A method for improving effectiveness of an oral care agent comprises preconditioning an oral surface by wiping the surface with an absorbent fabric having impregnated therein or coated thereon an orally acceptable preconditioning agent such as an activating agent for the oral care agent, wherein the wiping transfers an activating effective amount of the preconditioning agent from the fabric to the oral surface, and thereafter applying a composition comprising the oral care agent to the oral surface.