Are You Using Too Much Toothpaste?

Are You Using Too Much Toothpaste?

When you picture the perfect toothbrush, what do you see? We've all seen the commercial with the toothbrush bristles covered in paste, forming the shape of a wave. The paste starts at the front of the bristles and ends at the back. It’s… so much toothpaste.

Admittedly, before starting Bite we had never really thought about how much toothpaste we were using. And we weren’t alone — even though dentists recommend a pea-sized amount of toothpaste (and only an amount the size of a grain of rice for kids under 6), most people use a whole lot more. In fact, a recent study has shown that kids specifically are using way too much toothpaste, and getting more fluoride than is good for them.

It’s not clear whether kids and adults are mimicking toothpaste amounts they see on TV or just using too much by accident (who hasn’t accidentally squeezed out a big glop and then just gone with it? Because, guilty). But what we do know is that it’s a net negative. For adults, it’s not as big of a health risk since teeth and bones are already developed — but it is a major factor when it comes to sustainability.

Too much toothpaste is waste on waste. You don’t need that much, so you’re wasting the actual toothpaste. And then, of course, the faster you use up the toothpaste tube, the sooner you need a new one, sending the old tube straight to a landfill. Like so much in our society, toothpaste is generally used without much regard for whether or not it’s really needed, and then it’s simply thrown away.

Always the perfect amount

We’re starting a new narrative, one that says: take only what you need, and don’t add unnecessary waste. The problem of too much toothpaste is solved with Bite, of course — one bit is just the right amount, no more no less — but it’s also bigger than that. In dental care, as in life, it’s important to remember what you really need. Join us and work to treat yourself, and the earth, with care!