Minty freshness (Colgate Plax Whitening Mouthwash)

Member Name: juicy_lucy

Product:	Colgate Plax Whitening Mouthwash
Date:	15/03/08 (301 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Minty taste

Disadvantages: Not really whitening

Colgate Plax Whitening

After cleaning my teeth, and seduced by the promises, I do like to "finish off" with a mouthwash. Since I tend to trust Colgate dental products, I decided to give this one a go.

~~THE PROMISES~~

This has a stain prevention system which helps to maintain the natural whiteness of teeth (no good if they are already less than white then!) and will keep my breath fresher and my mouth healthier. It will apparently fight plaque and bacteria for up to 12 hours and has fluoride to strengthen teeth. The mouthwash, being a liquid will obviously get into those places a toothbrush can't reach and will fight against gum problems (assuming you have any).

Developed and clinically tested by dentists, I like the sound of this one!

~~PRODUCT AND PACKAGING~~

The product comes in a white bottle with a screw on/off cap and with all instructions and information written clearly on the back.

When I first look at the bottle, and given that it is a whitening mouthwash, I make the assumption that the product is going to be white. How wrong I was! A quick look inside shows me that it is in fact blue.

The mouthwash itself has quite a strong minty smell, and when I use it, I find that although it isn't the type of mouthwash that is overly strong, it does leave quite a bitter and strong mint taste in my mouth for some time afterwards. I assume this is all to do with the breath freshening- no point in all that mintiness disappearing straight away.

~~USING IT~~

It really is quite simple to use. All I do is fill the cap to the line (20ml) and rinse mouth thoroughly for 20 seconds. Although it doesn't specifically tell me, I assume that this is to be done after the normal cleaning of my teeth.

It does remind me that it's not to be swallowed, although given that it is quite a strong taste, it's not really one which I think I would want to swallow. There is also the recommendation that it's not for children under the age of six years, probably because it would be too difficult to stop them swallowing it. Personally, I think it would be too strong a taste to give to even 6 year olds.

~~PRICE AND AVAILABILITY~~

Costing £3.49 for 500ml, this is widely available from supermarkets and chemists.

~~MADE BY~~

The mouthwash is made by Colgate- Palmolive, Guildford. GU2 8IZ

~~VERDICT~~

As I wrote before, I like the freshness given by a mouthwash, and only after having used a mouthwash do my teeth feel really clean and my mouth fresh.

This is easy to use although I find that filling the liquid to the top of the cap is a little bit too much liquid for me, but this probably varies from person to person. I tend to rinse my mouth with half a capful, and this gives enough freshness.

Although the minty taste is strong, it is not unpleasantly so and the fact that the taste lasts for some considerable time makes me believe that the product is working and that my mouth is constantly fresh and clean. It does feel slightly astringent so anyone wanting a more gentle mouthwash would possibly find this too medicinal tasting.

As far as the whitening claims go, I don't think it has done anything at all to whiten my teeth, but reading the instructions again, it strikes me that although it is called a whitening mouthwash, the information on the back tells me that it maintains the whiteness of teeth. So, no whitening of the old gnashers will be going on- they will just not go less white.

An average mouthwash which I would recommend for anyone liking a strong tasting mouthwash, but not for people wanting whiter than white teeth.

Thanks for reading

Daniela xx

Summary: Mouthwash