Bryce Harper bristled at the backlash over his unusual toothbrushing technique, which he demonstrated in a San Diego hotel bathroom. The Philadelphia Phillies star shared his morning routine on TikTok with the caption "Moring Y'all," reaching over 600,000 followers. In the video, Harper squeezes toothpaste directly into his mouth rather than onto his toothbrush, a move that left fans stunned.
Fan Reactions and Viral Fame
One TikTok follower called the method "actually diabolical toothpaste application." The San Diego Padres even trolled Harper on their videoboard, listing his fun fact as "SQUIRTS TOOTHPASTE INTO HIS MOUTH INSTEAD OF ONTO A TOOTHBRUSH WHEN BRUSHING HIS TEETH." The clip garnered over 2.7 million views on Jomboy Media alone, leaving social media users baffled.
Harper, however, takes it in stride. "It kind of happens when you post a little bit, right?" he told Phillies Nation. "But yeah, I've done it forever."
Dentists Weigh In
The American Dental Association advises against Harper's technique. Dr. Andrew Zucker, an Ohio dentist and consumer advisor for the ADA, said, "It is not suggested to do it that way." He initially thought Harper was joking but learned it was genuine. "I don't think there's anything to be gained. The only thing to be lost is just wasting a whole bunch of toothpaste," Zucker added, recommending a pea-sized amount on the brush.
Dr. Maria Ryan, chief clinical officer at Colgate-Palmolive, expressed concern about germs. "When you're putting your mouth on the toothpaste tube, you get those germs on there. Sometimes people share toothpaste," she noted.
Harper's Defense
Harper, a two-time NL MVP with 376 career home runs, says his method has worked for him. "If I help half a person a day, changing an ingredient or letting them know there are better quality products out there that they can use or that'll make them feel better, then I won that day," he said.
Despite the controversy, Ryan praised Harper for promoting oral hygiene. "I was glad he was brushing his teeth. It's good he's telling people you need to brush your teeth," she said. "But it's a unique way of doing it, for sure. So, I probably wouldn't do it that way or instruct my patients to do it that way."
