I follow the same daily patterns as sushipup. The residue that builds up in the sink from tooth brushing and other things requires a good cleaning a few times a week. I wouldn't want to be scrubbing the floor in my tiled shower that often, nor using it if I hadn't.

Nope not for me. I am very careful about my toothbrush. I douse the brush with alcohol and let it air dry touching nothing in the vanity in the master bathroom our toilet is in a separate enclosure no where near there. I wonder how do you spray down the shower with cleaner without it getting on the toothbrush? Plus my cleaning lady is working in there. I just don't like the thought of spitting on the floor. Fine if they like it but not gonna happen here lol. I too brush frequently.

no, no, no

Nope.

No....

Absent being directed to do so by a physician or dentist, those of you who don't disinfect your toothbrush shouldn't feel like it's necessary. The ADA (American Dental Association) says:

"there is insufficient clinical evidence to support that bacterial growth on toothbrushes will lead to specific adverse oral or systemic health effects"

The linked page to the ADA site has common sense recommendations, like try not to share a brush with another person. It notes that a healthy mouth is full of hundreds of types of bacteria and that new toothbrushes aren't sterile. The suggestion is that a simple rinsing with water and then allowing them to dry should be enough.

ADA recommendation on storing toothbrushes

I never thought about brushing in the shower, but I brush my teeth several times a day but shower once or maybe twice if I get all grimy from the garden. It seems easier just to brush at the sink.

I do not disinfect my toothbrushes but replace them every three months or so.

No, for some of the reasons mentioned above, but mostly because of the huge volume of water wasted! I brush for 2-3 minutes.....that's a lot of water down the drain.

I started brushing my teeth in the shower a few years ago. I just find it much easier to do my teeth while in the shower and it keeps my mirror clean. ;)

I use my waterpik in the shower. I have a toothbrush that I use with no toothpaste too. I do that after I've done everything else and have turned off the water. When I've finished waterpikking I turn on the water, rinse the conditioner out and my tootsies off. If I didn't do it that way my room would get a waterpik shower every day. I then get out and brush my teeth with toothpaste.

I don't use toothpaste--haven't in years, but I don't think I could brush my teeth in the shower. OT--I have some bonding on my front upper teeth, so I brush several times a day. The bonding material is not as 'slick' as natural enamel, so feels as if particles stick to it more. (I'm missing my upper laterals, a family trait, so adjacent teeth are bonded to fill the gaps.) I keep my toothbrush in the medicine cabinet, after rinsing and rapping it on the side of the sink to shake out the excess water.

Years ago I heard a celebrity on TV say she used the shower as a waterpik. I tried that, then not long after I read about all the bacteria found on shower heads, so I stopped.

Never thought to brush my teeth in the shower. Since I floss right after I brush, it seems like it's just more convenient at the sink with the nearby mirror. Also, I use a Sonicare, so it stays plugged in right by the sink.

Nope

No....never heard of it or considered it until now. Still a big no. I floss after brushing "and" use a waterpik electric toothbrush. :-_

It never occurred to me to brush my teeth in the shower but I wouldn't want to rinse with warm/hot water.

No, and I haven't heard of it until just now, either. I agree that it would be a huge waste of water (and I, too, turn off sink faucet while I am brushing my teeth… Why send all that water down the drain?) and it seems quite odd to me to brush your teeth in the shower.

I'm not sure what I do would be called "brushing" per se. It's more like a quick cleaning. I do regularly brush with toothpaste at the bathroom sink. But I can also see why others may find the shower thing gross, possible food particles falling down on you and into the shower pan. Standing in that and all the body scum from showering and the bacteria from the shower head raining down on you. eww. Makes you think.

hmmm. I find it interesting that so many find it odd and even gross to brush your teeth while you shower. I take shower in the morning so I brush my teeth while I'm in there. So my question is to those who also shower as soon as you get up in the morning, do you brush your teeth in the sink and then jump in the shower? It's not a waste of water if the water is already running since your showering, it's just getting two things done at once. I find myself talking more time to brush while I'm in the shower.

I don't understand how it's wasting water either. You're suppose to leave conditioner in your hair for a few minutes so do it then. Also a lot of you mention spitting in the shower and ew germs. Um what kinds of things do you think you're washing off of yourself? There are germs everywhere. People's habits are a lot cleaner than they used to be but we're all still here aren't we? There's been stories for years that when you flush particles from the toilet fly up and land on everything (including your toothbrush). So can you really get away from all the "germs"? :)

It's not about wasting water, it's the "yuck" factor. It builds up on the floor of the shower and would require constant cleaning. I was brought up to wipe out the sink after each use and to wipe off the faucets, and I still do so.

Nope, not me! It just sounds awkward and messy to me. But, 'different strokes for different folks', it's what makes the world go 'round.

Debbie, how does brushing your teeth in the shower keep your mirror clean? ?

Rusty

I do both. Never had scum from spit-out toothpaste build up. Never found it gross.

I picked up the habit a long time ago and never quit it!

I use my waterpik in the shower.

Is this a plugged in electric appliance?

There's no build up, everything washes down the drain. Shampoo, conditioners, toothpaste spit, body wash, shave gel, face scrub etc etc.

Yes, a part of it is certainly the wasted water. While you are brushing your teeth in the shower the water is running. Hopefully, if you are brushing your teeth in the sink, you are turning the water off while brushing

Never

My water is never wasted. I luxuriate and let the hot water sooth my muscles and loosen me up!

Sometimes, conditioner and soap lingering is a good thing ;-)

Never because I don't take showers. I've lived in this house 35 years and have never once used the shower. Husband, on the other hand, has never used the bathtub.

"There's no build up, everything washes down the drain. "

Oh, so no need to ever clean it? This is one of those things for which wishing won't make it so.

Never. I don't even wash my hair in the shower. I don't need a shower a day anyway. I brush my teeth several times a day when I'm home. Put a dab of paste on the brush; wet brush; turn off water; brush; turn on water while rinsing mouth and rinsing out sink.

It never occurred to me, and now that I think about it, no thanks.

Ha ha no I am not trying to electrocute myself Lucille. It's a rechargeable battery operated waterpik.

I do turn off the water as I allow my conditioner to sit in my hair while I waterpik.

I have found the waterpik and dry toothbrush to improve my gums so much that my pockets have shrunk to nothing. After years of bleeding gums and sensitive teeth I finally can eat cold things again too. :)

OT: I've never let hair conditioner 'sit'. My hair stylists doesn't either.

No teeth.

No shower.

One more problem that isn't a concern at my house.

o j

I can't understand the point of doing it in the shower, just wastes more water. I turn the water off while I'm brushing and flossing at the sink, saves water.

No I have to look in the mirror when I brush, same when I put deodorant on I have to watch..creepy I know haha

Not personally for me, and never had heard of doing this until that thread. Maybe I've been missing out on some fun, but probably not.

I've never heard of brushing your teeth in the shower. No thanks...I will use my sink for that, and I wash my hair in the laundry room deep tub, not in the shower. I don't like long wet hair clinging to my body.

Funny how we all do it differently. So glad we can. :)

It was advised by a hairstylist to let the conditioner sit on my hair and soak in as I have hair with barbs on each strand. I also have to use a leave in conditioner or I'd be so knotted up within moments that I'd never brush it out.

I think one of my DD's does. She has a very tiny bathroom with a tiny sink. I once noticed her toothbrush and paste inside on the niche, so I guess this works for her.

I have a tiny bottle of Windex and I spray my mirror everyday after flossing.

Once or twice I've brushed my teeth in the shower but I don't like it. Only did it because I was at a hotel with the sink separated and we were in a hurry to get going. I don't like using warm to hot water to brush my teeth. It's nasty to me and I have to believe there are more bacteria issues in the warm water and it seems clumsy to me to use the shower too. I also don't shave in the shower as do some. When camping it's a cup of water, dip the toothbrush, apply paste and brush. Rinse then clean the brush. Minimal water usage. I often wonder why people who are concerned about saving water don't use a similar method.

I do sanitize my toothbrush when I've been sick or not feeling the best. I think it's a common sense thing to do and I believe it helps in wellness maintenance. And change toothbrushes as needed. And I don't like leaving a toothbrush exposed in a bathroom with a toilet flushing and so few people these days who will close the lid. Might as well rinse your toothbrush in the toilet at that rate.

never ever thought of it

There was a comedian once who made a joke about fallen/dried up toothpaste on sink becoming after dinner mints. Gross!

bossyvossy - LOL good one! I'm going to remember that when next I see friends and pretend I made it up.

Could there be a few medium-depth rascals around here, do you figger?

Would those mints be re-used?

Hardly - they were never "used" in the first place (unless they'd fallen out of the guy's mouth - can't figure a gal doing that ... but, then ... there are a few myths around regarding the universal fastidiousness of the female gender, I've heard).

And - not recycled ... unless one can conclude that letting them lie to dry on the edge of the sink might be designated "processing".

o j

Wow! Such an aversion to brushing in the shower! I have been doing it for 40 years. I brush them (with toothpaste) while waiting for my conditioner to work. I take 5 to 10 minute showers which includes shampooing, conditioning, shaving and washing. I don't see why brushing teeth can't be a part of that routine. I would waste more water if I stepped out of the shower to brush in the sink.

I do keep a second brush at the sink and one at the office for additional brushing throughout the day.

How do you rationalize that you'd waste more water if you do it after stepping out of the shower? Surely you'd do it after you finish your shower and then turn the shower off, right?

Until this thread, I knew of no one who actually leaves the conditioner on their hair for 3 minutes or whatever, to "work". As noted by others above, not even my hairdresser does that. The conditioner is applied and rinsed off immediately. Sort of sounds like "lather, rinse, repeat" ... for shampoo - haha - does anybody really do that? I guess I'm a rebel.

I leave my conditioner on for one minute while I brush my teeth unless I'm using a deep conditioner, then I might leave it on for the called for 5 minutes. I do not shampoo and repeat. And I do not get out of the shower and run the water in the sink to brush my teeth until before I go to bed.

You do not need to leave the water running while you are brushing your teeth at the sink. What a waste of water if you do!

I don't actually keep the water running while I brush my teeth (I live in So Cal so am acutely aware of water usage ... we are allowed 12 units of water per month and we only use 3) ... I'm just saying that I brush my teeth in the shower so that I don't have to get out and do it in the sink. It's all about convenience and multi-tasking.