Take the pain out of teeth cleaning. (Colgate Time Control Toothpaste)

Member Name: hypno06

Product:	Colgate Time Control Toothpaste
Date:	19/06/09 (129 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Mild yet effective.

Disadvantages: Can't think of any.

"Have you cleaned your teeth?" - one of those phrases that a parent might call out to their offspring several times a day.....before leaving for school in the morning, after meals, after sweets, before going to visit Grandma and. of course, last thing at night. Teeth cleaning is one of those things that as adults we do as a matter of course, knowing that poorly maintained teeth can be painful, unsightly, and very very expensive! But as children and teens who have not yet suffered the consequences of not cleaning their teeth regularly, it can be seen as a chore and a nuisance! In addition to it being a chore, toothpaste never seems to taste too great, making three minutes of brushing seem like much longer, resulting in shortened cleans just to get it over and done with.

Over the years, we have bought many brands of toothpaste, ranging from value ranges (note - don't bother buying Morrisons basic value toothpaste.....it is the worst thing ever!), to premium ranges with baking soda, and special tooth whitening pastes, that I have paid loads of money for, in the hope I will get a hollywood smile, but that don't live up to expectations.

I don't smoke, but I do drink a lot of coffee, so I am conscious of potential discolouring to my teeth, as well as the lovely "coffee breath" that follows a strong cuppa.....so I need to find a toothpaste that is going to be up to the job.

But I don't like an overly strong minty taste.......I find that it makes me gag, which in turn makes cleaning my teeth quite an unpleasant process - almost as much of a chore as it was when I was a child, having the kitchen timer ticking alongside the sink to make sure that I brushed for my full three minutes (I'm sure our kitchen timer was never used to time boiled eggs, or fairy cakes.......), so I am pleased to report that I have finally found a decent toothpaste that, for me, fits the bill.

Colgate is probably the biggest name in toothpaste, and has been for many years. Although the Aquafresh adverts are more memorable, Colgate was always the brand that I remember having as a child, and the brand I tend to pick up most often. It is only relatively recently, though, that I have discovered the "Time Control" member of the Colgate clan.

This is in a gold tube, which prominantly displays the familiar red and white Colgate Logo, and can be found in the usual toothpaste aisles of chemists and supermarkets. Whilst a bit more expensive than some "ordinary" toothpaste tubes, it is not what I would call a premium price and can often be found on offer in Boots. The picture above is exactly what it looks like (although whoever spilt those vitamin E tablets in the picture, surely ought to clear them away!).

The cap is a flip cap, so there is no need to try and screw a lid back on the tube at the same time as balancing your toothbrush, and no risk of losing the lid when you drop it and it falls behind the toilet..... The hinge of the lid is quite strong too, so no twisting or breaking is likely, meaning that the lid fits properly every time.

The toothpaste is dispensed through a nozzle - and this is one of the really clever things about this particular product. The nozzle is slightly longer than any other I have seen, which means that the toothpaste does not overflow when it is not required. Anyone who has tried to clean stale toothpaste from the tops of toothpaste tubes, from sides of toothpaste tubes and from the taps and the sink, will appreciate this design feature!

The toothpaste itself comprises of white paste and blue gel. The tube tells me that it contains vitamin E - not something I would expect in a toothpaste, but I suppose that it is used in anti-ageing moisturisers etc in face and body creams, so why not have some anti-ageing for your teeth and gums?! The tube also tells me that this is clinically proven for Everyday protection against time........what time? Time as in the ageing clock? That would explain the vitamin E. Or time as in I can spend less than 3 minutes with the kitchen timer.........some hope!!

As for the smell, well, it smells minty - sort of toothpasty!! Well, what do you expect! It does smell fresh, though, and strong enough to mask the effects of my coffee.

On to the taste, then, and one of the reasons that I have often seen toothbrushing as a chore......and this one for me scores top marks. It is strong enough to have a decent "flavour" but yet is not harsh in its mintiness. It doesn't have that agressive sting in the back of the throat that I have experienced with other products. It is milder than most, but not wishy washy. I am quite happy to clean my teeth for the full 3 minutes, without wanting to spit and rinse at the first opportunity! My children are happy too, which means that teeth cleaning is less of a chore, and hopefully their teeth will stay strong as they go into adulthood.

As for the claims that this particular product fortifies gums, helps fight gum recession, and helps fight root cavities......well, I am not a dentist so I can't really comment too much, except to say I have always had fairly strong teeth so have nothing much to compare performance with, as I have always looked after my teeth, and have had very few needs for fillings etc.

What I would say, though, is that I am prone to mouth ulcers - in times of stress in particular, often getting several attack me at one time. When suffering from these ulcers, cleaning my teeth can be painful, as the strong minty paste enters the sore patches, but with this particular toothpaste, I have not had so much pain during my latest ulcer attack, and for that alone, this toothpaste will find its way into my bathroom again.

Like I say, I am not a dentist, so the claims may be hype, or they may be fact.....but anything that stops teeth cleaning being a chore, encouraging good oral hygiene has got to be worth picking up, surely!

Summary: A new version of an old favourite.