My Ultrabrite Toothy-Pegs! (Ultrabrite Toothpaste)

Member Name: marymoose

Product:	Ultrabrite Toothpaste
Date:	22/01/08 (577 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Everything - read my review to find out !

Disadvantages: Availability, an acquired taste . . .

-----The PANIC!-----

I was aware that the end of the toothpaste tube was drawing near, and had added it to our shopping list. Imagine my shock and disbelief in Tesco when I found that they did not stock my toothpaste! In retrospect I should have remembered this from last time we ran low on toothpaste, and they didn't have it in Tesco, but evidently I have forgotten!

Anyway, during my lunchbreak at work (now that's a joke, my whole day is one big break) I tried both Lloyds Pharmacy and Boots, but still no toothpaste. By this stage I was getting into a slight panic. Although the toothpaste hadn't yet run out, I was starting to wonder what I would do. I contemplated phoning my mum - she would know what to do, maybe she'd be able to send me some toothpaste - they still sell it in her local Co-op as far as I'm aware. Then I remembered that last time I found my toothpaste in Wilkinsons. So off I went on a toothpaste expedition.


-----The Past-----

As a child we had two tubes of toothpaste in our house (at any one time). My mum and sister used "Crest", a nasty sweet tasting blue toothpaste (in my opinion - the taste that is, not the colour), while my dad, brother and I used "Ultrabrite", a nice tasting white toothpaste. I would not use anything else. There was a very difficult period in my life - I can't remember when it was (perhaps the early 1990s) as I have blocked it from my memory. Anyway, Ultrabrite changed not only the packaging, but the toothpaste itself. I don't know what it was that they changed, and I held on to the old tubes for as long as possible, but something changed, and it wasn't good (at the time). I did get used to this new taste after about a year, but quite frankly I do not wish to go through that trauma again - ever. That is why this is so important to me.

While we're talking about the past, I'll give a little bit of history about Ultrabrite. Made by Colgate-Palmolive, Ultrabrite was launched in 1968 as "the new extra-strength toothpaste for really white teeth." In the 1970s it was advertised with Farah Fawcett starring in the advert - you can find this on YouTube if you care to do a search. While Ultrabrite is made by Colgate, it has never been advertised specifically as a Colgate product, as it stands alone in its Ultrabrite glory. In fact it is very difficult to find any information about Ultrabrite at all.....I don't think Colgate see it as one of their most important products and I think it's only available in the UK.


-----The Product -----

So, what is in Ultrabrite that makes it taste so good?
Aqua, Calcium Carbonate, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Aroma, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Monoflurophosphate, Tetrasodium Pyromphosphate, Sodium Saccharin, Methylparaben and Propyparaben.

Perhaps that means something to the scientists among us, but to me it doesn't sound particularly appetizing! But it really does taste lovely, and very very minty.

Having used Ultrabrite for 25 years it's very difficult to describe, because I cannot stand any other toothpaste (on the rare occasions I am forced to use something like Aquafresh as I've gone away and left my toothpaste at home).

For the sake of the review I will now go and clean my teeth.....
3 minutes later....

Well, my breath feels fresh and minty, my teeth feel clean. With Ultrabrite I can feel the mint before it even touches my mouth, and the toothpaste makes my tongue tingle. I can feel that the toothpaste is actually working to clean my teeth.

Whether Ultrabrite "leaves teeth white and gives fresh breath so you can smile in confidence (as the packet states) it is not possible for me to say. My teeth are not the world's whitest teeth by any means, but who knows what they'd be like if I hadn't been using Ultrabrite all these years. For all we know I might not have teeth anymore.

As for the fresh breath, unless I've been eating copious amounts of garlic bread, halitosis has never been a problem for me. But again, who knows what the smell would be like had I not used Ultrabrite?


-----The Packaging-----

Ultrabrite comes in a 100ml tube which is blue and turquoise with Ultrabrite written in white. It is in a box of the same design and colour. I am sure that I have seen Ultrabrite in tubes of different sizes, but recently I have only seen the 100ml tubes.


-----The Paste and its Provision-----

Ultrabrite is clinically proven to help prevent cavities and keep teeth strong and health. Well, in my 25 years I have had one cavity. This was at the age of 11, in a baby tooth (many children have already lost their baby teeth by this age), and it was filled. Therefore I do not have any fillings in my adult teeth (except the one in my front tooth which is another story - basically I was drunk and fell over). Hubby on the other hand who has not used Ultrabrite has got fillings. I realise that there are other factors to bring into the equation (hubby's family do not seem to place a high value upon teeth cleaning), but surely Ultrabrite must be doing something right?

I haven't taken exceptional care of my own teeth I must say. After the age of 17 (when you then have to pay for dental care) I didn't visit a dentist until my front tooth filling came out (the week before my wedding), and this was just for repairs. However last year I started to have problems with an impacting wisdom tooth, so managed to register with a dentist (on the NHS and everything!). I visited the hygienist last summer, and had my teeth cleaned professionally for the first time in 7 years. Despite a little bit of plaque, the hygienist congratulated me on the cleanliness of my teeth. She was surprised that I use a manual tooth brush. Now, I realise that my teeth cleaning skills might genuinely be of an excellent standard (I don't wish to brag too much as you might be jealous), but on the other hand it could be that Ultrabrite is doing something right!


-----The Price-----

It was such a relief to find my beloved Ultrabrite toothpaste in Wilkinsons that I bought four 100ml tubes for 79p each. I do not know much about the retail price of other toothpastes (I have no need to know), but to me that sounds pretty reasonable. I can't say how long the tubes will last, but at a guess I would imagine that it would not be any less or any more than for any other 100ml tube of toothpaste. Hubby thought I was being a bit excessive buying four tubes (I actually wanted to buy more), but I'm happy to think that I have no need to panic for the foreseeable future about where the next toothpaste is coming from.


-----Other----- (and I was doing so well with the P's)

Ultrabrite is suitable for children under 7, apparently you should use a pea-sized amount.

I have read some other reviews about Ultrabrite which say that it doesn't protect against tartar. Now, I'm not an expert, so I wouldn't like to say. However, my teeth are fine, and at 67 (and having used Ultrabrite for over 30 years) my dad's teeth are fine (aside from a loose crown, which can't be blamed on Ultrabrite). I am not sure if my brother still uses Ultrabrite, or if he is now using some nasty toothpaste.

While I am giving Ultrabrite a 5-star rating, I wasn't going to recommend it. I don't think that people will necessarily love Ultrabrite unless they have let it become a part of their life as I have. It is a strong flavour, and it is an acquired taste. But the real reason I didn't want to recommend it is because I want to keep it all to myself......however, I think it might appear a bit strange giving a product 5 stars and then not recommending it!

If there is anything at all I have missed, please do let me know and I will include it!

Originally published on ciao as marymoose99.

Summary: I couldn't use anything else!