1. Closeup Flavalicious Chocolate Toothpaste

Image source: Chodka

This sounds both incredibly good and incredibly awful at the same time. I think I’d be tempted to frost a cake with this stuff rather than brush my teeth with it. However, the idea isn’t entirely without merit. Back in 1997, a researcher at Tulane University determined that the cocoa powder found in this toothpaste is an “effective natural alternative to fluoride in toothpaste”. That being said, I don’t see this product catching on any time soon.

2. Bacon Floss

Image Source: mcphee.com

MMM…Nothing spells fresh breath like…B-A-C-O-N…or something like that. To be fair, this product is sold as a novelty item, but I found it fitting to be included in this list nonetheless.

3. Jawels Removable Tooth Jewelry

Image source: Jawels.com

When that giant piece of lettuce stuck between your teeth isn’t getting you noticed enough, try Jawels. Before you know it, you’ll be the talk of the office!

4. Teeth & Hair As Jewelry

Image Source: Coolhunting.com

It’s hard to fault someone for being resourceful, but this is taking it too far. The designer of these disturbing pieces, Polly van der Glas, gladly accepts hair and teeth donations from family members to perfect her craft. Something tells me, we won’t be seeing celebrities wearing these pieces down the red carpet anytime soon.

5. The Kami Kami Sensor

Image source: ubergizmo.com

This modern-day torture device is an electronic bite sensor. It beeps after 30 chews to train children to chew their food well before swallowing. I don’t know about you, but there’s no way your going to get me to smile like the kid in the picture with that contraption on my head.

Any Others?

Have you seen a product that belongs on this list? Give us a heads up in a comment below for everyone to enjoy.

Ultimate Office Sweepstakes

The Dental Product Shopper’s latest sweepstakes is what they’re appropriately calling the “Ultimate Office Sweepstakes”. As the name suggests, Dental Product Shopper is trying to hook up your dental practice with great dental gear. The collective estimated value of the Grand Prize, Second Prize and Third Prize is $293,500!. Click on the links below to view the prize packages that you can win:

1) Grand Prize Package – estimated value ($280,000)
2) Second Prize Package – estimated value ($10,000)
3) Third Prize Package – estimated value ($3,500)

Who’s Eligible to Enter

Before you take the time to enter, keep in mind that “you must be a (i) licensed dentist, (ii) dental hygienist, (iii) dental assistant, or (iv) an office manager that has been employed at a licensed dental office during the entire six (6) months immediately prior to entry(dentalproductshopper.com)” to enter. For a full listing of the official rules, check out the sweepstakes rules page.

How to Enter

Dental Product Shopper has made entering the “Ultimate Office Sweepstakes” real easy. Oh, and did I mention that it’s free to enter? No? Well, it’s FREE TO ENTER. Simply fill out the official sweepstakes entry form to be eligible for almost $294,000 in prizes.

P.S. Don’t forget to follow DentalProductShopper.com on Twitter (@DentalProducts).

What do you think?

What do you think of the prize packages? Which product(s) do you currently use in your practice?

Founded in 1984, Dentek® is still a young company, but considered by many to be among the most innovative dental product companies in the industry. Already, Dentek® has achieved the distinction as the “leader in US retail sales of manual dental tools and accessories(Wikipedia) with over 40 products currently in production. Their product lines include: interdental cleaners, breath-freshening products, brace care products, whitening products, and much more.

Dentek.com: A Dental Health Resource

It doesn’t take long to see that Dentek® is not your average dental care product company. Simply visit Dentek.com to see what I’m talking about. Unlike many of the larger dental product companies, Dentek.com strives to make it easy for consumers to purchase dental products right on Dentek.com without sending you through hoops to do so. Some large dental product companies don’t even give you the option of purchasing their products online. Hello, it’s 2008.

Product Ratings & Reviews

One neat feature that you’ve probably seen on other shopping sites around the web is some sort of rating and/or review system that’s in place to help you make an informed buying decision. Dentek.com is the only dental product website I’ve seen that provides this service to their users. Personally, I like buying from companies that provide this kind of transparency for their customers. As a bonus for your participation, you’re eligible for special discounts on Dentek® products.

Product Information

Another strength of Dentek.com is the vast product information they provide customers. Unlike many dental product sites I’ve seen, Dentek.com provides very useful product information and usage instructions for each product so you know which product is the right one for you. There’s nothing worse that purchasing a product online only to find out it isn’t what you were looking for.

Consumer Education

One nice feature on Dentek.com that’s constantly growing is their Education Center. Here you will find educational dental care videos, a reference library, links to dental authority sites, and an extensive Q&A section. I definitely look forward to seeing this section grow – especially the video section.

Dentek Professional

If you’re a professional and want to shape the future of dental products, the Dentek® Professional section on Dentek.com is the place to do it. By registering to become a member of the Dentek® Pro Panel, your input will drive the development of new Dentek® products. Besides, they’ll send some money-saving product discounts your way for participating. Cool.

Dentek Nation

When you check out Dentek.com be sure to register to become a member of the Dentek Nation. As a member of the Dentek® Nation, you’ll be eligible for discounts and free stuff.

Dentek Community

The Dentek® Community is one of my favorite features on Dentek.com. Anybody who spends even a short amount of time on web can see the rising importance placed on networking and collaboration on the web in recent years – there’s Myspace, Facebook, LinkedIn etc. Dentek has managed to create a budding community that scraps all the junk found in most online communities, and focuses on one thing: improving users’ oral health. Users can participate in a forum and even create their own Dentek® dental care blog to share their adventures with dental care.

Final Thoughts

Dentek.com is well-deserving of our Site of the Week distinction. Few dental product websites are so comprehensive and user-friendly – not to mention FUN. Yes, I said it – Fun! Visit Dentek.com

I can’t think of any product in recent years that I have been more excited to review than the TiFinity Toothbrush™ by TiFinity Oral Care Inc. Why? Simple. The TiFinity Toothbrush™ is unlike any other toothbrush on the market today. The differences are both numerous, and distinct.

How the TiFinity Toothbrush™ Is Different From Your Toothbrush

• TiFinity stays in brand new condition for the life of the brush, while all other brands rapidly splay and deform, rendering them ineffective
• Lasts 10 times longer than the average toothbrush
• Utilizes 1000′s of tiny titanium micro-bristles
• Titanium bristles are non-porous – remaining hygienic unlike nylon bristles
• Clean feeling like no toothbrush you’ve ever experienced
• Removes more plaque

My Personal Experience

I have to admit that I was both intrigued and weary prior to trying out the TiFinity Toothbrush™. The thought of using titanium bristles to brush my teeth was so foreign that I almost talked myself out of trying it. However, I was surprised to find that the titanium bristles felt very much like the nylon bristles we’re all used to – both when I ran my fingers through them, and when they were actually brushing my teeth. Maybe a bit more rigid that nylon – but not a dealbreaker. So, the titanium bristles quickly became a non-issue for me.

Amazing “Clean” Feeling

In fact, it turns out that the titanium bristles produced a “clean” feeling that I’ve never felt with another toothbrush. The inventor’s claim that the TiFinity Toothbrush™ “cleans areas between that teeth and under the gums that simply cannot be reached with traditional toothbrushes” seems to be true(for me anyway). In fact, recent studies have proven that the TiFinity Toothbrush™ cleans 15% better than the leading electric toothbrush.

Final Verdict

I like it. It took a brushing or two to determine whether it was worth purchasing a TiFinity Toothbrush™ for $25 versus a traditional nylon brush that costs around $3. However, it’s hard to imagine that I’ll go back to using a nylon-bristled brush at this point due to the long life of the TiFinity, and the extreme “clean” feeling that I experienced. Don’t just take my word for it, see for yourself if it’s worth making the switch.

Where to Find the TiFinity Toothbrush

The TiFinity Toothbrush™ is available for purchase on the TiFinity Oral Care Inc. website for $25.00 without a base, and $33.00 with a base. You even have the option of signing up for their “Auto-Send” program which will automatically send you a new TiFinity Toothbrush™ at regularly scheduled intervals at a discounted price.

My dentist and dental hygienist readers are going to start to love Fridays even more because Friday is “Professional Product Sample Day” at Dental Heroes. Each Friday, I will scour the internet looking for quality professional dental products available only to dental professionals. Many of you already have established relationships with suppliers and reps who provide you with product samples. However, without sampling products from companies you don’t have existing relationships with, how will you know if the products you use and recommend are the best available option? Well, you don’t. So, I’ve made it my mission pick out those samples that I think will be of most value to you.

Today’s Free Sample: Soft Shine™ Cosmetic Polishing Paste

Today’s free sample, Soft Shine™ Cosmetic Polishing Paste is brought to you by the well-established brand, Waterpik®. Waterpik®, of course, is most notable for their oral irrigation products, but today’s free sample provides a glimpse into their other high-quality product lines.

Soft Shine™ Cosmetic Polishing Paste Features

• Veneers: Effectively polishes marginal edges.
• Composites: Safely restores full luster.
• Gold: Restores to original shine.
• Porcelain: Safely removes heavy staining.
• Natural Teeth: No need to change pastes!

Sign up to receive your free sample

Simply visit the Waterpik® website and fill in the appropriate form to receive your free sample.

Dr. Collins Perio Toothbrush

The following is a description and some features of Dr. Collins Periodontal Toothbrush according to the Dr. Collins website:

…Dr. Collins Perio Toothbrush penetrates the areas between teeth and gums removing plaque and food particles, while gently massaging gums without pain and bleeding. It gives you cleaner teeth, healthier gums and saves tooth enamel from abrasion. Dr. Collins Perio Toothbrush helps prevent cavities and provides overall oral hygiene and fresher breath…Standard toothbrush filaments have flat tips and cannot reach between teeth where residual foods and foreign substances can accumulate, rot, cause bad breath, and lead to the onset of tooth decay and gum disease. The Dr Collins Perio toothbrush has tapered filaments that can penetrate between the teeth and around the gums to remove the unwanted buildup…

The following attributes are rated on a scale of 1 – 5 (1=poor 5=excellent)

Aesthetic Appeal = 3

This toothbrush looks consistent with the signature Dr. Collins look – white and black coloring with a focus on function as opposed to aesthetics. I can appreciate this, but I also know that this toothbrush will not catch a person’s eye if they’re in the market for a new toothbrush. Sadly, flash wins the sales game sometimes. I do have to say, however, that the bristles on this thing are cooler than any bristles you’ve probably ever seen on a toothbrush. They’re more pointed than your average toothbrush and softer looking.

Durability = 5

Once again, it’s apparent that Dr. Collins cares about product quality. Most of you know I enjoy the torture-testing portion of my product reviews, and this was certainly no exception. However, I almost felt bad for the toothbrush this time. I literally bent the toothbrush in half until both ends touched. Guess what? It didn’t snap. I know many dental product manufacturers that can’t make this claim for any of their toothbrushes.

Functionality = 4

Fantastic. I’ve never used a periodontal brush before, but I have to admit, I like it. You barely know that you’re brushing, but the coveted “clean” feeling that I experienced while using this toothbrush was really incomparable. I can verify that this toothbrush is very capable of exctracting food particles as well. I had a really annoying piece of chip stuck in the crack between my two front teeth, and this toothbrush pulled it out with ease.

Least Favorite Attribute

The handle. I can see that Dr. Collins made an effort to improve the ergonomics of this toothbrush, but I felt as though I was constantly repositioning my hand to turn the toothbrush because of the extremely curved nature of the handle. Typically, a toothbrush will turn within your hand effortlessly, but this required greater than normal effort. Overall, this was a minor nuisance.

Favorite Attribute

The darn thing does what it’s supposed to do – effectively penetrates between the teeth while gently massaging the gums. This adds up to an unmistakably “clean” feeling.

Overall Opinion

I couldn’t be more bored while looking at this toothbrush, but that’s secondary to the outstanding functionality of this toothbrush. I recommend this brush to anyone looking for a gentle toothbrush that effectively cleans the teeth while combating gum disease. Ok, so I guess that’s everybody, right?

Try it for yourself

If you’d like to give the Dr. Collins Perio Toothbrush a try, we recommend purchasing from Amazon.com.

The focus of this product review is Dr. Collins Interdental Cleaners.

Dr. Collins Interdental Cleaner Features

The following is a list of Dr. Collins Interdental Cleaner features according to the Dr. Collins website:

• Soft cylindrical brush removes plaque and food debris
• Reaches areas not accessible by manual brushing
• Flexible rubber handle is easy to grip
• Great for use with braces or bridges
• Ventilated plastic cap for each interdental cleaner
• Convenient storage box great for travel
• 10 interdental cleaners per box

The following attributes are rated on a scale of 1 – 5 (1=poor 5=excellent)

Aesthetic Appeal = 4
This is one serious-looking interdental cleaner. You can really tell it means business when looking at it. I also get the feeling that Dr. Collins was more focused on a functional look, and less concerned with producing an “eye candy” product. I for one appreciate that.

Durability = 5
I’m quite impressed with the durability of this product. I didn’t notice any signs of weakness while using this product as intended. In fact, I didn’t notice any signs of weakness while using this product in a way that was unintended either. I spent 5 minutes trying to break the interdental cleaner and couldn’t. I bent it in half, and it bounced back into its original form. I bent the bristled head in every direction, and twisted it as much as possible, but no breakage.

Functionality = 4
I was pleased with the functionality of this product. It was above average. The flexibility of both the bristled head and the rubber handle was very helpful in maneuvering between the hard-to-reach teeth. I also had no problems working it under my permanent retainer – which is something I expected to have problems with to be honest. The lone functionality issue that I experienced while using the Dr. Collins interdental cleaners was that I had to straighten out the bristled head a few times on some teeth to maneuver it properly. This was not a big deal though, and was probably due to operator error more than anything.

Least Favorite Attribute
I had no problems with this product. In fact, my only real issue with this product is not with the product at all, rather with the lack of instructions. I would have appreciated a small instruction manual tucked into the plastic carrying case that covered proper usage guidelines, cleaning tips, and usage allowance for each cleaner.

Favorite Attribute
I’m most impressed with the handle grip. Most interdental cleaners on the market slip through your fingers while working on particularly stubborn gaps between your teeth. This product simply doesn’t slip.

Overall Opinion
I give Dr. Collins Interdental Cleaners 2 thumbs up. If you’re already an interdental cleaner user, and haven’t tried the Dr. Collins Interdental Cleaners, you owe it to yourself to give them a try. I’ll bet you haven’t used interdental cleaners with this much flexibility. If you’ve never tried interdental cleaners, then you should give this product a try as well. You may just decide it’s time to convert!

Try them for yourself

If you’d like to give the Dr. Collins Interdental Cleaners a try for yourself, we recommend purchasing from Amazon.com.

To support their war on gingivitis, Crest and Oral-B are offering special savings on a couple popular products designed to ward off the onset of gingivitis. To watch Crest’s special informational video on gingivitis click here.

Save $6 with the following special offers:

1. Save $3 on your purchase of any 1L or larger Crest Pro-Healthâ„¢ Rinse and any one (1) 4.2oz or larger Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste.

2. Save $3 on the purchase of any one (1) Oral-B Vitalityâ„¢ electric rechargeable toothbrush.

To receive these special offers simply visit the offer signup page on the Crest Website.