If Netflix’s The Social Dilemma taught us anything, it’s that in 2020 we are the victims of some serious information overwhelm. We’re constantly bombarded with incendiary advertising designed to make us panic. The challenge right now is to distinguish between the reality and the fake fads in our newsfeeds.
This applies to literally everything on social media….right down to your toothbrush. It’s easy for suppliers to play on your fears about yellowing teeth or your kid getting cavities or toothbrushes dominating the landfills or even your possible untimely demise due to oral cancer. All this to scare you into prematurely purchasing a product that doesn’t necessarily deliver on its promises.
In this article, we’ll be delving into 4 of the Latest Oral Care Trends that, when you look a little closer, might not be all that they appear to be in those sparkly ads.
TREND #1.
Quip, Burst, Gleem -- electric toothbrushes GALORE.
Every time you go to Amazon it seems like there’s another ‘hot new electric’ toothbrush. Between the buzzing that makes you feel like you’re ‘getting the job done’ and the timed brushing feature, we certainly see the appeal.
The big drawback? Most of the high-end electric toothbrushes run between $40 and $80, which is significantly higher than a manual toothbrush. Does the cost really match the effectiveness? This study and this study between manual toothbrush users and electric toothbrush users found no significant difference between the efficiency of manual vs. electric despite the extravagant claims.
Try this instead: Our RADIUS Big Brush with the Replaceable Head for only $10.99. It might not have a built in timer, but there’s a reason why our classic, multi-award winning design has been on the market since 1983 and become the go-to in many families generation after generation. The ultra big brush head with super soft bristles and handle designed specifically for lefties or righties helps to not only give maximum coverage and clean, but also alleviate undue and potentially harmful pressure on teeth and gums. Translation: it’s the best option for those vigorous brushers out there without the unnecessary price tag. Seriously, once you feel this brush, you’ll never want to go back to that rough electric toothbrush ever again!
TREND #2.
Bamboo Toothbrushes.
The big thing lately for the eco-conscious types has been the bamboo toothbrushes. The narrative goes something like this: These toothbrushes are made of bamboo which is natural, fast-growing, and compostable….so it must be good for the environment, right?
Wrong.
As we explored in this article, bamboo is not nearly as sustainable as it appears. Why is that?
- Most of the world’s bamboo comes from China, but a lot of the bamboo toothbrush use is in the U.S. Just one ship transporting bamboo to the U.S. uses more oil than it takes to produce an ENTIRE YEAR’S WORTH of plastic bags in the U.S.
- If you don’t dispose of the brush in the exact right conditions, it can actually take up to 10 years, or more, to decompose.
- The greater the demand for bamboo, the more it lessens biodiversity and leads to crop erosion.
Try this instead: RADIUS Source Brush. Our most earth-friendly toothbrush. Crafted on low-emission machinery, this brush features an upcycled handle made from all-natural materials, bristles made from vegetable nylon, and a replaceable head that reduces plastic waste by 93%. It is, in our humble opinion, by far the best option for the eco-friendly consumer on the market today.
TREND #3
Charcoal or Any Other ‘Natural’ Toothpaste.
You’ve seen the videos with people brushing with the Cali White black toothpaste...it might look nasty but...does it really work?
Census says….maybe?
But, more importantly, it comes at a huge cost. The claim is that the charcoal is a natural, eco-friendly way to brighten and whiten your teeth through charcoal’s naturally antibacterial and absorbent properties which help to remove stains and harmful bacteria. However, the issue with removing plaque with such an abrasive substance is that you also run the risk of removing enamel in the process. Several dentists and studies have expressed concern over enamel damage and only 10% of charcoal toothpastes on the market are actually endorsed by dental professionals.
Not only that, but papers in the British Dental Journal and the British Dental Bleaching Society found there to be little evidence to substantiate claims that charcoal toothpaste is effective at whitening or eco-friendly. Worse, due to the possible presence of human carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbons in charcoal, it may put long-time users at risk for cancer.
Yeah. Not good. If you get anything out of this article, it’s this: DO NOT USE CHARCOAL TOOTHPASTE.
Alternatively, you might be tempted to try one of those other ‘natural’ toothpastes because they use ‘natural’ products and must be good for you….right?
Hello?
More like Goodbye.
Natural toothpastes like Hello Toothpaste, while they advertise all-natural ingredients, are not certified organic. Why does this matter? While the ‘Natural Toothpaste’ might be free of synthetics or preservatives, it’s important to understand that that doesn’t prevent the original ingredient from being grown with artificial pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, or hormones. And, if those harmful additives are in the growing process, they can also end up in your toothpaste. Make no mistake, ‘organic’ is better than ‘natural’.
Try this instead: RADIUS organic toothpaste. We’re proud to announce that we recently patented our certifiably one-of-a-kind organic toothpaste. We have worked for years to make sure we can offer a toothpaste that uses organic ingredients like coconut oil, rice powder, and cavity-fighting erythritol to not only give the best clean, but also gently and naturally whiten your teeth. Not only that, but it is 100% free of any chemicals, detergents, artificial preservatives, parabens, synthetics or harmful ingredients of any kind. This means that it is not only good for your body, but good for the earth. Plus with flavors like Clove Cardamom and Matcha Mint, brushing your teeth will feel like a treat instead of a chore.
TREND #4
Allllllll the whitening products.
LED lights. Whitening toothpastes and gels. Rockin’ the hydrogen peroxide at home.
Look, we get it. We all want the Tom Cruise ultra-white smile. However, if you take great care of your teeth you actually don’t need all the fancy whitening products. Not only are you wasting money, but you are potentially doing damage to your teeth….and possibly your overall health.
As we explored in this article, many over-the counter whitening remedies have been shown to have a relatively minor impact on whitening your teeth and can actually contribute to damaging your enamel and dentin.
Thinking the at-home methods may be more effective? Perhaps. But beware that hydrogen peroxide, or the increasingly popular lemon-and-baking-soda cocktail can be very damaging to your chompers.
Try this instead: A healthy oral care regimen and natural whitening. Don’t skimp on the floss either! A 2016 analysis found that only 30% of Americans do the recommended daily flossing….which is under the 32% who say they never floss. Look, it doesn’t matter how often you brush, if you don’t floss plaque will build up. When plaque builds up, so does bacteria, and so does the yellowing. So floss. Try this one coated in coconut oil and cavity-fighting erythritol.
If you’re really hard-set on going the extra mile, you can try some of these safe methods to naturally whiten your teeth.
We hope through exploring these trends you’ve come to the same conclusion that we have -- when it comes to oral care, it doesn’t have to be fancy or trendy, it just has to work.
That’s what we do: simple, straightforward, effective.
Keep on brushin’, friends! (and maaaybe spend a little less time on Facebook ;) )