Dental Health Magazine Dental Health Magazine Issue 7

36 Issue #7, September 2017 Issue #7, September2017 HOW TO VOICE OUT YOUR OPINION IN A DENTAL CLINIC Patient’s Grievance Mechanism We have designed an informative poster showing the procedure in which the patient (you) can voice out your opinions through proper channels to ensure continuous quality assurance. Copyright© Dentistsnearby. Kindly email us at inquiry@ dentistsnearby.com if you would like to reproduce this content digitally or physically in any form. H OAX FACT OR By Dr. Davina N. Kaur (Dentist, SC Glenmarie) Healthy toothpaste shown by colour coding on tube edges? I have been asked numerous times from my patients about this claim, which they came across from the internet and social media networks since early last year. The content of the main message suggests that people should choose “healthy” and “natural” toothpastes based on the colour of the squares shown at the bottom on the crimp. Other versions say the same about all other tubes in general - that from those colours of squares, one can know if the contents are natural or chemical based. These claims are hoax! These coloured square marks found on most tubes are NOT meant to convey the chemical composition of the contents but they are just “eye marks”, a term used in most modern technical packaging processes, to perform tasks like “telling” the electronic machines where to cut or crimp the tube. Eye mark register An “eye mark register” is a printed rectangular mark most often found along the boundary of the product. The mark identifies a point on the web where an individual package is to be cut. The eye mark register is similar to the printed luggage tags that are on our suitcase handles before checking them in at the airport, so that the baggage consoles can read the markings and direct the bag to the respective channel and flight. These eye marks are sometimes referred to as eye spots in the manufacturing industry and are no way related to the chemical contents of the tube. The various colours used are purely based on choice, and for the ease of packaging and printing by the machine sensors. Almost all tubes have such markings, though they may not always be visible to consumers. Separately, some of the claims also indicate that certain colours means something eg, green means “natural”, whereas black means “pure chemical”. However, there are many other colours on tubes eg, blue, pink and purple that were not verified in the claims. In conclusion, these square coloured markings on the bottom crimp of toothpastes and other tubes have nothing to do with its chemical composition. If one needs to know this information, the best way is to look for the ingredient list printed on the tube. If i t is not listed on the tube, you may contact the manufacturer directly or go to their website and search for the product information. 37

Dental Health Magazine Dental Health Magazine Issue 7 | Page 36