January 13, 2004
What Ever Happened to Simple Packaging?
Is it me, or is the first use of a new Mentadent pump the hardest thing ever? It's seemingly impossible to get an even amount of the right side and the left side out when you first use it. It's usually the light side (left) that comes out, with the dark side (right) resisting. The result is that your toothbrush is left with oodles of one side and a speck of the other. Sure, I have no right to complain, since I'm buying their product and the obvious action I should take is to stop buying Mentadent. But I'm a sucker for gimmicks and stuff like this, so I still use mentadent. But in reality, it's no different than Aquafresh, is it? In fact, Aquafresh should be better since it has "triple protection". Hmm, should I switch? I think not. The coolest toothpaste packaging I remember is Crest's Neat Squeeze (how Neat Squeeze works). You would squeeze the tube to apply the toothpaste and when you let go, it would suck some toothpaste back in, keeping it nice and neat.
Posted by tien mao in Rants at 9:32 AM
Ah, the classic debate between Aquafresh and Mentadent. True, Aquafresh has triple protection, but don't discount the benefit you receive by combining the two colors just before you brush with Mentadent.
Posted by: Justin at January 13, 2004 9:54 AM
Don't you have a job?!?!
How can one person have so much free time?
Posted by: John T at January 13, 2004 9:58 AM
hmm, the combination of sides right before i brush...i wonder if that's why they keep them separate. the combination with the saliva starts the reaction. or maybe not.
alas john, these are the thoughts that just run through my head. not necessarily related to how much free time i have.
Posted by: tien at January 13, 2004 12:06 PM
I used to be a Mentadenter, but no longer. I've since moved on to the Crest liquid gels. I think you use less, get more "foaming" action, and the containers are extremely simple. The key seems to be keeping it upside down in the medicine cabinet so that the gel stays in the area by the cap. It isn't messy at all, won't come out of the container unless you squeeze it, and is very easy to dispense in precise amounts. Plus they have cool flavors, like citrus or cinnamon (which is what I'm using now).
On a side note, I don't believe that Aquafresh and Mentadent are even remotely the same ingredient wise. Mentadent is the fluoride, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide mix. This is a very distinct flavor. Aquafresh, I believe, is just a mix of a toothpaste with a breath freshener. The triple protection claim, to me at least, is a load of bull.
Also, (I'm just a fountain of info today) Aquafresh isn't really mixed inside the tube. In fact, the three colors are seperated within the tube, and only come into contact with each other right before the cap area, thereby keeping the perfect "striped" look.
Finally, Mentadent makes toothpaste in normal tubes, but one would assume that this doesn't allow for the dual-action combination that you seem to enjoy so much.
So I'm a wealth of useless info it seems...
Posted by: joe at January 13, 2004 12:48 PM
wow joe, thanks for all the info!! crest liquid gel, huh? is that pretty much a gel, because i can't imagine a toothbrush holding liquid very well.
yeah, i know that mentadent and aquafresh aren't the same ingredient wise, but i was thinking in the color combinations. and i didn't know that was how aquafresh remained distinct. that's interesting. how did you find that out?
also, why would anyone buy mentadent in a tube. it looses all it's cache, no? and what's up with mentadent mouthwash. how does that work?
Posted by: tien at January 13, 2004 1:20 PM
mentadent is so 1998
Posted by: dan at January 13, 2004 2:01 PM
I had the Mentadent problem the other week. I just opted for brushing my teeth using the the clear toothpaste side and soon regretted it.
Posted by: Jen at January 13, 2004 3:32 PM
what i usually end up doing is pressing really hard on the side that's not coming out, which always end up getting more of the flowing side out. in the worst cases, i remove the top and press up through the bottom of the pump. the things i do for some even distribution.
Posted by: tien at January 13, 2004 3:49 PM
The Crest liquid gel is more gel than liquid. I like it so far, and it is interesting brushing with cinnamon flavor rather than mint.
The secret of the aquafresh tube I learned online. Some guy bought a tube and cut it open as part of an experiment to see how they kept the color seperate inside. Sounds like a cool guy to me...
I think the Mentadent in the tube isn't meant to be the same, therefore isn't a mix of what is in the pump but rather a completely different recipe.
Posted by: joe at January 14, 2004 2:16 PM
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joe: The Crest liquid gel is more gel than liquid. I like it so far, and it is inter... {read on}
tien: what i usually end up doing is pressing really hard on the side that's not comin... {read on}
Jen: I had the Mentadent problem the other week. I just opted for brushing my teeth ... {read on}
dan: mentadent is so 1998... {read on}
tien: wow joe, thanks for all the info!! crest liquid gel, huh? is that pretty much ... {read on}
joe: I used to be a Mentadenter, but no longer. I've since moved on to the Crest liq... {read on}
tien: hmm, the combination of sides right before i brush...i wonder if that's why they... {read on}
John T: Don't you have a job?!?! How can one person have so much free time?... {read on}
Justin: Ah, the classic debate between Aquafresh and Mentadent. True, Aquafresh has tri... {read on}