How to Get the Most from a Tube of Toothpaste

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Squeeze the tube from the bottom.

   Start using a tube by pressing the far end, and working your way toward the cap.
   
   Flatten the tube as you go, to extract every last bit of toothpaste.
2. 2

   Step 2: Try a roller or dispenser.

   A roller is an inexpensive metal or plastic device that slips onto the end of the tube to assist with rolling.
   
   Also called a “winder,” “key,” or “wringer,” this will squeeze out the last little bit of paste.
   
   If you like gadgets, a wall-mounted dispenser delivers a small blob of paste with the touch of a button.
   
   Rollers and dispensers are very helpful if you suffer from arthritis of the hands. , If you're at the very end of a tube and can't get any more out, try cutting it open with a pair of scissors.
   
   You'll usually get one or two additional uses out of a tube this way. , Moistening your toothbrush first lets you get the same cleaning effects with less paste.
   
   If you put toothpaste on a dry brush, running water may wash the paste off into the sink.
   
   It might also help the toothpaste taste a little better. , That thick, caterpillar-sized serving you see in toothpaste ads is three or four times the amount you really need to brush effectively.
   
   Apply a small amount to the brush, about the size of a pea.
   
   If it foams up and feels like it's doing its job, that's probably enough paste.
   
   Don't skimp too much.
   
   Any toothpaste is cheaper than getting a cavity filled, so don't skimp too much on paste.
   
   Most dentists recommend using a pea-sized amount.
3. 3

   Step 3: Cut open the tube.

4. 4

   Step 4: Moisten your brush first.

5. 5

   Step 5: Apply a moderate amount of paste.

Detailed Guide

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