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Back-to-School Oral Care: 5 Tips from Dr. Jacci

Back-to-School Oral Care: 5 Tips from Dr. Jacci

in The Reverie

Back to school means back to basics: reading, writing, arithmetic, and…oral care! It’s the perfect time to get kids back into the swing of things, including their oral care routine. You may have heard the saying, the mouth is the gateway to the body. Food digestion starts in our mouths; the air we breathe passes through our oral cavity and airway. Therefore, it’s not hard to see why oral health matters—especially for young mouths.

Healthy mouths and teeth lead to more attentive kiddos with increased energy, confidence, better performance in school, and fewer sick days. But how can we get them excited about their daily brushing? Keep reading for some simple tips and kid-approved products that make brushing easy, fun, and something your child will actually look forward to doing. 

1. Make Brushing Fun & Easy

As any parent knows, the hardest part of parenting is often just keeping your child’s attention long enough to get any job accomplished. Kids get bored easily, especially with brushing. So what better way to keep them engaged than with a kid’s toothpaste that actually tastes like something they already like? Better & Better’s Kids Toothpaste has a natural watermelon flavor that is sure to please even the pickiest of palates. It’s fluoride-free and packed with nutrients for healthy gums and whole-body wellness.

2. Commemorate the New School Year With a New Toothbrush

It is important to remember that toothbrushes are not one size fits all. Children with little fingers and hands need little toothbrushes to get the job done effectively. No matter their age, softer is always better for their teeth and gums. Better & Better has you covered here as well, with a kids' natural bamboo toothbrush with soft bristles, sized perfectly to fit into small hands and even replaceable heads to extend the life of the brush and the environment.

3. Make Flossing a Team Activity

Before bedtime, don’t forget to have your kids floss too! Many parents overlook flossing themselves, so flossing with your kids is another way to improve the oral health of the entire family. Better & Better’s kid-friendly floss picks make it easy for kids to get the hang of flossing, which can take some dexterity at first. Bonus: They’re biodegradable!

4. Create a Back-to-School Brushing Routine

One way to get kiddos excited about brushing is to make it fun. Emphasize brushing as just another part of the daily routine. Daily charts that track brushing with stickers and prizes for perfect attendance are easy ways to get kids engaged and teach them valuable life skills such as accountability and responsibility.

Another idea is to make toothbrushing a dance party; have your child pick a few of their favorite songs; the first song is the brushing song, so they'll brush for the duration of the song (most songs are on average 2-3 minutes, which is the same amount of time we should be brushing). Then the second song is dance party time!

Added bonus: they will tire themselves out just in time for bed. Looking for a place to start? Look no further than the Better & Better Kids Starter Set that has everything kids need for an easy, eco-friendly routine.

5. Pack a Toothbrush for On-the-Go

Between after-school activities, sports practice, and the occasional sleepover, kids spend a lot of time away from home. Packing a travel-friendly toothbrush in their backpack makes it easy to sneak in a quick brush after lunch or before heading to a friend’s house.

Better & Better’s kids’ bamboo toothbrush is light, compact, and perfect for travel, especially when paired with a mini tube of our natural watermelon toothpaste. It’s a small habit that keeps their smile fresh and their confidence high, no matter where the school day takes them.

STEP UP YOUR ROUTINE WITH A BRUSH BETTER SET

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FURTHER READING

Back-to-School Oral Care: 5 Tips from Dr. Jacci

Back-to-School Oral Care: 5 Tips from Dr. Jacci

Back to school means back to basics: reading, writing, arithmetic, and…oral care! It’s the perfect time to get kids back into the swing of things, including their oral care routine. You may have heard the saying, the mouth is the gateway to the body. Food digestion starts in our mouths; the air we breathe passes through our oral cavity and airway. Therefore, it’s not hard to see why oral health matters—especially for young mouths. Healthy mouths and teeth lead to more attentive kiddos with increased energy, confidence, better performance in school, and fewer sick days. But how can we get them excited about their daily brushing? Keep reading for some simple tips and kid-approved products that make brushing easy, fun, and something your child will actually look forward to doing.  1. Make Brushing Fun & Easy As any parent knows, the hardest part of parenting is often just keeping your child’s attention long enough to get any job accomplished. Kids get bored easily, especially with brushing. So what better way to keep them engaged than with a kid’s toothpaste that actually tastes like something they already like? Better & Better’s Kids Toothpaste has a natural watermelon flavor that is sure to please even the pickiest of palates. It’s fluoride-free and packed with nutrients for healthy gums and whole-body wellness. 2. Commemorate the New School Year With a New Toothbrush It is important to remember that toothbrushes are not one size fits all. Children with little fingers and hands need little toothbrushes to get the job done effectively. No matter their age, softer is always better for their teeth and gums. Better & Better has you covered here as well, with a kids' natural bamboo toothbrush with soft bristles, sized perfectly to fit into small hands and even replaceable heads to extend the life of the brush and the environment. 3. Make Flossing a Team Activity Before bedtime, don’t forget to have your kids floss too! Many parents overlook flossing themselves, so flossing with your kids is another way to improve the oral health of the entire family. Better & Better’s kid-friendly floss picks make it easy for kids to get the hang of flossing, which can take some dexterity at first. Bonus: They’re biodegradable! 4. Create a Back-to-School Brushing Routine One way to get kiddos excited about brushing is to make it fun. Emphasize brushing as just another part of the daily routine. Daily charts that track brushing with stickers and prizes for perfect attendance are easy ways to get kids engaged and teach them valuable life skills such as accountability and responsibility. Another idea is to make toothbrushing a dance party; have your child pick a few of their favorite songs; the first song is the brushing song, so they'll brush for the duration of the song (most songs are on average 2-3 minutes, which is the same amount of time we should be brushing). Then the second song is dance party time! Added bonus: they will tire themselves out just in time for bed. Looking for a place to start? Look no further than the Better & Better Kids Starter Set that has everything kids need for an easy, eco-friendly routine. 5. Pack a Toothbrush for On-the-Go Between after-school activities, sports practice, and the occasional sleepover, kids spend a lot of time away from home. Packing a travel-friendly toothbrush in their backpack makes it easy to sneak in a quick brush after lunch or before heading to a friend’s house. Better & Better’s kids’ bamboo toothbrush is light, compact, and perfect for travel, especially when paired with a mini tube of our natural watermelon toothpaste. It’s a small habit that keeps their smile fresh and their confidence high, no matter where the school day takes them.

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is whitening toothpaste bad for you

Is Whitening Toothpaste Bad For You?

Walk down any drugstore aisle and you’ll see it: “whitening” stamped on nearly every toothpaste tube like it’s a mandatory feature. Whitening is the promise. Pearly, radiant, just-left-the-dentist teeth. But while most whitening toothpastes boast quick results, they often don’t mention the potential trade-offs, like sensitivity, enamel damage, or gum irritation. So, is whitening toothpaste actually bad for you? And is there a safer way to brighten your smile without wrecking your mouth? Let’s take a closer look at what’s really behind the label. Is Whitening Toothpaste Bad For You? In moderation, many whitening toothpastes are considered safe. But here’s the catch: excessive or improper use can lead to real problems, especially if you have sensitive teeth or gums. These formulas are often more abrasive than regular toothpaste or contain chemical agents that whiten by bleaching the surface of your teeth. That might sound like a good thing, until you start feeling that twinge of pain when you sip something cold, or your gums look a little angrier than usual. Here are some whitening ingredients that are red flags: Hydrogen Peroxide: Effective for stain removal but harsh on enamel and nerves. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): A foaming agent linked to mouth irritation and canker sores. Colorants/Dyes: Used to give that illusion of brightness but offer zero functional benefit—and can be irritating. Harsh Abrasives: Often used to mechanically polish the surface of teet, but can lead to roughness and enamel wear. 3 Potential Risks of Whitening Toothpaste Here are a few of the most common side effects that can come with using whitening toothpaste regularly: Enamel Erosion Many whitening formulas rely on abrasive particles to scrub away surface stains. The downside? They can also scrub away your enamel: your teeth’s natural protective barrier. Once enamel is gone, it doesn’t grow back, and your teeth become more vulnerable to decay and sensitivity. In fact, some studies show that abrasive whitening toothpaste can alter the surface texture of teeth in as little as one week. Gum Irritation Certain chemical agents—like hydrogen peroxide—can irritate soft tissues in the mouth. If you're brushing with a heavy hand or using a stiff-bristled toothbrush, that irritation only gets worse. Red, inflamed gums aren’t just uncomfortable; they can also make your mouth more susceptible to bacteria. Tooth Sensitivity Whitening toothpaste is notorious for causing temporary tooth sensitivity. Hydrogen peroxide, the go-to whitening agent in many mainstream brands, penetrates the tooth to break down stains—but it can also reach the nerves and cause that sharp, uncomfortable “zing” feeling. Who Should Avoid Teeth Whitening Toothpaste? The American Dental Association recommends avoiding whitening toothpaste if you: Have allergies or sensitivities to bleaching ingredients Have tooth-colored restorations (crowns, veneers, fillings) that won't respond to whitening agents Currently have or recently had tooth sensitivity In short: If your mouth is already prone to discomfort, these toothpastes may just make things worse. Better Alternatives to Traditional Whitening Toothpaste At Better & Better, we believe in whitening the way nature intended. That means no peroxide, no harsh abrasives, no synthetic dyes—just clean, effective ingredients that support both your smile and your oral microbiome. Our formulas are designed to gently whiten over time, using ingredients like: Calcium Carbonate: A gentle mineral polish that lifts surface stains without damaging enamel. Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate): Naturally whitens and neutralizes acids in the mouth. Organic Xylitol: Fights cavity-causing bacteria while promoting a healthier oral environment. Coconut Oil & Evaporated Coconut Water: Naturally antimicrobial and soothing for gums. Whitening Without Wrecking Your Mouth You don’t need to suffer through sensitivity or gamble with your enamel just to get a brighter smile. If your current toothpaste leaves your teeth feeling sore or your gums inflamed, it’s not worth it—no matter how many influencers swear by it. Whitening should be gradual, gentle, and compatible with daily use. Anything more aggressive is a short-term fix with long-term consequences. So next time you reach for that tube promising “extreme whitening,” flip it over and read the ingredient list. Or skip the fine print entirely and choose a toothpaste that’s actually good for your mouth.

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Here’s What Toothpaste Tubes Are Actually Made Of

Here’s What Toothpaste Tubes Are Actually Made Of

When people think about clean toothpaste, they usually zero in on the ingredients list. Fluoride or no fluoride, whitening agents, harsh abrasives like SLS, the list goes on. But there’s a hidden part of the equation that’s easy to overlook: the tube itself. When you squeeze a dollop of toothpaste onto your brush, you probably don’t think twice about the container it came in. But maybe you should. Most traditional toothpaste tubes aren’t just made of harmless plastic. They’re a cocktail of petroleum-based plastics, hidden metals, and industrial adhesives—many of which are nearly impossible to recycle and can pose risks to your health and the environment. Below, we’re breaking down exactly what’s inside your average toothpaste tube, and why Better & Better’s sugarcane-based tubes are a cleaner, smarter swap for you and the planet. What Are Toothpaste Tubes Made Of? While some toothpaste formulas have gotten cleaner over the years, the tubes haven’t always kept up. Many major brands still rely on outdated materials and manufacturing shortcuts that come with hidden costs. Here’s what you’re really holding every time you brush: 1. Petroleum-Based Plastic That slick, squeezable feel you’re used to? It comes from petroleum-derived plastic. While it’s great for keeping your toothpaste fresh and pliable, it’s terrible for the planet. This type of plastic can take hundreds of years to break down—if it ever does. That means every tube you’ve ever tossed probably still exists somewhere, sitting in a landfill or worse, polluting waterways. 2. BPA Cheap toothpaste tubes can be lined or coated with BPA (bisphenol A). This chemical compound is often used to make plastics flexible and durable. Unfortunately, BPA is also notorious for acting as a hormone disruptor, interfering with the body’s endocrine system and potentially causing a ripple effect of health concerns over time. It’s the same stuff people avoid in plastic water bottles and food containers—yet many toothpaste tubes still contain it. 3. Industrial Adhesives Ever wonder how toothpaste tubes stay leakproof, even after you roll, squeeze, and twist them? Most brands bond multiple layers of plastic, foil, or other materials together using industrial adhesives. These glues do the job—keeping your toothpaste stable and contained—but they come at a cost. Over time, these adhesives can break down, leaching trace chemicals into your trash or recycling stream. Even worse? These adhesive layers make the tubes nearly impossible to separate for proper recycling. 4. Aluminum It’s not always obvious, but many toothpaste tubes have a hidden layer of aluminum sandwiched between layers of plastic. This thin metallic film helps keep the toothpaste stable by blocking light and air. Good for shelf life, but terrible for recyclability. Most local recycling facilities simply can’t process these mixed-material tubes, so they’re tossed straight into landfills, where they’ll sit for centuries. According to estimates, over 1 billion toothpaste tubes are thrown away every year—enough to circle the globe multiple times. Are Toothpaste Tubes Really Recyclable? You might see “recyclable” printed on some toothpaste packaging, but the reality is disappointing. Because traditional tubes are made with multiple bonded layers (plastic, aluminum, adhesives), they can’t be easily separated and recycled. Even when companies claim recyclability, the actual recycling rate for toothpaste tubes is dismally low. Most municipal recycling programs reject them outright because they gum up machinery and cost too much to process. Bottom line: Despite good intentions, the vast majority of toothpaste tubes end up as permanent landfill residents. Sugarcane Tubes: Better for Your Health (and the Planet’s Health) You deserve a toothpaste tube that’s as clean as the toothpaste inside it. That’s why Better & Better tubes are made from sustainably sourced sugarcane, a renewable resource that drastically reduces your carbon footprint compared to petroleum-based plastic. Our sugarcane tubes are BPA-free, so you don’t have to worry about hormone disruptors lurking in your bathroom cabinet. They’re also recyclable and carbon neutral, meaning they won’t stick around for centuries once you’re done brushing. Whether you want the natural cavity-fighting power of Fortify or a fluoride-free kids' toothpaste your little one actually loves, every Better & Better formula comes in a sugarcane-based tube you can feel good about. A Small Swap, A Big Difference At Better & Better, we believe your toothpaste should be clean from the inside out. No unnecessary chemicals. No wasteful packaging. Just a better way to brush that’s good for you and the planet. So next time you brush, take a closer look at what’s inside your tube—and what the tube itself is made of. Brushing better really does start with a smarter squeeze.

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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