A six monthly check-up at my private dentist used to cost in the region of £45.00, which included X-raying and a thorough scale and polish of my teeth. I had no compunction in paying this, as I know how important it is to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy, plus the scale and polish really did make a vast improvement to my smile. Sadly, my dentist has now decided that a mere check-up (not inclusive of X-rays) is going to be charged at £35.00, and if I want a scale and polish I need to book a separate appointment with the hygienist at £29.00. Since when did dentists become too important to de-scale and polish teeth!? It's all becoming rather too expensive for my liking, so I had a bit of a search around for an alternative solution.
**** THE SOLUTION? ****
Colgate Total Professional
Weekly Clean is basically
toothpaste, which you use once a week to give your teeth a "
deep clean", for want of a better phrase. Colgate claim it's better than your usual toothpaste because it contains the special cleaning ingredients that dentists use at their surgeries.
The main active ingredient is Sodiumfluoride which helps prevent cavities by fighting bacterial growth. In addition, the cleaning element is provided by Perlite and Prophy-Silica, both of which are ideal for cleansing and polishing your tooth enamel and thereby whitening it.
Combined, these ingredients not only thoroughly clean your teeth, they also have a go at any bacteria, tartar deposits and lingering plaque on your molars. The toothpaste also provides you with twelve hours of
protection against the dreaded plaque coming back again.
**** WHERE CAN YOU GET SOME? ****
I bought mine in Boots at a cost of £3.49, but this product can now be readily found in most major supermarkets and chemists from £3.49 to £3.69. It does seem rather expensive in comparison to normal toothpaste, but as it is only designed to be used once a week, the cost is not that extortionate.
As Colgate Total Professional Weekly Clean is a relatively new product, Colgate have decided to package it in a cassette format, so it stands out on the shelves and distinguishes it from your usual toothpaste cartons. Personally I think it's rather over the top and unnecessary, not to mention wasteful. Inside the plastic and cardboard casing is an itty bitty 20ml tube of toothpaste. Colgate have tried to justify the surrounding cassette packaging with a usage calendar on the lid….but really, if you're using this product once a week at the same time, you really don't need to be reminded, do you?
**** HOW DO YOU USE IT? ****
This toothpaste should only be used once a week, and in addition to the twice daily brushing with your usual toothpaste as recommended by dentists. Colgate is in no way suggesting that this product is a replacement for regular dental check-ups or hygienist work. It's a complimentary product designed to help your last professional scale and polish last that little bit longer.
It comes packaged in a rather tiny 20ml tube. It really looks like it's not going to last for more than five minutes.
However, a little bit of this toothpaste really does go a long way, and I think that Colgate have got it right when they state the tube will last for a least six weeks. I've been using mine for five weeks now, and I reckon there's enough left for a least three more weeks usage at least. You only need to put a tiny pea shaped blob on the end of your brush, as it really does "lather up" rather well and a little goes a long way.
The toothpaste doesn't taste as minty as most I've used, but it's still a refreshing taste. It's not as thick and creamy as normal toothpaste - more gel like. It's a sort of "off-white" colour, with tiny white flecks in it. The flecks are granules of Prophy-Silica, which are the bits that really get to work on cleaning your teeth. The granules are tiny enough to be effective at cleaning, but not so abrasive that they damage your enamel.
Colgate recommends brushing with this toothpaste for around three minutes, and then
rinsing afterwards. You can use your usual toothbrush, be it manual or electric. I prefer to use my
electric toothbrush as not only does the
timer tell me when to move onto the next section of my teeth, but the pulsating bristles really get to work on cleaning in and around my teeth.
Once you've finished your three minute routine, all you need to do is rinse your mouth out thoroughly with cold water. You can also have a gargle with some mouthwash if that is part of your tooth cleaning routine. You will immediately notice how very smooth and clean your teeth are feeling.
**** AND DOES IT WORK? ****
In a nutshell…yes it does.
I don't smoke anymore, so my teeth aren't particularly stained, neither do I drink much coffee. However, I do like a cup of tea all day everyday, and this does tend to leave my teeth a little yellowy in colour. Similarly, some of the harder to reach areas in the gaps between my teeth can appear slightly brownish.
I've been using this toothpaste once a week for the last five weeks, and it has really improved the visible brown marks between my front and lower teeth. However, where this toothpaste really gets results is in making your mouth
feel cleaner. You can't help but notice how very smooth and polished your teeth feel after three minutes brushing with this paste. It really is a very pleasant
sensation. Your teeth feel like they are gleaming and polished, and you cannot help but keep running your tongue over them.
I can't honestly say it has noticeably made my teeth any whiter in appearance, but perhaps persistent use will start to add up, and I will notice a gradual lightening over several months' usage.
The only drawback or disadvantage I've found with this product is that it does make you feel very, very thirsty several hours later. Perhaps some of the ingredients in it dry your mouth out a little, as all I wanted to do was drink several
glasses of water to quench my thirst.
Overall, I'd recommend this product. This stuff really does make your mouth, teeth and gums feel squeaky clean, and I reckon that it gives an excellent result for only three minutes work and an approximate weekly cost of 60p.
Used in conjunction with regular brushing and twice annual check-ups at the dentist, I think that this product provides a very complimentary addition to anyone's oral hygiene routine. In fact, I'm hoping that with prolonged use of this product, that £29.00 scale and polish from the hygienist may become something I have to submit to once in a blue moon…and that can't be bad can it?
Recommended.
**** ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO KNOW? ****
This product is suitable for anyone aged 7 and older. This product is not a replacement for twice daily tooth brushing or regular dental check-ups, but a complimentary one. If you have sensitive teeth or gums, it may be an idea to speak to your dentist before using it.
****
CONTACT DETAILS ****
Colgate Palmolive
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 8JZ
Freephone: 00800-321-321-32
Website: www.colgate.co.uk
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