It's White and Creamy, but you Shouldn't Swallow..... (Macleans Toothpaste)

Member Name: tange

Product:	Macleans Toothpaste
Date:	18/06/02 (341 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Does it's job well, Nice minty flavour

Disadvantages: Boring colour!

....and yes it is only a toothpaste!

While waiting for Dooyoo to put on the product for my latest opinion I thought I would fill the void with another piece about a product that we all know about. Until that day, when our teeth are merely objects that stare at us from a glass on the bedside cabinet, toothpaste is an essential part of our life. To make it a bit more interesting I thought that I would think of a more exciting title... So forgive me!

I am not particularly loyal to a brand of toothpaste; I generally go for what ever is on offer and am not particularly bothered about what brand it is. I was reading a report from the British Dental Association, or BDA, (boring I know, but it was for an enquiry at work!) and I was reading about the toothpastes that they recommend as being "good". Too much fluoride is bad, especially for young children, and some toothpaste brands contain too much.

Maclean's Freshmint toothpaste is accredited by the BDA as one that has a normal fluoride content. Brands such as Colgate Triple Cool Stripe and Crest Complete have a high content and are not recommended particularly for children under the age of six. Too much fluoride can cause flourosis and, as children can ingest fluoride, it is advised that you supervise their brushing and only allow them to use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on their brush.

Although Maclean's Freshmint contains some fluoride it is still a good choice in your oral hygiene regime. So when I discovered that it was also being sold for 55p for a 50ml tube I was very impressed that something so reasonably priced could be good for you too. Freshmint also comes in 150ml tubes and also in pump dispensers; very good if you are annoyed with people who leave the tops off of part squeezed tubes! Prices vary, but expect to pay around to £2.00 for the pump one, up to £2.00 for the 150ml tube and anywhere up to £1.00 for the 50ml size. I am lucky enough to get mine
cheaply from my local Bodycare shop, and can often get the larger sized tube for 99p (bargain!).

The packaging is a distinctive bright blue colour box with the white lettering of the Macleans brand name. Macleans is a company that has long been respected in the field of oral care; they also produce mouthwashes and other toothpastes, such as Maclean?s Milk Teeth and Maclean's Whitening. The company was set up in 1919 by a New Zealander called Alex Maclean (hence the name!). He launched the first whitening toothpaste, called Maclean's Peroxide Toothpaste, in 1927?.. The rest is history!

The toothpaste itself is a very uninspiring plain white colour; nothing fancy or stripy, just functional and clean looking. Although there is also a Coolmint variety, (that comes in green packaging) I prefer the taste of the Freshmint option. Like its name suggests it is minty and fresh and leaves your mouth, and more importantly your teeth, feeling clean. It even makes my mouth feel good after a night out, so it must be effective!

Brushing your teeth cannot prevent tooth decay or gum disease, but it can help. If you brush your teeth at least twice a day with a good fluoride toothpaste you are considerably improving the chances of maintaining healthy teeth. Coupled with a sensible diet and regular visits to your dentist, you can at least give your teeth and gums a fighting chance!

Maclean's Freshmint Toothpaste contains fluoride, calcium and Triclosan (an antibacterial agent) that are considered to be effective way to remove plaque tartar and bacteria, and will also help to ward off bad breath. The combination of the fluoride and calcium also help to strengthen your teeth.

So, in conclusion, I am recommending this toothpaste as a part of your oral healthcare routine. Not only is it cheaper than some of the other brands it is also very good at its job. Not all toothpastes are recommended by the BDA, so it is definitely worth
going for one that is. So, for no frills toothpaste that actually works, give Maclean?s Freshmint Toothpaste a try!

For further information about Macleans and their products go to http://www.macleans.co.uk

For further information about Oral Healthcare contact your dentist.

Note: I am sorry if anyone is offended by the title of this opinion. It is intended only as a joke

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