Comments on: Act Fluoride: Twice the Size, Half the Strength http://www.mouseprint.org/2008/03/03/act-fluoride-twice-the-size-half-the-strength/ Exposing the strings and catches buried in the fine print. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:52:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: RDH http://www.mouseprint.org/2008/03/03/act-fluoride-twice-the-size-half-the-strength/comment-page-1/#comment-113799 RDH Thu, 15 May 2008 03:46:48 +0000 http://www.mouseprint.org/?p=385#comment-113799 Act Fluoride rinse isn't being deceptive. Fluoride in toothpaste or rinse attains maximum benefit when used several times daily with these low doses. Each time, the enamel remineralization process is aided by exposure to that type of fluoride. Our frequent, daily habits of snacking, drinking acidic drinks (sports drinks, flavored waters, energy drinks, carbonated beverages, etc.), and eating normal meals produce acids that linger in our mouth and are capable of beginning tooth decay. Some people are excellent 3X a day brushers and flossers using a fluoride toothpaste, but have signs of acidic breakdown. They may benefit from an additional rinse(s) of fluoride. Some people can't remember to rinse more than once daily. Some people take medications that greatly reduce their salivary flow (sometimes unnoticed) causing constant acidity of the mouth. Both Act fluoride strengths offer direct benefits, but deciding which strength to use and frequency should be asked of your dental professional. Often, our office recommends using a rinse twice daily. I think buying either container is a good buy. (If I remember correctly, I think fluoride containers must meet federal size guidelines for safety so an accidental ingestion by a very young child wouldn't result in injury. So, perhaps the larger container cannot have the higher concentration of fluoide.) Act Fluoride rinse isn’t being deceptive. Fluoride in toothpaste or rinse attains maximum benefit when used several times daily with these low doses. Each time, the enamel remineralization process is aided by exposure to that type of fluoride. Our frequent, daily habits of snacking, drinking acidic drinks (sports drinks, flavored waters, energy drinks, carbonated beverages, etc.), and eating normal meals produce acids that linger in our mouth and are capable of beginning tooth decay. Some people are excellent 3X a day brushers and flossers using a fluoride toothpaste, but have signs of acidic breakdown. They may benefit from an additional rinse(s) of fluoride. Some people can’t remember to rinse more than once daily. Some people take medications that greatly reduce their salivary flow (sometimes unnoticed) causing constant acidity of the mouth. Both Act fluoride strengths offer direct benefits, but deciding which strength to use and frequency should be asked of your dental professional. Often, our office recommends using a rinse twice daily.
I think buying either container is a good buy.
(If I remember correctly, I think fluoride containers must meet federal size guidelines for safety so an accidental ingestion by a very young child wouldn’t result in injury. So, perhaps the larger container cannot have the higher concentration of fluoide.)

]]> By: Ray http://www.mouseprint.org/2008/03/03/act-fluoride-twice-the-size-half-the-strength/comment-page-1/#comment-109713 Ray Fri, 02 May 2008 18:37:26 +0000 http://www.mouseprint.org/?p=385#comment-109713 This country is overrun with cheats and liars. It's so pathetic. For the Bloggers who say to read the labels I agree, but who has the time? Most people are so busy working 2-3 jobs to pay for it we don't have time. Deceptive advertising is not illegal but it should be. What it hurts is your future earnings. The government sees little change in inflation because they mainly look at prices. They post thier (BS) figures and many companies use theses numbers to help figure raises for employees. Because of this the average Joe has been experiencing some of the lowest wage growth in decades, especially those on fixed incomes. I have learned to spot deceptive advertising quite well but it's become so blatant and widespread it's almost hopeless trying to keep up with it. If companies just raised prices accordingly and kept product quality the same, we would see the real condition of our economy. This country is overrun with cheats and liars. It’s so pathetic.
For the Bloggers who say to read the labels I agree, but who has the time?
Most people are so busy working 2-3 jobs to pay for it we don’t have time.
Deceptive advertising is not illegal but it should be. What it hurts is your future earnings.
The government sees little change in inflation because they mainly look at prices. They post thier (BS)
figures and many companies use theses numbers to help figure raises for employees. Because of this the average Joe has been experiencing some of the lowest wage growth in decades, especially those on fixed incomes. I have learned to spot deceptive advertising quite well but it’s become so blatant and widespread it’s almost hopeless trying to keep up
with it. If companies just raised prices accordingly and kept product quality the same, we would see the real
condition of our economy.

]]> By: Chris M. http://www.mouseprint.org/2008/03/03/act-fluoride-twice-the-size-half-the-strength/comment-page-1/#comment-95569 Chris M. Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:10:00 +0000 http://www.mouseprint.org/?p=385#comment-95569 @ shawn So let me ask you, then: Why is the "a day" part printed in such small type? There's certainly space for it to be bigger, and more clear. It isn't though, and I share the suspicion that the intention of the smaller type is to reduce the clarity of the statement. And that's the issue at hand. It's not that it's *impossible* to read the label, just that the company is likely intentionally making it *harder*. Isn't it annoying when someone makes life *harder* for you than it needs to be? @ shawn
So let me ask you, then: Why is the “a day” part printed in such small type? There’s certainly space for it to be bigger, and more clear. It isn’t though, and I share the suspicion that the intention of the smaller type is to reduce the clarity of the statement.

And that’s the issue at hand. It’s not that it’s *impossible* to read the label, just that the company is likely intentionally making it *harder*. Isn’t it annoying when someone makes life *harder* for you than it needs to be?

]]> By: RS http://www.mouseprint.org/2008/03/03/act-fluoride-twice-the-size-half-the-strength/comment-page-1/#comment-93004 RS Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:00:30 +0000 http://www.mouseprint.org/?p=385#comment-93004 This is deceptive because of expectations. When you see two products from the same manufacturer with the same name and same product, you expect them to be the same. If two gas pumps looked exactly the same but one discretely touted 84 octane (which will typically destroy most engines) would you notice? This happened to me in Utah at a Walmart. Fortunately I noticed halfway through and offset it with a much higher octane. Expectations are a large part of survival. Once you learn something, you don't expect to have to relearn it every time, but it seems that Act took advantage of this human trait. This is deceptive because of expectations. When you see two products from the same manufacturer with the same name and same product, you expect them to be the same.

If two gas pumps looked exactly the same but one discretely touted 84 octane (which will typically destroy most engines) would you notice? This happened to me in Utah at a Walmart. Fortunately I noticed halfway through and offset it with a much higher octane.

Expectations are a large part of survival. Once you learn something, you don’t expect to have to relearn it every time, but it seems that Act took advantage of this human trait.

]]> By: Constance http://www.mouseprint.org/2008/03/03/act-fluoride-twice-the-size-half-the-strength/comment-page-1/#comment-90079 Constance Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:27:22 +0000 http://www.mouseprint.org/?p=385#comment-90079 Don't forget the magnifying glass. You'll probably need that also. I think previous posters are absolutely correct in saying that we can read labels and find out many of the things reported on this site. I believe the point is more so that manufacturers know that people do not thoroughly read labels for various reasons. These same manufacturers prey on consumers by fully disclosing in a manner that is specifically designed to take advantage of the average consumer. Can we protect ourselves by reading every word on every label? Most times. Is it a shady business practice to purposely try to obscure product information? Absolutely. Don’t forget the magnifying glass. You’ll probably need that also. I think previous posters are absolutely correct in saying that we can read labels and find out many of the things reported on this site. I believe the point is more so that manufacturers know that people do not thoroughly read labels for various reasons. These same manufacturers prey on consumers by fully disclosing in a manner that is specifically designed to take advantage of the average consumer. Can we protect ourselves by reading every word on every label? Most times. Is it a shady business practice to purposely try to obscure product information? Absolutely.

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