Spotlight on oral care
Since February is National Children's Dental Health Month, it's an appropriate time to introduce new oral care products for children and adults.
Key Points
Each February, the American Dental Association sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month, making it a good time to introduce new oral care products for both children and adults.
The Natural Dentist is adding a kid-approved Groovy Grape flavor to its Cavity Zapper Fluoride Toothpaste this month. Formulated to fight cavities and strengthen tooth enamel, the toothpaste also helps prevent acid wear from soda and sports drinks. In January, the company added The Natural Dentist Antiseptic Mouth Rinse to its product selection. Available in a cool mint flavor, the natural rinse uses menthol as its active ingredient and includes no alcohol or artificial ingredients.
Colgate-Palmolive has introduced Total Enamel Strength toothpaste to work against weakened tooth enamel, caused from the build-up of plaque bacteria, aging, and the consumption of acidic foods and drinks. Colgate Total Enamel Strength penetrates below the surface to reinforce and strengthen enamel.
Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products added two new Listerine products this past year. Listerine Total Care Anticavity Mouthwash is formulated to prevent cavities, restore enamel, strengthen teeth, kill bad breath germs, freshen breath, and fight plaque above the gum line. It is available in three flavors. Whitening plus Restoring Fluoride Rinse both whitens and strengthens teeth, while continuing to prevent tooth decay and killing bad breath germs.
In September, J&J introduced two new Reach Total Care products. The new Reach Total Care Toothbrush combines the signature Reach angled neck with soft floss-like bristles to remove plaque deep between teeth and along the gum line. It also features a tongue cleaner that removes extra mouth bacteria. The new Reach Total Care Floss adds Listerine flavors to its micro-grooves technology, which works like a mini-squeegee to grab and remove plaque.
Available in two mint flavors, Chattem's new Act Total Care anticavity fluoride mouthwash strengthens teeth, helps prevent cavities, fights plaque, kills bad breath germs, and freshens breath.
The OraMoist Dry Mouth Patch is a new oral health product from Quantum Health. Dry mouth (xerostomia) is estimated to affect 10 percent of the United States population and can result from aging, health conditions, lifestyle factors, and OTC or prescription drugs. OraMoist patches are time-release, muco-adhesive, tablet-sized patches containing edible, natural ingredients that adhere either to the roof of the mouth or to the inner cheek. The sugar- and alcohol-free patch slowly dissolves over two to four hours, releasing ingredients that help increase saliva production and alleviate dry mouth by locking in moisture without affecting speech.
Dana K. Cassell, a frequent contributor to Drug Topics, lives in North Stratford, New Hampshire.
