Today’s Big Story

The Big Toothbrush Debate

What design works best (and will convince us to brush for longer)?

I actually love brushing my teeth. There’s something about the slick, smoothness and fresh, minty feeling of having just brushed. An easy reset after sleeping or a big meal. But when it comes to what brush to use, people have a lot of options and a lot of opinions. But which is best? For over a decade, various studies have shown that powered toothbrushes remove more plaque and do more to reduce gingivitis than manual toothbrushes, as they help people brush for a full two minutes, improve uneven brushing across the mouth, and do most of the physical labor.

But toothbrush makers are still battling and trying to design the holy grail of brushes that solve the biggest problem. And that’s not tartar or bacteria or even battery life. It’s the fact that most people are lazy brushers. Focus groups show that even people who say they brush for two minutes actually do so for about 45 seconds. So with each new motorized brush, their aiming for a device that makes brushing feel like less of a chore—and compensates for poor effort and technique.

One basic decision to make is between the two main types of brushes: a rotating/oscillating toothbrush, which has a round head that rotates back and forth, or a sonic toothbrush, which generally has a rectangular head that moves side to side at a very high speed. And despite a range of company-funded research papers, doctors and dental professionals seem to agree that the best ones are the ones that you, yourself actually like to use.

Mark Wolff, DDS, PhD, dean of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine, agrees but told Wirecutter that powered toothbrushing “helps people that don’t brush well,” he said. “If you need the guidance, invest in the guidance” of pressure sensors and timers that ensure your teeth get the brushing they deserve. By the way, if you’re wondering which brush Wirecutter’s team of testers recommend, it’s the Oral-B Pro 1000. You should also check out modern oral care brand Quip’s latest sonic brush, which T3 says is “easily one of the most impressive models we’ve seen.” Designed with a sleek, seamless silicone finish, it boasts a range of cutting-edge features, including an “EasyClick Brush Pod”, a revolutionary interchangeable brush head system that reduces plastic waste by 70%.

DOGE Wants Access to Taxpayer Data

Also Musk is not a DOGE employee and “has no actual or formal authority,” White House says

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is seeking access to troves of sensitive taxpayer data at the IRS, two people familiar with the inner workings of the plan who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly told the Associated Press on Monday.

If successful, Musk and his group would have access to millions of tightly controlled files that include taxpayer information, bank records and other sensitive records. The people who spoke to the AP and requested anonymity said DOGE is specifically seeking to access the IRS’ Integrated Data Retrieval System, which enables employees “to have instantaneous visual access to certain taxpayer accounts,” according to the IRS website.

The move, reported first by the Washington Post, is an expansion of DOGE’s efforts to access sensitive information held by the federal government. And as its influence within the federal government grows daily, one question routinely emerges about the Department of Government Efficiency: Who is in charge? Elon Musk is not the administrator of DOGE and nor is he an employee of the department that's overseeing massive cuts to the federal workforce and agencies, per a Monday night White House court filing. Instead, Musk is a “non career special government employee” who serves as a senior adviser to the president. The filing compared Musk's role to that of Anita Dunn, a longtime political adviser who served as a senior adviser to President Joe Biden.

Dr. Bronner’s Drops B Corp Certification

The soap maker says the standard’s integrity has become compromised as brands use it to greenwash

The number of B Corp-certified companies is growing, which should be a good thing. The not-for-profit body that certifies B Corporations aims to help businesses have a better social and environmental impact. To help achieve this, it’s designed a process to verify if a company is acting in the best interests of people and the planet. The certification is available to any company in any sector—B Corp brands range from ethical clothing company Patagonia to ice-cream maker Ben & Jerry’s. But some critics argue that the standard’s integrity has become compromised lately.

The biggest voice in this argument is Dr. Bronner’s, who just made the rare move of announcing it will drop its B Corp status. The company’s main complaint is that B Lab doesn’t require multinational corporations such as Unilever Australia, Nespresso, and Nestlé Health Science to prove through third-party certifications or other tests that their supply chains protect human rights and the environment. To Dr. Bronner’s, this means B Lab is failing to ensure that its certification “won’t be used to mislead consumers,” David and Michael Bronner, the company’s CEO and president, respectively, said in a joint statement.

While dropping a B Corp certification is still rare, more brands are opting for other types of certifications that they feel carry more weight. Executives who spoke to Modern Retail outlined their own reasons for doing so. Some have decided to become a Public Benefit Corporation, others like Karl Shevick, founder and CEO of the mattress brand Earthfoam (who also dropped its B Corp status), have recently embraced Fair For Life’s Fair Trade.

Food Trucks Have a Long, Important History

It wasn’t always just designer cupcakes and fusion tacos

Depending on the city you live in, the frequency with which you eat from a food truck could vary greatly. But there’s no denying that we’re in a semi-golden age of food trucks—they’ve seemingly taken over city streets, festival grounds, and are the go-to spot for late night cravings. But they started in a much simpler form.

According to The Takeout, the origins of the food truck date all the way back to 1866 when a man named Charles Goodnight retrofitted a U.S. Army wagon into what is now recognized as the very first mobile kitchen because, of course, the very first food trucks weren't trucks at all. These chuckwagons were loaded with dried beans, salted meats, coffee, and even utensils to feed cowboys driving cattle across the vast plains. In essence, they were the original food trucks, minus the hip logos, bright colors, and fusion tacos. Fast forward a century and a half, and food trucks have gone from rugged survival tools to hubs of culinary creativity. The food truck as we know it today emerged in the early aughts, thanks to a combination of economic downturns and social media. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, chefs looking to cut costs embraced trucks as an affordable alternative to brick-and-mortar restaurants.

And while certain cities have emerged as major food truck hubs (think L.A., Austin and Portland), they're hardly the only spots where you can score incredible meals on wheels. The Food Network recently compiled a list of the top 25 trucks in America.

Feel Younger and Stronger with Maximus Testosterone Protocols

Skip the doctors office and boost testosterone from home

Perfection is overrated.