G'Day, like many other GNs, we prefer to buy Australian. With toothpaste there has only been one 'normal' type of toothpaste (white, mint flavoured) that is locally made - Cedel brand. It sells for about $2 and is usually hidden in the supermarket behind a post down the bottom. The good old brands like Colgate, Kolynos and Ipana and now made in places like Indonesia where the labour is cheaper, but they are on the shelves for double and sometimes triple the cost of the Cedel brand. Of late, we've found the Australian Cedel is no longer stocked in some supermarkets - I guess because there is much more profit in a $6 toothpaste than a $2 one.
Now the question: is there an alternative to toothpaste for false fangs - I can remember my grandfather using salt and also bicarb soda plus I've read where you can use charcoal. I suppose all you really need is an abrasive to help remove deposits etc, but something that is not too abrasive!! We're not worried about cost, we just object to buying imported toothpaste.
I have actually been told by the dentist you should just use a brush with gentle soap - even dishwashing detergent. Toothpastes will scratch the material they are made from and that leads to discolouring. PS I have all my own teeth but my daughter-in-law is my dentist. And by the way, rinse the soap off well - doesn't taste as good as toothpaste!
Thanks NeilnRuth - that makes sense although why are proprietry toothpastes abrasive?....I've often seen toothpaste recommended for removing scratches from jewellery, perspex and glass but then I suppose real teeth are made from a hard enamel whilst false teeth are some type of acrylic I think. Maybe peppermint flavoured soap?
I use steradent, active plus denture paste. can be used on natural teeth as well. it says made in Australia from imported and local components. IGA sell it
Thanks Gerty and Gold Dandelion....dunno about the Napisan as I'd be thinking of dirty nappies as I stuck the fangs back in but Steradent denture paste is a good idea.
I use a Tea Tree Oil based toothpaste. Takes a bit of getting used to. However went to dentist recently and was told my dental hygiene was best ever seen in the dental practice. Either the red wine or the Tea Tree Toothpaste, not sure which?
Welcome to the forum Taffy from us. I don't use tea tree oil toothpaste but I do floss every day as well as brush with a soft brush and the dentist also told me I had one of the best mouths for dental hygiene. Note she didn't say my teeth were the best - that damage was done years ago - but my new regimen of dental hygiene is working. My dentist says we should all use a soft brush. I think she even uses a child's brush because it is softer.
Thanks for welcome NielnRuth. I often wonder about things the "professionals" tell us....eg use a soft brush......or use a hard brush. I guess at the end of the day whatever works for you. By the way my daughter has a nickname of potty mouth and I don't think it's to do with dental hygiene??
At my workplace, we have several nurses changed with various "portfolios" one of which is dental hygiene. One of the things that surprised me was a warning never to use ordinary toothpaste on dentures. I've been using common toothpaste ever since getting dentures almost 30 years ago. The portfolio holder had learned from a seminar that toothpaste damages the surface of dentures causing not only staining (as per an above post) but it also makes it easier for calcium so stick to the dentures as well. This is what causes that horrible, rough feeling.
As neilnruth says, just use soap and water then rinse well for an every day clean, however if you find that calcium build-up is causing discomfort, simply soak the dentures overnight in a mixture of 50/50 water and white vinegar which is as cheap as chips and can be used on the latter too
Vinegar is very good at removing tarter and calcium build-up. I always carry a small pre-mixed bottle of water and vinegar in the van when I go away.
As far as I'm aware (and please correct me if anyone knows better) I believe the actual teeth used for dentures are still made of either a hard plastic or porcelain. I have the porcelain variety and apart from being more easily broken when dropped, they don't wear away like the plastic ones do, so if the wearer takes great care not to drop them in the hand bowl when cleaning, or does not bite on hard lollies and break a tooth (as I have done twice in the past) then the porcelain ones are the best option if you can afford them in the first place. They're much more expensive initially and to replace a tooth costs around $50-$60.
And on the matter of breakage, it's best to clean them over a bowl of water so that if you do drop them, they fall harmlessly into the water. A folded towel in place of the water will also suffice.
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Proud owner of an 2006 3lt turbo diesel Rodeo. Van will be next!!
Last year my daughter told me that she was not brushing her teeth before going to bed, the reason was that she had all ways nightmares . After she stopped the nightmares stopped. The funny thing is that I had the same problem with nightmares , so I stopped using tooth paste before going to bed and the nightmares are gone. When you read what sort of chemicals are in tooth paste, haven knows what it will do to you.
