Chewing away morning breath
Pitt grad creates gum that brushes teeth on the go
Millennials are shockingly bad at brushing their teeth.
So bad that, on average, they have gone 2.35 days without brushing, based on results from a survey conducted by oral care company Hello, based in Montclair, N.J. Thirty percent of participants also admitted they brushed only once a day.
With stats like that, the oral care industry could be the next casualty on the slate of businesses a generation of young adults is accused of killing off.
Recognizing a need in a generation that prides itself on keeping busy and championing sustainability, local entrepreneur Emily Siegel came up with a solution: chewing gum that cleans teeth on the go.
The mechanics and ingredients of the gum are still being tested, but it comes down to a mix of natural antimicrobials and microabrasives that clear plaque off of teeth as you chew.
The gum has the “grittiness of toothpaste without feeling gritty like sandpaper,” said Ms. Siegel, 24, a recent University of Pittsburgh graduate with a dual degree in biology and chemical engineering.
“It’s a happy blend of ‘you know there’s something that’s helping you remove the plaque,’ but it’s not gross.”
On Thursday, Ms. Siegel won the Pittsburgh round of the 2020 Hardware Cup, an international competition in which entrepreneurs make a short pitch to investors about their product and business plan.
The competition, hosted by startup investor Innovation Works and hardware accelerator AlphaLab Gear, is in its sixth year. As the regional winner, Ms. Siegel won $3,000 and the chance to compete in the final round for $50,000 in May.
The idea for her startup, Trek Gum, came out of necessity, Ms. Siegel said. After adding a major in her junior year at Pitt, she found herself skimping on her brushing habits because she wasn’t spending enough time at home — and ended up with cavities. The only alternatives to brushing in your own bathroom