How, where and when we wash various parts of our bodies is a real conversation starter on the internet.
This week TV hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager started a new debate about whether it is ever okay to brush your teeth – while in the shower.
The debate began as Hoda told her co-host that she likes to keep things streamlined when getting ready in the morning.
“I’m all about saving time,” she tells Jenna at the start of the segment.
“So in my shower, I have all my hair products, my body wash products, the glove with the loofah-like thing.”
“I’m brushing my teeth and then, all done!”
So far, so normal, agrees Jenna.
But then Hoda says that while she’s in the shower waiting for her leave-in conditioner to do it’s work, she grabs her toothbrush.
“I’m brushing my teeth. I know how long this takes and then [mimics spitting out the toothpaste] all done.”
As a few members of the crowd applaud this time saving initiative by Hoda, co-host Jenna is “horrified” at the thought.
“That’s why God made sinks”
“I do believe that the shower is not a place to brush our teeth,” Jenna says after recovering from her shock.
“I believe that’s why God made us sinks or a human did, but but you know, you go get in the shower and you step on your plaque. You step on all the gunk! You’re brushing the plaque off your teeth, and then you’re spitting it into the drain where the next morning you stand to put on your loofah and rub yourself up!”
Jenna enquires as to how often Hoda cleans the shower, to which she replies, “once a week”.
“So for six days, if I’m doing my math correctly, you are stepping on your food!”
Hoda is resolute, believing her toothpaste waste going down the drain is no different to the water and soap from her body. She says: “But [in the shower] you are washing your body so all that [dirt] from the day is there too.
“It’s all going down the drain!”
“Okay, well I stand by the sink,” Jenna concluded.
“Team Hoda!”
After the segment was shared across their social media channels to thousands of followers of the duo, the comments and opinions were divided.
“Team Hoda!” said one supportive teeth brusher.
“You’re cleaning your body, teeth are part of that!”
“Shower brushing is the way of life,” wrote another. “ Saves so much extra time at the sink in the mornings.”
“Multitasking at its best – brush those teeth, condition the hair and shave your legs all at once” added a third.
But Jenna’s opinion drew supportive comments in equal measure.
“It is so humid and yucky in the shower,” said one sink toothbrusher. “Think of the bacteria that grows on your toothbrush!”
“The germs in your mouth!”
Another had an even stronger opinion: “OMG! NO!! The germs in your mouth, the bacteria flying everywhere while you are showering just makes me sick. Plus, are you really standing there wasting water while you brush your teeth.”
Someone pointed out the practicality of needing to use a sink for all the mouth hygiene related activities: “I’m with Jenna, I need to brush, floss and use my tongue scraper. I need a mirror for all that!”
