The Secret Behind the Toothpaste Ads That Deceived Us Every Day

Every morning, billions of people around the world engage in nearly the same routine.

They rub their eyes and head to the bathroom to grab their toothbrush.

But are we using the right amount of toothpaste?

In TV commercials, toothpaste is shown beautifully and generously piled on the toothbrush, resembling soft serve ice cream.

I thought that was the correct way to do it because that's how it's always portrayed in ads.

"You don't need to use that much," I felt a strange sense of betrayal when I heard this from my dentist during a visit.

It made me realize I had been falling for the marketing of toothpaste companies for decades.

Looking around, I see many people using toothpaste quite liberally.

My brother squeezes toothpaste onto his toothbrush like he's pouring ketchup, saying, "This way, it foams up and feels like it's really cleaning!"

However, just because we use more detergent doesn't mean our laundry gets cleaner, and using a handful of shampoo doesn't make our scalp cleaner either; the same goes for toothpaste.

The 'Real' Recommended Amount According to Dentists

The actual amount of toothpaste recommended by dental professionals and major dental associations is much less than we think.

A pea-sized amount is sufficient. This amount can provide the fluoride benefits necessary for dental health and sufficient cleaning power.

In fact, using too much toothpaste can lead to the following side effects.

Reduced Brushing Time: Excessive foaming due to surfactants can fill the mouth quickly, preventing you from brushing for the recommended two minutes and forcing you to rinse sooner.

Tooth Wear and Fluorosis Risk: The abrasive ingredients in toothpaste can irritate the tooth surface more than necessary, and especially in children, swallowing it can lead to fluorosis, which causes spots on the teeth.

We can't know for sure if toothpaste companies want us to use it as generously as shown in ads.

But the conclusion that experts agree on is simple: what's important in brushing is not the amount of toothpaste, but 'how thoroughly you brush.'

Still, sometimes you might find yourself reminiscing about the 'advertising version' as you pick up your toothbrush and squeeze out the toothpaste tomorrow morning.

"Should I squeeze it out long like in the ads today, or just a pea-sized amount as my dentist said?"

To be honest, even now that I know the right amount, I sometimes squeeze it out long like in the ads.

In my mind, I picture a pea-sized amount, but my hand craves that refreshing feeling.

How much toothpaste did you use this morning?