Overview
- Harper posted an eight-minute TikTok of his morning routine in late May that included squeezing toothpaste from the tube straight into his mouth instead of onto a toothbrush.
- The clip went viral on social platforms and was widely reposted, drawing millions of views and teasing from opponents such as the San Diego Padres, who displayed the habit on their ballpark videoboard.
- Harper told Phillies Nation that the technique is how he has always brushed and said he welcomed the viral attention because it boosts his videos.
- Dental professionals, including an American Dental Association advisor and Colgate-Palmolive’s chief clinical officer, advised against the method because it wastes toothpaste and can transfer oral germs to the tube.
- The episode underlines how short videos of athletes’ private habits can quickly become national talking points and may influence fans while prompting public-health reminders about basic hygiene and product use.