Making Toothpaste Last Longer

One thing is true about every toothpaste reviewed on this website - they were purchased by someone using money.

And who can't use a little more money?

So here are two ways to make your favorite toothpaste last longer...

1. Use a toothpaste squeezer.

My nephew, Tijs, gave me a toothpaste squeezer, shown here. (That was very kind of him!)

Tijs is the son of my sister Amy, who is the inspiration behind the International Toothpaste Museum - through her many gifts of exotic toothpastes.

There are several varieties of toothpaste squeezers. The model shown is quite powerful and squeezes every last bit of the paste out of the opening, except for the part out at the very top.

You can find toothpaste squeezers on the world's largest retailer that begins with "A." (I do not want to necessarily endorse them, since they often squeeze smaller retailers out of business. A simple search on Google yields many other toothpaste squeezer sources.)

Be forewarned that the squeezer will make the tube no longer look new - see below. Because of that, I only use it on garden-variety toothpastes that are not part of the Museum.

2. Cut the toothpaste tube near the opening.

This is my favorite way to get the very most out of a tube.

Start by cutting the tube about 3/4" (2 cm) from the top.

Then, simply dip your brush in the tube to get every last bit out.

You'll get enough toothpaste to provide you with at least three or four brushing sessions.

(The photo shows a tube that has a separate plastic liner. Tubes without liners provide an easier brush-dipping experience.)

Happy economizing!