeth should be brushed twice a day for at least two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, including last thing at night. To maximise prevention of tooth decay, brush twice a day with a fluoride family toothpaste (1350-1500ppm fluoride).
"Children under seven should be supervised, and although they can use a family toothpaste, use a smear for 0-3s and pea-size for 3-6s, and adults should cover the head of the brush with toothpaste."
So there, make of all that what you will.
