Do you leave the tap (faucet) running while brushing your teeth?

@Fragglemuppet I was prompted to post this poll after writing this post on another thread: https://mastodon.africa/@GrahamDowns/116095851419944844

Yeah, I open the tap to rinse, but even that takes maybe 10 seconds... Or wait: do you fill a glass to rinse, and then leave the tap running while you tip from the glass into your mouth, rinse, gargle, and spit (and you leave the tap running that whole time)?

Because I just stick my mouth directly under the tap, open it, fill my mouth, close it, rinse, gargle, spit, then open it again to wash everything down the drain.

@GrahamDowns no and since my dentist told me to stop rinsing (it rinses away the fluoride) I use even less water over all. Lol

@GrahamDowns Because otherwise I have to shave with cold water.

@GrahamDowns nope, grew up entirely in "hey you, we have water shortages here!" places. I think I might have briefly as a kid while figuring that out and turning taps while so short I had to stand on a stool to reach the sink was hard?

@GrahamDowns

No, I'm paying for that water.

@KanaMauna Damn straight!

Same reason I switch lights off when I leave a room.

@GrahamDowns

Yes because I brush my teeth in the shower ... Yes I'm gross ... Giggles

Hugz & xXx

@MelissaBearTrix No, I've totally heard people do that. Especially people who own those water-flosser thingies.

It's totally valid, I think... Except that when you're brushing your teeth, you're not doing anything else, so it's potentially still a waste.

Also, over the past few months I've started not leaving the water running when I shower either. I turn it on, wet myself, turn it off, wash myself, turn it on, rinse myself, and done. It's actually been working quite well.

@GrahamDowns

I would turn the water off ... But I am privileged to be able to wash drinking water down the drain ... I do, during water shortages or in places that have water shortages

Also Sydney water is the best water ... Hugz

Hugz & xXx

@MelissaBearTrix 🫶

@GrahamDowns

I only open the tap twice: Once for rinsing the teeth before brushing, and once for cleaning the brush after brushing.

You are not supposed to rinse the teeth after brushing, anyway.

@GrahamDowns As a kid, I read in some kids' book that doing that wastes enough water so you could cook spaghetti for your entire school class, and for some weird reason my brain kept this fact for over 40 years.

...yet it cannot seem to reliably remember the Spanish second conditional mood.