So, I'm watching TV...

[conuly]

(I mean, I'm not, but I was, and am now using the historical present... I mean, I was using the historical present, but now I'm using the present present... I'll be in the historical present again soon, though. Promise)

...and a commercial comes on (SEE? HISTORICAL PRESENT, BABY!) for Crest Toothpaste, now "clinically proven to be more effective" in whitening teeth, preventing cavities, saving cute puppies, I don't know what.

This leads to an interesting question. More effective than what? Than the competitor? Than they used to be? Than wishing, praying, hoping? They don't say.

All this leads to the deepseated suspicion that the answer is "than doing nothing", of course. Remind me not to buy the new Crest toothpaste anytime soon. It may not be false advertising, but it sure is deceptive.

Comments

[ancarett]

Toothpaste buying. You don't know how fraught with anxiety that is in our household. Youngest has this as one of her sensory problems. Until then, I never knew how often toothpaste companies tweak formulas and drop old products. (And introduce the most horrifying new flavours in the guise of kid-friendly products.) I have finally found that plain, ordinary Crest toothpaste is bearable for her. I think I might buy out a few cases just to be safe.

So the claim may be bogus (I suspect your reading is correct), but dang if it doesn't seem better than two weeks of taste-testing new brands!

[xiggaroo.livejournal.com]

Oh man, my younger sister is really really particular about which toothpastes she will use. Right now it's those two in one mouthwash/toothpaste things... but ONLY the green one. It is helllll in the off chance we run out.

[maladaptive.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. Oh yes. I know that pain well.

Deodorant companies LOVED doing that to me. "Hey, where'd this rash come from....?"

[rainbow-goddess.livejournal.com]

They proobably mean "More effective than it was before."

[kayt-arminta.livejournal.com]

problem is, they often use those same terms with brand new products. Crest isn't the only one that does it. i always ask "better then what?" and try to stay away from those products. they scare me.

[conuly]

No, they probably don't. Quite often, when advertisers use phrases like that, they mean "more effective than water alone" or "more effective than nothing".

[rachelkachel]

I've recently realized the amusing contradiction in the phrase "New and improved". Either it's new, or it's improved from a previous version - you can't have both.

[conuly]

Oh, I know! I hate that phrase!

[ancarett]

Toothpaste buying. You don't know how fraught with anxiety that is in our household. Youngest has this as one of her sensory problems. Until then, I never knew how often toothpaste companies tweak formulas and drop old products. (And introduce the most horrifying new flavours in the guise of kid-friendly products.) I have finally found that plain, ordinary Crest toothpaste is bearable for her. I think I might buy out a few cases just to be safe.

So the claim may be bogus (I suspect your reading is correct), but dang if it doesn't seem better than two weeks of taste-testing new brands!

[xiggaroo.livejournal.com]

Oh man, my younger sister is really really particular about which toothpastes she will use. Right now it's those two in one mouthwash/toothpaste things... but ONLY the green one. It is helllll in the off chance we run out.

[maladaptive.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. Oh yes. I know that pain well.

Deodorant companies LOVED doing that to me. "Hey, where'd this rash come from....?"

[rainbow-goddess.livejournal.com]

They proobably mean "More effective than it was before."

[kayt-arminta.livejournal.com]

problem is, they often use those same terms with brand new products. Crest isn't the only one that does it. i always ask "better then what?" and try to stay away from those products. they scare me.

[conuly]

No, they probably don't. Quite often, when advertisers use phrases like that, they mean "more effective than water alone" or "more effective than nothing".

[rachelkachel]

I've recently realized the amusing contradiction in the phrase "New and improved". Either it's new, or it's improved from a previous version - you can't have both.

[conuly]

Oh, I know! I hate that phrase!