Polish Your Smile with a Spinbrush Pro Clean and Win a $25 VISA Gift Card! @bhg

On September 13, 2011, in Budget-wise, Family Circus, Fitness, Exercise & Health Issues, Giveaways, Reviews, by Glenda Embree

I’m sure you all remember that I have been testing Arm and Hammer’s Spinbrush Pro Clean electric toothbrush.  After four weeks, using the battery operated toothbrush, I’m sold.  As a matter of fact, I went out and bought these toothbrushes for every member of our family.  That’s huge!  We don’t just spend money on every [...]

I’m sure you all remember that I have been testing Arm and Hammer’s Spinbrush Pro Clean electric toothbrush.  After four weeks, using the battery operated toothbrush, I’m sold.  As a matter of fact, I went out and bought these toothbrushes for every member of our family.  That’s huge!  We don’t just spend money on every product that comes down the pike and when we do, it needs to make long-term sense in our budget. Each brush cost us about $8 at our local Wal-Mart, about double what our manual toothbrushes cost; however, you only replace the heads, not the whole unit, and the heads are the same or less than our manual toothbrushes.  Not only, does the Spin Brush Pro do a better job cleaning our teeth, I am convinced my kids are brushing more often.  If I had known that an electric toothbrush was the solution to not having to badger and remind, I would have gotten them years ago.  Better oral hygiene and health practices means fewer dental bills and better long term health for my family.  That makes great budget sense and creates good healthy habits.

brush head

The Spinbrush Pro Clean has a dual action head that makes it much easier to get into those tough-to-brush areas and because in just one minute it can produce more brush strokes than we could likely do in a couple of hours, manually, the chance that my kids are doing a better job at keeping their teeth and mouth clean is very high.  With cold and flu season approaching, I’m also excited about how easy it is to just switch out the brush head and start fresh when we need to.  Because there are no cords or charging units to mess with, the brushes can easily be tossed into an overnight bag for a sleepover at a friend’s house, too.  Truthfully, I haven’t found anything I DON’T like about these handy toothbrushes.  I expect they will be serving up polished smiles in our house, for a long time to come.

Here’s a great chance to get some for your own family!  Arm and Hammer is generously sponsoring a giveaway for a $25 VISA Gift Card.  While you could use it to purchase anything, it would be a great way to get your own family started on a new healthy track with Arm and Hammer Spin Brushes of their own.

Giveaway Rules:

You must be 18 or over and a US resident to enter.  Winner will be selected in a random drawing using random.org.  Deadline to enter is midnight (CST), Sunday, September 18, 2011.

Mandatory Entry:

What one thing would you have done sooner with your kids, if you had realized what a difference it would make?  Leave your answer in a comment below.

Optional Additional Entries:

  1. Like Arm and Hammer on Facebook and leave a comment to let me know you’ve done it.
  2. Follow Busy-at-Home on Twitter.  Leave a comment letting me know you’ve done it.
  3. Like Busy-at-Home on Facebook. Leave a comment letting me know you’ve done it.
  4. Follow Busy-at-Home on Google Friends Connect by clicking  the Join Button in the right-hand side bar.  Leave a comment letting me know you’ve done it.
  5. Subscribe to the Busy-at-Home Newsletter with this link or in the right-hand sidebar.  You will receive an email confirmation with a link that must be clicked to confirm your subscription.  Once you click the email link to confirm your subscription, leave me a comment to let me know you’ve done it.
  6. Tweet this giveaway (maximum of 1x per day, please).  Win a $25 VISA Gift Card and a polished smile from ARM & HAMMER @busyathome @bhg http://busy-at-home.com/blog/polish-your-smile-with-a-spinbrush-pro-clean-and-win-a-25-visa-gift-card-bhg/  Leave a comment below with a link to your tweet.
  7. Post this giveaway on your Facebook page.   Win a $25 VISA Gift Card and a polished smile from ARM & HAMMER and Busy-at-Home   http://busy-at-home.com/blog/polish-your-smile-with-a-spinbrush-pro-clean-and-win-a-25-visa-gift-card-bhg/     Leave a comment below with a link to your post.

This is a sponsored post for Church & Dwight Co., Inc, the maker of ARM & HAMMER branded products, who is compensating me to try different products. Get a $4.00 coupon for ARM & HAMMER Spinbrush then head over to The Switch & Save Challenge where you can enter to win $25,000.

Save Money While Taking Care of Your Teeth PLUS a $4 Coupon! @bhg

On September 6, 2011, in Budget-wise, Family Circus, Fitness, Exercise & Health Issues, Giveaways, Reviews, by Glenda Embree

Good dental habits can save your family time and money, in the long run.  Instilling these good habits in your children will provide them a lifetime of good oral health AND set them on a common sense frugal path, as well. Electric toothbrushes are a good value over time.  They prevent brushing “too hard” which [...]

Good dental habits can save your family time and money, in the long run.  Instilling these good habits in your children will provide them a lifetime of good oral health AND set them on a common sense frugal path, as well.

electric toothbrush

My Spinbrush Pro electric toothbrush came with a coupon for $1 off replacement heads. Watch for great deals like this on the packaging of your favorite dental health products!

  1. Electric toothbrushes are a good value over time.  They prevent brushing “too hard” which can wear away enamel (leaving teeth unprotected from decay) and can cause bleeding gums.  It isn’t necessary to scrub and press hard when using an electric toothbrush, so these problems which can lead to extra dental bills are more easily avoided.
  2. Manual toothbrushes simply cannot be made to achieve the number of strokes an electric toothbrush can reach in only a couple of minutes.  The sheer volume of brush strokes means the likelihood of your children doing a good and thorough job cleaning their teeth is much stronger with an electric toothbrush, than with a manual.
  3. Using rechargeable batteries or an electric toothbrush that has a charging stand is a cost effective way to have the benefits of an electric toothbrush without a big expense to power it.
  4. Electric toothbrushes used to be costly, luxury items, however there are many options, today, that are not much more than a manual toothbrush for the initial purchase and have replacement heads that are the same cost as a manual.  The superior cleaning results make them a great value, in spite of the initial one-time  investment.
  5. Floss.  I know, it seems like such a pain to teach kids to do this, but once they can do it correctly, the protection it affords their teeth will be an incalculable savings in your budget.  Floss will get into places a brush doesn’t go.  It removes plaque and build up, even just below the gumline.  It’s an important skill and habit.  For tips on proper flossing, visit this tutorial on the American Dental Hygienists Association site.  Teach your kids to floss, right before brushing, for the cleanest mouth and healthiest smile.
  6. Watch for sales and coupons on your favorite brands.  Our family loves the Arm and Hammer SpinBrush electric toothbrush options.  Right now, you can receive $4 off their Sonic Spinbrush Rechargeable!  I love high value coupons!
toothbrush coupon

$4 off a Sonic Spinbrush rechargeable electric toothbrush! Awesome coupon deal!

Good dental habits for yourself and your children, today, will save money for your family in unnecessary dental bills for a lifetime.  Those same good habits will also save the time that is necessary to correct problems that only a dentist can fix in a lengthy appointment at the office.  Invest time and money wisely, now, and you and your kids can have happy, healthy smiles always!

This is a sponsored post for Church & Dwight Co., Inc, the maker of ARM & HAMMER branded products, who is compensating me to try different products. Get a $4.00 coupon for ARM & HAMMER Spinbrush then head over to The Switch & Save Challenge where you can enter to win $25,000.

 

Who’s Sharing YOUR Toothbrush? and a $25 VISA Gift Card Giveaway @bhg

On August 30, 2011, in Budget-wise, Family Circus, Giveaways, Home and Garden, Reviews, by Glenda Embree

I can’t fool you.  As a mom of 5, I have obviously found a toddler or two running around with my toothbrush.  Oh don’t get me wrong, they weren’t sticking it in their mouth or anything — usually just sticking it in the toybox full of goobered toys or dropping it in the toilet or [...]

I can’t fool you.  As a mom of 5, I have obviously found a toddler or two running around with my toothbrush.  Oh don’t get me wrong, they weren’t sticking it in their mouth or anything — usually just sticking it in the toybox full of goobered toys or dropping it in the toilet or even brushing their doll’s hair.  – lol – When you’re a mom, you change your toothbrush often.  It’s just the way it is.  But I wonder, did you realize you shouldn’t be waiting for your dentist to hand you a new brush, every six months?  Toilets and doll hair aside, you should really be changing your toothbrush every three to four months, or even sooner, if the bristles become frayed (or you have a toddler :) ).

toothbrush

Wow! I think one or two of these could stand to be changed out and the covers are a definite no-no.

According to the American Dental Association, the human mouth harbors hundreds of different microorganisms.  So, your toddler may not be the only one you’re sharing your toothbrush with.  Normally, the body is able to defend itself against germs and organisms that may cause infections or illness because of all the awesome natural defenses that God has built right into our immune systems.  None of the ADA’s research has found any conclusive evidence that the bacteria growing in toothbrushes could cause systemic or oral health complications, but yikes!  Just knowing that there are microorganisms and bacteria growing in my toothbrush sort of gives me the heebie jeebies.  I definitely don’t want to give them a chance to colonize for extended periods of time, so every three month it is!

Fortunately, the ADA does have some recommendations for taking care of your toothbrushes that will minimize and help with bacterial growth.1

  1. Do not share toothbrushes. Sharing a toothbrush could result in an exchange of body fluids and/or microorganisms between the users of the toothbrush, placing the individuals involved at an increased risk for infections. This practice could be a particular concern for persons with compromised immune systems or existing infectious diseases.
  2. Thoroughly rinse toothbrushes with tap water after brushing to remove any remaining toothpaste and debris. Store the brush in an upright position if possible and allow the toothbrush to air-dry until used again. If more than one brush is stored in the same holder or area, keep the brushes separated to prevent cross-contamination.
  3. Do not routinely cover toothbrushes or store them in closed containers. A moist environment such as a closed container is more conducive to the growth of microorganisms than the open air. 
  4. Replace toothbrushes at least every 3–4 months. The bristles become frayed and worn with use and cleaning effectiveness will decrease. Toothbrushes will wear out more rapidly depending on factors unique to each patient. Check brushes often for this type of wear and replace them more frequently if needed. Children’s toothbrushes often need replacing more frequently than adult brushes.

There are all kinds of ideas for cleaning toothbrushes, floating around the Internet, but the ADA doesn’t really recommend actions like microwaving the toothbrush or running it through your dishwasher as a means of sterilization.  Both of these can actually damage the brush and reduce it’s life span.  Some common sense precautions are all that are necessary for keeping your toothbrush healthy for your mouth, remembering to replace it every 3 to 4 months being at the top of that list.  You could also rinse or soak it in an antibacterial mouth rinse.  Beyond that, following the care instructions listed above are the best options.

toothbrush

Arm and Hammer Spin Brush ProClean with dual action cleaning

In the interest of health and better brushing, we have purchased Arm & Hammer Spinbrush ProClean Toothbrushes for our entire family.  Replacement heads are no more costly than a manual toothbrush and I definitely know that our teeth are cleaned better with the dual action of those brush heads, which I can easily switch out, every three months.  It’s a good common sense approach to our oral hygiene and toothbrush care.

How often do you switch out your family’s toothbrushes?  Leave a comment below, with your answer, and you’ll be entered to win a $25 VISA Gift card!

 

Giveaway Rules:

You must be 18 or over and a US resident to enter.  Winner will be selected in a random drawing using random.org.  Deadline to enter is midnight (CST), Sunday, August 28, 2011.

Mandatory Entry:

how often do you change out your family’s toothbrushes?  Leave your answer in a comment below.

Optional Additional Entries:

  1. Like Arm and Hammer on Facebook and leave a comment to let me know you’ve done it.
  2. Follow Busy-at-Home on Twitter.  Leave a comment letting me know you’ve done it.
  3. Like Busy-at-Home on Facebook. Leave a comment letting me know you’ve done it.
  4. Follow Busy-at-Home on Google Friends Connect by clicking  the Join Button in the right-hand side bar.  Leave a comment letting me know you’ve done it.
  5. Subscribe to the Busy-at-Home Newsletter with this link or in the right-hand sidebar.  You will receive an email confirmation with a link that must be clicked to confirm your subscription.  Once you click the email link to confirm your subscription, leave me a comment to let me know you’ve done it.
  6. Tweet this giveaway (maximum of 1x per day, please).  Who’s Sharing YOUR Toothbrush?  Win a $25 VISA Gift Card from ARM & HAMMER @busyathome @bhg http://busy-at-home.com/blog/whos-sharing-your-toothbrush-and-a-25-visa-gift-card-giveaway-bhg/  Leave a comment below with a link to your tweet.
  7. Post this giveaway on your Facebook page.  Who’s Sharing YOUR Toothbrush?  Win a $25 VISA Gift Card from ARM & HAMMER @busyathome @bhg http://busy-at-home.com/blog/whos-sharing-your-toothbrush-and-a-25-visa-gift-card-giveaway-bhg/     Leave a comment below with a link to your post.

 

Reference:

1American Dental Association.  Statement on Toothbrush Care: Cleaning, Storage and Replacement.  [Online] Available http://www.ada.org/1887.aspx, November 2005.

 

This is a sponsored post for Church & Dwight Co., Inc, the maker of ARM & HAMMER branded products, who is compensating me to try different products. Get a $4.00 coupon for ARM & HAMMER Spinbrush then head over to The Switch & Save Challenge where you can enter to win $25,000.

 

What’s That Bzzzzing in the Bathroom? @bhg

On August 23, 2011, in Home and Garden, Reviews, by Glenda Embree

That soft, steady humming coming from our bathroom?  Teeth being brushed!  Score!  Anything that makes brushing more appealing and consistent is a definite winner in my book.  Add to that, that the Arm and Hammer Spinbrush ProClean Toothbrush does a significantly better job of cleaning teeth, than a manual toothbrush, and I’m a fan for [...]

That soft, steady humming coming from our bathroom?  Teeth being brushed!  Score!  Anything that makes brushing more appealing and consistent is a definite winner in my book.  Add to that, that the Arm and Hammer Spinbrush ProClean Toothbrush does a significantly better job of cleaning teeth, than a manual toothbrush, and I’m a fan for life!

electric toothbrush

My new Spinbrush ProClean toothbrush from Arm and Hammer. It even came with a free toothpaste sample and a coupon for refill heads!

toothpaste coupon

Complete instructions and a coupon included with the toothbrush.

The Arm and Hammer Spinbrush ProClean toothbrush has dual-action brushing technology.  That means you will get cleaning action moving in two different ways at once.  The round circular head at the top of the brush spins, cleaning and polishing, even between teeth; while the secondary brush moves up and down to scour away plaque and massage along the gumline.  Umm…up to 3700 brush strokes per minute?  Try doing that with a manual toothbrush.   (Just kidding.  No — really — don’t do it.  Your arm muscles will look really strange, when you’re done.  :) )  This special technology means that you can remove up to 70% more plaque than when brushing with a manual toothbrush!*

spinbrush head

The dual action head. It also comes with this handy-dandy dust cover, to keep it clean.

The Spinbrush ProClean uses 2 easy to replace AA batteries and comes in several different colors.  You can get them with soft or medium bristles and when the head becomes worn, you don’t just throw out the whole toothbrush.  Simply replace the head.

I love the polished feel of super clean teeth and the freshness of a clean mouth.  My toothbrush came with a sample of Arm and Hammer Advanced White Brilliant Sparkle toothpaste, which our family was converted to in a previous Switch and Save Challenge.  Combine that awesome whitening toothpaste with the cleaning and polishing power of the Spinbrush ProClean and our dentist is going to be happy and amazed when I take the kids in for checkups later this month.  That’s right, the kids.  I like these toothbrushes, so much, that we had to run out and get one for everyone in the family!  They think they’re fun and they like the way they clean, which translates to more consistent brushing without mom having to nag and remind.  Bzzzzing in the bathroom makes for healthier, brighter smiles.  Healthier brighter smiles makes for a happier mom.  Gotta love the bzzzz.   :)


*In hard-to-reach places. Data on file.

This is a sponsored post for Church & Dwight Co., Inc, the maker of ARM & HAMMER branded products, who is compensating me to try different products. Get a $4.00 coupon for ARM & HAMMER Spinbrush then head over to The Switch & Save Challenge where you can enter to win $25,000.

A Promise Kept: Arm and Hammer Advanced White Brilliant Sparkle Toothpaste @bhg

On July 19, 2011, in Budget-wise, Family Circus, Giveaways, Home and Garden, Reviews, by Glenda Embree

In a society that constantly bombards us with the idea that “truth is relative”, (I disagree, by the way), it’s a refreshing thing to find a company that delivers what it promises.  That’s how I’m feeling about Arm and Hammer after four weeks of using their Advanced White Brilliant Sparkle Toothpaste.  They didn’t promise that [...]

In a society that constantly bombards us with the idea that “truth is relative”, (I disagree, by the way), it’s a refreshing thing to find a company that delivers what it promises.  That’s how I’m feeling about Arm and Hammer after four weeks of using their Advanced White Brilliant Sparkle Toothpaste.  They didn’t promise that my teeth would be white in 2 hours or even in 14 days.  They didn’t require me to wear uncomfortable inserts or products for long periods in an attempt to bleach my teeth.  They simply stated that, “It safely polishes with micro-polishers for whiter and brighter teeth, and gently cleans away surface stains and penetrates tiny crevices to clean deep stains.”  So, what I expected was that over a period of time, with regular use, I could expect my teeth to be whiter than when I started using Arm and Hammer Advanced White Brilliant Sparkle Toothpaste.  That’s exactly what I got.  I couldn’t be more pleased!

Arm and Hammer Advanced White Brilliant Sparkle Toothpaste

My teeth aren’t PhotoShop white.  They never have been.  I was born with somewhat “off-white” teeth.  :)   They’re whiter than when I started and I have no reason to believe that won’t continue, as I move forward using the Arm and Hammer toothpaste.  I drink cola and iced tea on a daily basis.  Neither are best friends to dental health, but the stains are easily polished away with Advanced White Brilliant Sparkle.  I can still enjoy the drinks I like and have healthy, clean and whiter teeth.  Love it!  :)

My mouth is healthy and clean, using a product that delivers on its claims and leaves my teeth feeling dentist-office smooth.  It’s hard to beat that, but even better, my two younger kids are converts.  No one was more surprised than me, because they haven’t always been the most faithful with their oral hygiene, but they love Arm and Hammer toothpaste, meaning they are more consistent with their brushing.  For my youngest, especially, that’s HUGE!  The clean, smooth feel of her teeth and knowing they will get whiter and whiter as she continues to use it are inspiring great new habits in her.  I don’t know if it’s vanity or common sense, but the truth is, I don’t care.  She’s on a healthier path and that’s all good to me.

DIY is a fabulous way to save money, whether you are doing projects around the house or whitening your teeth.  Professional bleaching or whitening at the dentist office is incredibly expensive.  Do it yourself at home and put the dollars saved toward something fun for your family.  Also, from my previous two posts, you know there is more to toothpaste than meets the “tooth”, so to speak.  I used it to polish jewelry and to hang a shelf with impressive speed and accuracy, if I do say so myself.  Many of you shared other great tips and uses for toothpaste, on those posts, as well.  One product that does many jobs is always a good idea and a definite budget stretcher.

I was thrilled to find a $1 coupon attached to boxes of Arm and Hammer Advanced White Brilliant Sparkle when I ran to pick up another tube, today at my local Wal-Mart.  I did a little comparison shopping with the other major brand whitening toothpastes, while I was there, and found that not only was Arm and Hammer the same or less in price, but the tube contained 7.2 oz of toothpaste.  Other brands were 6 oz or less for the same or higher prices.  Brilliant!  It does what it says at the same or better price and gives me more in the package.  Seems like a bargain to me.  Hustle out to your local pharmacy or store and see if you can find the tubes with the Switch and Save $1 coupon, too.  You can do something great for your family’s dental health and save money in the process.  That makes you frugal AND smart!  :)   (I already knew that about you.)

Arm and Hammer is not only a trusted household name, but they are also incredibly generous.  They are once again sponsoring a $25 VISA Gift Card giveaway, here at Busy-at-Home.  Entry couldn’t be easier!

Giveaway Rules:

You must be 18 or over and a US resident to enter.  Winner will be selected in a random drawing using random.org.  Deadline to enter is midnight (CST), Sunday, July 31, 2011.

 

Mandatory Entry:

What’s your best tip for encouraging great dental health in kids OR your best household tip for toothpaste?  Leave your answer in a comment below.

Optional Additional Entries:

  1. Like Arm and Hammer on Facebook and leave a comment to let me know you’ve done it.
  2. Follow Busy-at-Home on Twitter.  Leave a comment letting me know you’ve done it.
  3. Like Busy-at-Home on Facebook. Leave a comment letting me know you’ve done it.
  4. Follow Busy-at-Home on Google Friends Connect by clicking  the Join Button in the right-hand side bar.  Leave a comment letting me know you’ve done it.
  5. Subscribe to the Busy-at-Home Newsletter with this link or in the right-hand sidebar.  You will receive an email confirmation with a link that must be clicked to confirm your subscription.  Once you click the email link to confirm your subscription, leave me a comment to let me know you’ve done it.
  6. Tweet this giveaway (maximum of 1x per day, please).  Learn the frugal way to a whiter smile AND win a $25 VISA Gift Card from Arm and Hammer and @busyathome @bhg http://ow.ly/5D3O4   Leave a comment below with a link to your tweet.
  7. Post this giveaway on your Facebook page.  Learn the frugal way to a whiter smile AND win a $25 VISA Gift Card from Arm and Hammer and @busyathome @bhg http://ow.ly/5D3O4 Leave a comment below with a link to your post.

This is a sponsored post for Church & Dwight Co., Inc, the maker of ARM & HAMMER branded products, who is compensating me to try different products. Sign up for a free sample of Advance White Brilliant Sparkle Toothpaste. And then head over to The Switch & Save Challenge to keep up with all of the bloggers and enter to win $25,000.