Sample toothpaste from the torturer(aka dentist)

[wgeo]

The dentists pay for them - at least the ones I've worked at always had to pay for the samples. If you really don't like the brand they give I would just leave it there. Every few visits I'll accept a goodie bag to put in our guest room but otherwise I just say no thanks.

 

[kdonnel]

If your dental visits are that bad you should find another dentist.

I’m am reasonable sure that all dentist are sadists.

 

[Chocolate Cake]

I’m am reasonable sure that all dentist are sadists.

Call me crazy, but I absolutely love going to the dentist.

 

[PlainJane]

I do have a preferred toothpaste, but I’m happy to keep samples for travel or when we run out of what we usually use. I’m kind of surprised by the strong opinions on the subject. I’m also more than happy to use the free toothbrush, as long as it has soft bristles. I’m more picky about floss, some of them fray easy or hurt.

I’ve had hygienists that I was less than thrilled with, but I’ve never had an issue with an actual dentist. I hope you find an office you are pleased with.

 

[SC Minnie]

I’m am reasonable sure that all dentist are sadists.

You anti-dentite

 

[Imzadi]

I always keep a sample sized toothpaste (& toothbrush) in my handbag. I brush my teeth when I'm not home, like after I've had lunch with heavy garlic. So, the sample size is perfect.

It seems from this thread I'm the only one that does this?

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

I always keep a sample sized toothpaste (& toothbrush) in my handbag. I brush my teeth when I'm not home, like after I've had lunch with heavy garlic. So, the sample size is perfect.

It seems from this thread I'm the only one that does this?

I don't carry a handbag, but I keep a Ziploc with a travel hair brush, deodorant, tooth brush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, and mints in my car. I use all of it fairly regularly.

 

[Sparkly]

I don't often see the sample toothpastes at my dentist but that's okay because I have a preferred brand to buy anyway.

 

[NAB]

Yes do donate the toothpaste we run out at the food bank all the time. But....toothpaste has an expiration date it will get thrown out at the food bank too if it is out of date.

It's the only thing we have to watch for some dry foods we can go over 6 months , toothpaste no it goes in the garbage. Always wondered what the couponers did with all that toothpaste they get.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

Yes do donate the toothpaste we run out at the food bank all the time. But....toothpaste has an expiration date it will get thrown out at the food bank too if it is out of date.

It's the only thing we have to watch for some dry foods we can go over 6 months , toothpaste no it goes in the garbage. Always wondered what the couponers did with all that toothpaste they get.

Wow, I've never realized there was an expiration. Anyone know what happens to it when it's expired? Is it just less effective like many meds or does it some how turn bad?

 

[Minnesota!]

LOVE the dentist!!!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Wow, I've never realized there was an expiration. Anyone know what happens to it when it's expired? Is it just less effective like many meds or does it some how turn bad?

It should be printed on the toothpaste itself at the very bottom normally raised up letters and numbers. I searched a bit and found that the ADA requires that toothpastes that contain fluoride to have an expiration date listed.

This is some information from Colgate:

"A shelf-life is determined only by the effectiveness of the ingredients in the toothpaste, so there's no direct danger to your health in using a recently expired tube in a pinch. But, it does impact the effectiveness of preventing tooth decay and cavities if you use expired toothpaste over the long term. Fluoride in toothpaste can start to break down, decreasing your protection from bacteria-causing decay. Colgate products typically have a two-year expiration date to ensure that the fluoride is at an optimal level of stability, as the ions in the fluoride are at their most effective within two years. After that time, the consistency in color and taste can change. Most pastes have a similar timeline, although some may have a shorter shelf-life. If you reach for a forgotten tube in your medicine cabinet, it's important to check the expiration date before using it."

Can't say that's the same for other toothpaste manufacturers but that's at least a bit of information.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

It should be printed on the toothpaste itself at the very bottom normally raised up letters and numbers. I searched a bit and found that the ADA requires that toothpastes that contain fluoride to have an expiration date listed.

This is some information from Colgate:

"A shelf-life is determined only by the effectiveness of the ingredients in the toothpaste, so there's no direct danger to your health in using a recently expired tube in a pinch. But, it does impact the effectiveness of preventing tooth decay and cavities if you use expired toothpaste over the long term. Fluoride in toothpaste can start to break down, decreasing your protection from bacteria-causing decay. Colgate products typically have a two-year expiration date to ensure that the fluoride is at an optimal level of stability, as the ions in the fluoride are at their most effective within two years. After that time, the consistency in color and taste can change. Most pastes have a similar timeline, although some may have a shorter shelf-life. If you reach for a forgotten tube in your medicine cabinet, it's important to check the expiration date before using it."

Can't say that's the same for other toothpaste manufacturers but that's at least a bit of information.

Interesting! Thanks for the info!

 

[kdonnel]

Expiration dates are a cover your butt situation created by our litigious society.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/drug-expiration-dates-do-they-mean-anything

 

[BLAZEY]

I always keep a sample sized toothpaste (& toothbrush) in my handbag. I brush my teeth when I'm not home, like after I've had lunch with heavy garlic. So, the sample size is perfect.

It seems from this thread I'm the only one that does this?

I keep it in my desk, and brush after lunch or if I got stuff stuck in my braces. The braces are off now but I have a retainer so I still keep brushing midday.

 

[Sleepy425]

You are dead wrong. Your dentist pays a hefty price for patient samples.

I do all the ordering for our office. There are sites where I can sign up and get free samples (they release new ones periodically that I have to sign up for). When we order toothbrushes (each brush costs us about 80 cents) from Crest/Oral B or Colgate the toothpaste comes free with each toothbrush (floss is about 12 cents more to add to each bundle).
So toothpaste we never pay for. Occasionally (rarely) we can sign up for Listerine or ACT samples for free. But those aren't common. So if you're regularly getting a mouthwash sample, you can assume it was bought.
Samples of adjuncts such as SoftPicks, ProxaBrushes, Floss Threaders, and Sueprfloss are all purchased by the office.

 

[Gigantor7287]

If you refer to the dentist as the torturer, yes indeed time for a new dentist.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

My dentist doesn't give samples or toothbrushes. That's ok by me because I only use specific brands. My daughter's pediatric dentist gives her a little bag of trial size samples after every cleaning. She sees a dentist at the children's hospital in the city, so she has even gotten big toys after visits too. She got an Elsa doll once, and a couple other things that I can't remember.

 

[dominiondad]

I'll take any toothpaste, as long as its Cinnamon. For whatever reason, most of the stores around us don't carry cinnamon, but offer 30 varieties of mint. We can get mint, spearmint, peppermint, cool mint, winter mint, clean mint, mountain mint, herbal mint, mint zing, mild mint, fresh mint and a whole host of other mint flavors, but no cinnamon. What does the mint mafia have over the toothpaste industry??

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I was a dental assistant way back in the later 80's and the Oral B's were 80 cents back then. Yikes. Our office paid for toothpaste samples, because the Dr. wanted a specific brand, and didn't care for what was free back then, which if I recall was only Sensodyne. My dentist gives out individual packs of Crest Whitening Strips. My dentist is my cousin and I try to get more that one pack out of him and he's says "I pay for these, you're lucky I'm giving you the one". LOL