A blade (40) comprises a blade body and a plurality of individual teeth (50) extending outwardly from the blade body. The teeth (50) each have a finite tooth radius (R) and at least one tooth parameter selected from the group of optimized tooth parameters consisting of a tooth radius less than about 0.005 inches, a tooth pitch of less than about 0.005 inches, and a tooth thickness of less than about 0.006 inches. Severing blades in accordance with the present invention may be affixed to and utilized in combination with a carton (10) or container of generally conventional design for containing and dispensing a sheet material (20) from a continuous web or utilized independently.