Toothpaste is something that doesn’t need to be purchased very often. A large tube lasts a long time, at least it does for me. Somewhere along the way, I think largely listening to my dentist (and we have a very wonderful dentist), I have formed this opinion that keeping it simple is the key to good oral health:
Floss regularly: (I have a friend who hates flossing and she says when asked if she flosses regularly she say yes-as she does floss regularly but her definition of ‘regularly’ and her dentist’s are not the same)
Brush regularly. Use specialized toothpaste with due care and attention e.g. the toothpaste for sensitive teeth shouldn’t be used willy nilly. It should be used only on the sensitive part and not routinely. The same goes for toothpaste that includes various abrasives and who know if the home bleaching stuff works.
Buying toothpaste: Popping into a pharmacy last week, I planned to make a quick purchase-a tube of regular toothpaste that contained fluoride. That’s it. No whiteners, no sensitive gum protection, no stronger, higher, faster than a speeding bullet. Well, I have clearly been living under a rock for this is what the shelves look like when it comes to buying toothpaste:
I worked in pharmacies for the better part of 20 years and we used to sell toothpaste with fluoride, period. That’s what I wanted to buy. Instead there was sensitive pro-relief, optic white, pro-enamel (don’t try to tell me toothpaste will help me grow more enamel), cavity protection, total defence, gum protection, advanced fresh and whitening gel, brilliant whitening and cleans your closets on Tuesdays. For a few moments I thought there was no such thing as regular toothpaste any more. And then I saw two little rows of regular toothpaste on the very bottom shelf. Good thing I am able to bend over and select items from a bottom shelf or I’d be brushing with some striped, optically brilliant, pro-enamel, tartar and plaque fighting sparkly gel with gentle abrasives and a bonus foot massage.
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