As a long time user of natural oral care, I was intrigued when I first heard of bite toothpaste bits on Shark Tank. The little dissolvable tablets promised a plastic-free way to brush. After trying bite for over 6 months now, I want to share my genuine experience for those considering the switch.
My Teeth Cleaning History
I have extremely sensitive teeth prone to cavities ever since I was a kid. So I have always been vigilant about my oral hygiene routine. Over the last decade I have tried every natural toothpaste brand from Hello, Davids, Tom‘s to Schllemmer.
Recently, I moved towards charcoal powders and pastes to help whiten my teeth. But I disliked the messiness not to mention the waste once the activated charcoal containers were empty.
When browsing Instagram one day, an ad for bite toothpaste popped up. I clicked and instantly felt drawn to their sustainability angle. Could this be the holy grail of eco-conscious oral care I had been seeking? There was only one way to find out…
Why I Decided to Switch to Bite Tablets
- No plastic waste! I was throwing away 4 plastic toothpaste tubes per year
- Vegan, cruelty-free and natural ingredients I could actually pronounce
- Subscriptions delivered to my door while supporting small business
- Promise to clean and whiten teeth in one tablet
- Founder Lindsay‘s inspiring vision to revolutionize an unsustainable industry
With the desire to align my consumer footprint with my values, I signed up to become one of the first 200 bite subscribers…
Unboxing My First Bite Delivery
I chose the starter kit with 2 glass jars – Fresh Mint + Charcoal Mint. Delivery was in 2 days with well-packaged jars arriving intact. I couldn‘t believe the amount of tablets packed into the small yet mighty bottles!
Right away I noticed how elegant and surprisingly heavy the packaging felt. The concept of a "lifetime guarantee" etched on each durable, reusable jar also made me smile. This wasn‘t some startup cutting corners.
I did a little happy dance realizing I had eliminated 4-6 plastic toothpaste tubes just like that. Beyond the sustainability win, I loved supporting bite‘s mission to trailblaze conscious oral care innovation.
My First Impressions Biting Into the Tablets
Since I subscribed to both flavors, I started with my usual fresh mint in the AM. I lightly chewed the small tablet between my molars before brushing as directed. The crisp tablet formed a nice foamy paste that tasted strongly of peppermint oil. Brushing felt refreshingly familiar – though I did notice slightly less lubrication vs. traditional toothpaste.
In the PM, I alternated between mint and charcoal tablets. The charcoal bits turned my mouth straight up black like a Halloween witch! The bitterness took some adjusting to. But knowing the activated charcoal was working hard to detoxify and whiten, I embraced my witch vibes.
One huge positive – the tablets left my mouth feeling squeaky clean without any residue or film. Plus my sensitive gums didn‘t sting, burn or become inflamed like with certain commercial brands that shall not be named…
The Bite Tablets Pass the Dentist Exam
I continued using bite tablets twice daily for the 6 months leading up to my dental cleaning. In the past, I have always received minor scolding from the hygienist about plaque build-up.
But praise be the toothpaste gods – this year she remarked at how little tartar there was to scrape off! All signs pointed to the bite tablets excelling at breaking up and removing the plaque bacteria.
In terms of whitening, I also noticed my teeth looking several shades lighter. So while I can‘t say my smile is dramatically different, I do suspect less surface stains. Overall, I received an enthusiastic thumb‘s up from my dentist on the tablets power and gentleness.
Comparing My Experience to Other Bite Reviews
Curious if other reviews shared my positive perspective, I dove into blogger posts and YouTube videos on bite. For the most part, reviews reinforced my take…
Positive Highlights:
- Tablets are surprisingly effective yet gentle
- Delivers whiter smile over time
- Eco-friendly swaps feel good
- Subtle minty flavor with no aftertaste
- Makes oral care ritual more enjoyable
Constructive Feedback:
- Tablets can leave a few spots missed
- Not as fast acting as conventional pastes
- Bit of learning curve on best chewing
- Stronger flavors would be nice
Interestingly, it seems the few negative reviews stemmed from people who simply don‘t love chewing their toothpaste. Which yeah…reasonable preference!
For me and most users though, the novelty of bite makes brushing almost fun. And the clean mouthfeel can‘t be beat.
Evaluating the Bite Subscription Experience
A major perk of going with the bite subscription is how convenient reorders are. I selected delivery every 4 months to replenish my supply.
Right on schedule, I received an email notice my order was being prepped. Bite‘s website made it simple to customize or pause orders as needed.
In place of jars for my first 2 refills, my tablets came neatly packed into home compostable pouches. Not going to lie – I didn‘t even realize these pouches were compostable at first. I wish this eco-friendly detail was more prominently displayed.
Removing tablets from the slim pouches was a bit trickier vs the wide mouth jars. But a simple snip with scissors does the job. While not as pretty, I have to give bite credit for following through on zero waste goals.
One bummer – at checkout there was no option to return my original jars for reuse. I get that might complicate logistics and supply chain given bite‘s stage. But it would be cool to see a circular reuse program introduced over time.
How My Teeth & Gums Have Responded
While the dentist gave my teeth a shining review, I also kept tabs on how my gums felt over months of use. As mentioned earlier, I lean towards sensitive and inflamed gums. Within days of starting bite, I noticed less angry redness.
9 months later, my gums remain far less irritated without any harsh chemical agents. Beyond cosmetics, I can tell the inflammation reduction helps me maintain stronger, healthier teeth.
On that note, I have not experienced any new cavities, fractures or sensitivities since using bite either. Given my history of dental issues, I consider this significant evidence of bites protective powers. Chalk it up as a cavity-fighting win!
Weighing Value for the Price Point
For the quality, effectiveness and ethics bite delivers, I believe the value surpasses the price point. However, it is still a splurge compared to that jumbo Arm & Hammer pack from Costco.
Given my gum and cavity prone challenges though, I justify bite as an investment on par with high end skincare. When it comes to safeguarding my chompers and smile, I will pay more for clean ingredients from a brand whose values align with my own.
For me, a small indulgence towards better health and sustainability is worthwhile. But consumers buying on budget may find the tablets less reasonably priced.
Key Takeaways: Who Bite Tablets Work Best For
After many months reviewing bite toothpaste tablets as a subscriber and happy customer, I stand by my recommendation with a few caveats:
Bite is IDEAL for people who…
- Prioritize eco-friendly swaps + plastic waste reduction
- Want naturally derived, gentle ingredients
- Have sensitivity to chemicals / additives
- Seek whiter teeth over time
- Desire a travel-friendly oral care routine
- Get a kick out of new innovations!
Bite may DISAPPOINT people who…
- Prefer strong foaming fluoride toothpastes
- Require intensive stain removal
- Dislike lingering minty flavor
- Expect dramatic whitening overnight
- Don‘t wish to chew their toothpaste
- Are on an ultra tight budget
As with any wellness product, bite tablets kick butt for certain needs but won‘t be the perfect fit for everyone. Through my 9 months as a subscriber though, I‘m still smiling because bite has carved out a winning spot in my self-care lineup!
Ask the Bite Founders: Behind the Zero Waste Vision
To wrap up my extended real user review, I had the pleasure of chatting 1:1 with bite founders Lindsay McCormick and Asher Hunt. I asked them a few questions that illuminate how bite is pacing to stay on the cutting edge of sustainable oral care…
Q: What motivated you to start bite and tackle toothpaste of all categories?
A: We saw an opportunity to disrupt a legacy industry reliant on plastic and chemicals. Oral care felt so outdated – while also being something we all use daily. With bite, we aimed to help consumers align actions with values around sustainability.
Q: Where do you envision bite sitting in the natural toothpaste landscape long term?
A: Our goal is for bite tablets to become the brand synonym for eco-conscious oral care. While other natural pastes focus mainly on ingredients, we take sustainability impacts just as seriously. Ultimately, we want conscious choice to be the new normal.
Q: Any innovative products on the roadmap you can hint at?
A: We are rolling out more flavors very soon along with a game changing LSCC partnership. This will expand our capabilities around custom functional formulations. Think anti-aging serum meets toothpaste!
Q: If you could leave customers with one key message, what would you want them to know?
A: Every small swap towards sustainability counts. Together through many small acts, we transform business, culture and environment for the better. Keep making those bite sized changes!
My Key Takeaway from Bite‘s Founders:
Sustainability feels overwhelming but it doesn‘t need to be perfect to make a difference. Through everyday choices like bite tablets over plastic tubes, we quickly move mountains.
- Your smile and oral health
- Mother earth and her creatures
- The next gen of conscious startups
- Your own sense of alignment
While bite toothpaste carries a higher cost, I believe conscious consumers receive compelling value across health, sustainability and innovation. Ultimately, we vote with our dollars to grow the marketplace we wish to see.
To all reading this in-depth first hand review – I hope these insights help inform your own bite adventures! Trust you‘ll find the results worth biting into, even with any minor learning curve.
Questions or thoughts? Hit reply! I‘m always happy to chat green care products and plastic-free living. Maybe you‘ll even join me in the eco wellness revolution 🙂
Till then, bite on!
- Alyssa
