Brush your teeth and stay in school, kids
Friday, May 1, 2009 at 6:19AM Some of you may have noticed that we dismantled the Connoisseur du Jour site. It was just too much for someone who already has 3 blogs, a woman in her first trimester and someone whose gall bladder recently attacked her. A good idea, but bad timing.
While I was posting over there I accepted the "4 Week Crest/Oral-B Challenge" to use Crest and Oral-B products in an attempt to reduce my plaque levels. I posted my final tally about 4 days before CduJ got taken down, so they asked me if I would re-post it over here. And I said of course I would, because I totally don't have a post for tomorrow I'm accommodating like that.
In my initial checkup with the dentist he determined that my overall oral health is good, but that I had moderate plaque on my upper back molars. Also, that I had a fucking CAVITY. OF COURSE.
Here are the two posts detailing my experience with the Crest & Oral-B stuff, and of course the Final Result (dun dun DUN!):
Brusha Brusha Brusha! Crest and Oral-B clean up my potty mouth!
A couple of weeks ago I posted about starting the Crest/Oral-B Challenge. It's only really started now, well, yesterday, when I got my nifty care package dropped at my doorstep.
So - y'know, so far, so good.
My cool little box came with two Crest Pro-Health toothpastes, one for night and one for day, Crest Glide "Deep Clean" floss, and Crest Pro-Health alcohol-free mouthwash.
(Apparently my Oral-B Vitality Precision Clean toothbrush is arriving later, in its own limo. With its own posse of peeps. It's THAT COOL).
So the toothpastes, well, nothing revolutionary there. I mean, it's toothpaste. They do seem a bit gritty. The Pro-Health Night apparently does a better job than regular toothpaste of protecting your mouth at night from decay-causing bacteria. Both toothpastes have whitening benefits, too. Which is good, because apparently all this coffee and red wine I drink is starting to make me look like Snaggletooth.
(I wonder what happens if you mix the two toothpastes together? Do you think it's dangerous? I'm going to try it. Maybe it's like C-4).
The Glide floss is awesome, and I swear by it normally, though I've never used the "Deep Clean" variety. (How much deeper can you get without blood loss?). I still have all my wisdom teeth, which makes for a crowded mouth, but the Glide floss gets in there without shredding or getting stuck.
And, the Crest Pro-Health mouthwash. I am not a mouthwash person. I was pretty glad this stuff was alcohol-free, because the alcohol stuff? EEEEE!! THE BURNING! THE BUUUUURRRNINGG!! And the Pro-Health tastes pretty good - the gentle, sweeter mint of the light blue Trident rather than the holy-crap-smack-you-in-the-face mint of the recent 'extreme gum' trend. My issue with mouthwash normally - AND THIS IS JUST ME - is that about an hour after I use it, it tastes like something died in my mouth. Especially if I go to bed right afterwards. Then it's like something died, but threw up first.
But because I'm a dedicated little reviewer, I made the decision to use the mouthwash. I read the back of the bottle while I was swishing, and oh! hey! You're supposed to rinse with water afterwards. Which actually makes it tolerable. Less like something died in my mouth, and more like something furry just passed out there temporarily. Which is acceptable.
You learn something new every day.
(For more info, visit the Oral-B or Crest Pro-Health websites).
Crest and Oral-B: The Final Tally
If you've been with us for a little while, you know that I accepted a "Crest/Oral-B 4 Week Challenge" to use their products and attempt to improve my overall oral health and reduce my plaque.
This week was my final checkup. It was also my appointment to fix the cavity they found the first time. So I braved the dentist chair for you folks. (My dedication to you is unwavering, I know. You can show your appreciation with PayPal or chocolate).
The dentist's chair has a TV now - they even let you have the remote, albeit wrapped in plastic, but they don't get the Space channel and I don't know what else to watch during the day. I put it on some kind of talk show about a makeover subject who, 5 minutes into the show, needed major dental surgery. NOT HELPING. Switch to Oprah.
Enh...that doesn't help either, unless your goal is MORE pain.
Anyway. I put up with the needles and the stench of burning tooth enamel and the distinctly uncomfortable sensation of being able to bite as hard as you can on your own face and not feel it, because I wanted the verdict. Did Crest and Oral-B help me out?
And the answer is yes. Yes they did.
My oral hygiene was pretty good to start out with, but I had some plaque on my upper molars. And I'm pleased to report that in just 3 short weeks (what? I started late) the Oral B Precision Clean toothbrush and it's Crest compadres reduced that plaque to almost nothing. The brush head on the Oral B is small enough to get back far enough to even clean my wisdoms properly.
I was hoping for a whiter smile, but I do tend to sabotage any effort in that area with the amount of coffee and red wine I drink. And it was only three weeks. But I think Crest made a little difference.
So, what are you waiting for? It's still Oral Health Month for over a week* - get brushing!
*This is a complete and utter lie, but remember I originally posted that a while ago. Anyway, Dental Hygiene Month is OCTOBER in the US and September in the UK. So you have tons of time to think about your chompers.
Reader Comments (17)
Sorry about the CDJ site...that was pretty cool.
I think you should try the toothpastes together...kill two birds with one stone if you will.
If your mouth does start to foam up like Old Yeller please vlog it and we will love you forever.
ROFL - yeah, I feel the same way about Oprah.
I got a free sample of the Crest mouthwash from the dentist, and I liked it, too. I feel the same way about those other mouthwashes!
Our family company makes Gripit Floss Holders - www.gripit.biz. We have parents tell us that they use Gripits to floss their children's teeth so they don't have to put adult fingers into small mouths. The kids then get interested in trying a Gripit, and a good flossing habit is started early in life.
I like your reviews. I am very bad with toothbrushes. Apparently, I brush too hard. Or maybe the brushes I buy are pansies. Yeah, I'm hard on them verbally too. I roll like that.
I am terrified of the dentist and don't go unless it's a matter of life and death! LOL which explains why I take care of my teeth extra carefully, meaning, I brush 3x a day, after every meals and I floss 2x a day, and use mouthwash before I go to bed.. My 2nd wisdom tooth is just coming in and it hurts like freakin hell! My hubby says if it pains me too much I have to go to the dentist and he has to make room for it to be able to grow properly, meaning the evil dentist will have to yank one of my tooth out and I don't think I'm up for that, so we'll see.. :P
I love your reviews by the way.. :D I hope you can re open CDJ.. :D I'd love to help you out.. :)
That was quite possibly the most descriptive review of mouthwash I've ever read.
And Oprah? She can suck it.
Now I'm all sad and shit.
THANKS A LOT !!!
I totally identify with you and your dislike for mouthwashes. Generally, I have no desire to sear off all the tastebuds from my tongue. Maybe I should try the Big & Tasty kind, too.
I actually really like the GREEN ProHealth Mouth Wash the best. The blue is too blue...which really makes no sense but it bothers me for some reason so green it is.
"...more like something furry just passed out there temporarily." I hope Crest Pro-Health uses that on their packaging. REALLY, really hope. Cause if I was trying to decide b/t 2 mouthwashes and one had that on the label the decision would be so much easier. And I am so jealous your dentist has a TV. The plastic is ick but at least it's better than a tiled ceiling with florescent lights.
I so changed tooth paste and mouthwash because of this post on CduJ and I'm holding you accountable for my dental hygiene. Sure, I know I have to brush, floss & rinse but how does let you off the hook?
i noticed your other blog was discontinued. pity. you had such a cool logo!
Sorry your other site took a dump but I like you here the bestest so it's ok.
I love Astroglide. Uh, I mean Glide Floss. I'm sitting here in the airport with some in my laptop bag, it's that good.
Dude. Cool that you got a professional opinion. You're a smart cookie.
Awesome review - I like the idea of a mouthwash that is "Less like something died in my mouth, and more like something furry just passed out there temporarily." I can live with that... ;)
too cool you got a dentists opinion if the regimin(I'm not sure if thats spelled right) really worked.
I personally love the prohealth night. And I just started using the glide floss, switched from johnson reach, and I also love it.
GREAT post!