From The Bucket To The Bathroom.
When Fried Chicken Meets Fresh Breath: Inside the KFC X Hismile Collaboration.
Brand collaborations aren’t just about sneakers or limited-edition drinks anymore — they’ve become playgrounds for the weird, the wonderful, and the downright unexpected. And this is a mashup no one saw coming: KFC X Hismile, Fried chicken and toothpaste.
At first glance, a fried chicken-flavored toothpaste feels like an April Fools’ prank (and in truth that’s exactly how the idea was born). But what started as a joke turned into a full-blown product launch thanks to Hismile’s love of quirky oral care innovations and KFC’s willingness to poke fun at itself. Together, they created something that’s equal parts absurd, hilarious, and brilliantly marketable, taking our phrase “Be Brand Brave” to a whole new level.
So this is what was launched:
The Toothpaste — infused with KFC’s famous 11 herbs and spices, packaged just like any premium paste, but with a flavor profile that’s more bucket meal than mint leaf.
The Electric Toothbrush — a sleek, KFC-branded gadget with multiple brushing modes, proving this wasn’t just a novelty but a functional oral care product.
Why It Works
While brushing your teeth with the colonel’s secret blend might not be everyone’s go to, the collaboration checks every box for a viral launch:
Shock Value: The sheer strangeness made it irresistible for social media. People had to double-take, share, and debate whether they’d actually try it.
Playful Branding: Hismile carved a niche by turning oral care into something fun, colorful, and unexpected. Partnering with a fast-food giant known for its bold marketing made perfect sense.
Scarcity Factor: With limited stock available only online, the toothpaste and brush sold out almost instantly. Scarcity turned a gag into a must-have collector’s item.
The Bigger Picture
This collaboration says more about branding than it does about oral hygiene. Today’s consumers, especially younger audiences, are drawn to novelty and humor. They want experiences that feel shareable, even if they’re impractical. A fried chicken toothpaste isn’t about long-term sales — it’s about cultural impact.
KFC and Hismile didn’t just sell a product; they sold a moment. And in an attention economy, moments are everything.
At the end of the day, the KFC × Hismile collab is more than toothpaste — it’s proof that brands willing to take risks can break through the noise. Whether you find the idea revolting or revolutionary, one thing’s certain: it got us all talking.
What the KFC X Hismile Collaboration Teaches Us About Modern Brand Strategy.
In a saturated marketing landscape, where consumers scroll past thousands of ads daily, brands face the challenge of standing out without blending in. That’s why the recent KFC × Hismile collaboration — a fried chicken–flavored toothpaste and matching electric toothbrush — is worth more than just a laugh. Beneath the absurdity lies a masterclass in brand building, cultural strategy, and consumer psychology.
Absurdity is a Marketing Asset.
At first glance, this idea seems crazy. Who really wants to brush their teeth with fried chicken flavor? But that’s precisely the point. In an era where attention is currency, absurdity functions as a hook. By leaning into humor and exaggeration, KFC and Hismile created something so strange it demanded conversation — in group chats, news articles, and across TikTok.
The lesson: Unexpected ideas can cut through digital noise faster than conventional campaigns.
A Collaboration That Makes Strategic Sense.
On the surface, fried chicken and oral care couldn’t be further apart. But when you dig deeper, the partnership is logical:
KFC is a heritage brand with a reputation for cheeky, playful marketing.
Hismile is an oral care disruptor known for flavor experiments and colorful, youth-oriented branding.
Together, they represent two sides of the same coin: iconic tradition meeting next-gen irreverence. The collaboration amplified each brand’s personality while reaching new audiences.
The lesson: Smart collaborations don’t just merge products — they merge brand archetypes.
Scarcity Creates Cultural Currency.
The toothpaste and toothbrush were available in limited quantities, sold exclusively online. They sold out within days. For consumers, this scarcity transformed the product from a joke into a badge of participation. Owning it wasn’t about hygiene; it was about being part of a cultural moment.
The lesson: Scarcity transforms novelty into desirability.
From Product to Pop Culture Moment.
This collaboration wasn’t designed for longevity. It wasn’t about shifting toothpaste market share or competing with Crest. Instead, it was about generating earned media, sparking memes, and deepening brand relevance in culture. The toothpaste wasn’t really the product — the buzz was.
The lesson: Sometimes the “product” you’re selling is attention, not consumption.
The Future of Cross-Category Branding.
KFC × Hismile is part of a broader shift in brand strategy where companies step outside their categories to surprise consumers. Fast food meets beauty. Gaming meets fashion. Beverage meets wellness tech. These collaborations aren’t about practical fit — they’re about creating conversation, driving cross-pollination of audiences, and signaling cultural awareness.
The lesson: The boundaries between industries are dissolving. Culture rewards brands that embrace playfulness and experimentation.
Final Thought.
The KFC × Hismile collab will never redefine oral care — and it doesn’t need to. Its value lies in reminding brands that in today’s marketplace, relevance comes from boldness, humor, and cultural risk-taking.
In other words: sometimes the best way to stay top of mind is to do something completely out of left field — like brushing your teeth with fried chicken.
So, would you dare swap your minty fresh for a finger-lickin’ finish?