FDA Warning On 39 Million Electric Toothbrushes

The Spinbrush electric toothbrush—heavily marketed to children—can cause serious face and mouth injuries, the FDA warns.

More than 39 million of the toothbrushes have been sold under various brand names. But all are call “Spinbrush”. Those currently on sale carry the Arm & Hammer brand. Those made until 2009 carried the Crest brand.

The FDA has received reports of serious injuries from the Spinbrush.

The electric toothbrushes aren’t being recalled. Instead, the company that makes the products—Church & Dwight Co. Inc. of Princeton, New Jersey—is telling consumers how to avoid injury.

On January 25 of this year, the company issued a “class I recall.” This did not mean that consumers could return the products. Instead, the company issued safe-use instructions in television and print ads and on its web sit

 We still highly recommend the Oral-B Electric Toothbrush which should not be confused with the Spinbrush. We have the Oral-B for sale right here in our office.

Caroline Wallace DDS

 Complete Dental Care

103 South Colorado Street

Salem, Virginia, 24153

540-387-3844

Smokers Suffer Worse Dental Health

A new government report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has highlighted the fact that although people who smoke have more problems with their teeth than non-smokers, they are actually less likely to visit their dentist.

These findings are based on a CDC survey taken in 2008, The survey involved more than 16,000 adult participants between the ages of 18 and 64.

The survey results indicated that over one third of smokers admitted to having 3 or more dental problems, which was more than twice the incidence of dental problems among individuals who have never smoked. The dental problems included jaw pain, toothache, infections, and stained teeth.

In addition to this, 20 percent of the smokers had not seen a dentist in at least 5 years. Among non-smokers and former smokers who had quit, only 10 percent of respondents had avoided seeing a dentist for that long.

The researchers noted that smokers appear to be aware that they are having problems with their teeth, but are not seeking a dentist to provide necessary dental care. 50 percent of the smokers surveyed, indicated that affordability was an issue, and that they were unable to pay for the cost of seeing a dentist. This reason was given much more frequently by smokers than by non-smokers who did not regularly see a dentist.

Caroline Wallace DDS

103 South Colorado Street

Salem , Virginia, 24153

540-387-3844