Powered Toothbrush Bargain

Oral-B 3D Battery Toothbrush

Li-ion rechargeable AA battery is the secret!

There are many different powered toothbrushes on the market, ranging from inexpensive battery powered to expensive rechargeable models.

In truth, there is no meaningful difference in cleaning action between the best inexpensive battery powered models with fresh batteries and the expensive rechargeable models. The principal difference is the power source.

Inexpensive battery powered toothbrushes typically use disposable AA or AAA batteries, an ongoing cost and waste issue. Worse, as the disposable battery discharges, the voltage drops and the toothbrush slows down.

The solution is to use the latest Li-ion technology in standard AA format, ideally with USB-C recharging!

• 

  Li-ion Rechargeable AA Batteries

  Constant battery voltage = constant brushing power 
• High battery power capacity
• Long battery life (1,000 recharges)
• Quick, convenient battery recharging 
• Li-ion tech is superior to older NiMH (and NiCd) tech

Recommended Products

1. Oral-B 3D White Battery Toothbrush 
2. CARDIENS AA USB rechargeable batteries 
3. Toothpaste Worth the Money 

Moral: Why spend $100-$200 instead of only $10-$20?!

Toothpaste Worth the Money

Colgate Optic White

The Toothpaste Gimmick

Most "whitening" toothpastes on the market are a marketing illusion. They don't bleach away stains—they just clean with mild abrasives.

Colgate Optic White (Advanced & Pro Series) is what actually works:

• Real Whitening: Uses hydrogen peroxide to safely bleach away stains.
• 5% Pro: Powerful starter. One tube is all you need.
• 2% Advanced: Perfect for ongoing use.
• No Oral Health Compromise: Includes cleaning agents and cavity protection.
• Smart Tube Design: Engineered to keep out air for better product and less waste.

Moral: Pay for actual chemistry and tube design, not marketing fluff.

p.s. Don't fall for the Colgate Optic White Pro Series Powered Toothbrush—
it's not as good as the Oral-B 3D White Battery Toothbrush.

Electric Shaver Lubricant

Squalane Oil

Squalane Oil

To maintain your electric shaver in top condition it's important to regularly clean and lubricate it. The most common recommended lubricants are made from refined mineral oil, but they have two drawbacks:

• Mineral oil can cause skin irritation.
• They can be hard to clean up.

The secret lubrication alternative is squalane, a natural plant-derived oil that's good for your skin in addition to being good for your shaver, with high heat stability and viscosity. Plus it's inexpensive, available for only about $10 (e.g., at Target).

Rapid COVID Test 2022

Roche Pilot home COVID test

Previous post: Rapid COVID Test

Roche Pilot at home COVID test at CVS

• Previously available in Europe and U.S. government distribution.
• Clinical study results [excellent]: 
• False-negative rate of 6.8%.
• False-positive rate of 0%.
• CVS to stock it.
• New #1 recommendation, dropping ACON FlowFlex to (close) #2.

Rapid COVID Test

Flowflex COVID test

Rapid COVID tests help prevent transmission and community spread.

To do your own rapid COVID test at home, there are two tricky parts:

1. Choosing a test that can detect the new omicron variant.
   We don't yet have enough data to be sure, but these seem the best bets based on what we know now (in priority order):
1. Flowflex. Latest technology, only a single test required, just $10. Recommended.
2. iHealth. Two tests required, $18 on Amazon.
3. QuickVue. Two tests required, $24 for a kit.
4. BinaxNOW. Similar to QuickVue,
    
2. Finding them in stock.
• Try: Amazon, CVS,* Rite Aid, Target, Walgreens, Walmart.
• * CVS:
1. Open test product page on CVS website; e.g., Flowflex.
2. Click Check nearby stores.
3. Enter ZIP code and select Show stores where this item is available.
4. Call store to be sure, ideally when it first opens.

References

• Statement on the Omicron Variant - ACON Labs Inc.
• iHealth Statement on the COVID-19 Omicron Variant and Its At-Home Test Kit's Effectiveness
• SARS-CoV-2 Viral Mutations: Impact on COVID-19 Tests | FDA

KF94 Masks for COVID-19

LG Airwasher

Previous post: COVID-19 Masks

While (genuine) N95 (USA) and KN95 (China) masks are still recommended, another good option is KF94, the Korean equivalent to N95 and KN95. Important reasons:

• Readily available
• Designed for extended wear
• Inexpensive

TL;DR: Top recommendation: LG Airwasher KF94 Disposable Face Mask

Reasons:

1. High filtration
2. Good fit and sealing (excellent nose wire, adjustable earloops)
3. Easy breathing and talking
4. Lightweight
5. Comfortable
6. 3D shape (will not collapse onto nose or mouth)
7. Does not fog glasses
8. Inexpensive (reusable, replace weekly)
9. Authentic

Runner Up:

• BOTN KOREA: KF94

References & Data (lots of data):

• Some Covid masks are better than others. I know – I’m the Mask Nerd | Aaron Collins | The Guardian
• Aaron Collins - YouTube (A mechanical engineer by day, Collins’ master’s degree research focused on aerosols)
• KF94/KN95 Mask Test and Review - Bluna FaceFit, LG Airwasher, Dr. Puri Black and More! - YouTube
  
• Current Top Mask Picks & Kids Masks - YouTube
  
• Master Mask Testing Data Set

Allergy Relief

Get Relief and Save Money with these Unbiased Recommendations 

There are so many allergy relief products on the market with extravagant and competing claims, often at high prices, that it's hard to figure out what really works and is still a good value. Part of the problem is that so many online recommendations are essentially just paid promotions. By comparison, no incentives, fees or commissions are earned from these recommendations.

Important Notes

1. This is not medical advice. Check with your own doctor.
2. Different products may work better for you. 
3. Generics work just as well as branded but cost less.
4. OTC: over the counter, available without prescription.
5. Prices current as of May 2021.
6. Buy online only from reputable major sellers because counterfeits are a huge problem.

Recommendations

• Allergic Rhinitis (hay fever) (OTC)
• Fexofenadine (generic Allegra™): 180 mg tablet gives non-drowsy 24-hour relief.
  
• Welmate Allergy Relief 100 Count at Amazon.com for $16.95
• MHL Allergy Relief 100 Count at Amazon.com for $17.95
• Fluticasone (generic Flonase™): nasal spray gives 24-hour relief from nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, and runny nose.
• Kirkland Signature Aller-Flo 50mcg Allergy Spray, 5 Bottles at Costco.com for $22.99 (no membership required)
• Ketotifen (generic Zaditor™): 12-hour eye itch relief.
• Alaway Eye Itch Relief Antihistamine Eye Drops 0.34 fl oz at Walgreens for $13.99 (discount coupons may be available)
• Skin Allergies (OTC)
• Hydrocortisone Cream
• Kirkland Signature Hydrocortisone 1% PLUS Anti-Itch Cream, 8oz (4 2oz tubes) at Costco.com for $7.49 (no membership required)
• Allergic Asthma (prescription only)
• Fluticasone (generic AirDuo™): 12-hour relief, 30-day supply (60 doses), very effective, excellent inhaler.
• GoodRX coupons for CVS and Walgreens as low as $31.33
• Albuterol (generic now available): treat and prevent bronchospasm,
• GoodRX coupons for Safeway, CVS and Walgreens as low as $18.27

All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners.

All company, product and service names are used for identification purposes only.

Blood Pressure

Managing hypertension can help ensure a long healthy life.

Omron BP652N

Why It's Important

From the CDC: "High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, both of which are leading causes of death in the US. Nearly one-third of all American adults have high blood pressure and more than half of them don’t have it under control..."

When your blood pressure is high:

• You are 4 times more likely to die from a stroke
• You are 3 times more likely to die from heart disease

While your doctor should help you manage your blood pressure on every regular visit, it can actually be more effective to keep track of your blood pressure at home.

What To Know

1. Most of the many devices on the market are not validated for accuracy.
2. Validation standard is ±10mm hg, which is seriously unhelpful.
3. Stick to established brands with a reputation for accuracy.
4. For best results, take 3 consecutive readings at 1 minute intervals, and average them.
5. Supermarket and drugstore machines are often not maintained for accuracy.
6. Doctor's office readings are often too high (white coat hypertension) or too low (masked hypertension).

What To Look For

1. Accuracy.
2. Automatic (rather than manual) operation.
3. Ease of use.
4. Flexible, comfortable cuff with good fit.
5. Quiet, gentle operation.
6. Averaging of 3 readings.

Recommended Devices

• Omron. Validated accurate to ±3mm hg. Recommended in Consumer Reports. Series 7 is the sweet spot.
• BP6350. Wrist model. Compact, comfortable, quiet, and accurate. Prior model BP652N is as good and may be less expensive.
• BP5250 (Silver). Upper arm model. 
• Equate. Walmart brand, Check eBay for best prices.
• 4000 (eBay). Upper arm model. Basic version.
• 6000 (eBay). Upper arm model. Standard version.
• 8000 (eBay). Upper arm model. Full featured version.

Recommended Reading

• High Blood Pressure | CDC
• Understanding Blood Pressure Readings | American Heart Association
• Best Blood Pressure Monitor Reviews – Consumer Reports
• Blood Pressure Monitors - Medaval (Irish medical device certification)
• Your Blood Pressure Machine Readings are Garbage. Here is How To Fix Them. | Dr. Mike Kuna's Blog

COVID-19 Masks

UPDATE: Genuine made in USA NIOSH approved N95 masks now available:

• Direct from the manufacturer: DemeTECH
• HALYARD (medical grade): Amazon
• Kimtech (Kimberly-Clark): Amazon
• KN95: AccuMed BNX: Amazon

Face masks are a crucial part of minimizing the spread of deadly COVID-19 infection, but poor, fake masks have flooded the market and are a huge problem, thanks to incompetence of the Trump administration, which:

• Failed to update early temporary mask guidance. (Ordinary cloth masks are not terribly effective.)
• Provided little guidance to consumers on how to obtain affordable high-quality masks.

The good news is that genuine, affordable, high-quality masks are now readily available. The bad news is that it's hard to distinguish good from bad.

• The best masks meet the USA N95 standard, but those are still in short supply.
• Good alternatives are those that meet the comparable Chinese KN95 standard.

How to Tell Genuine KN95 Masks

1. Manufacturer appears on the FDA PPE EUA list.
2. Masks (not just packaging) are branded with a China KN95 standard:
• Medical: GB19083-2010
• Non-medical (but still effective against COVID-19): GB2626-2006, GB2626-2019

How to Avoid Fake Masks

1. Manufacturer does not appear on the FDA PPE EUA list.
2. Masks are not branded with a China KN95 standard (listed above).
3. Masks claimed to be GB19083-2010 but "non-medical" (since that is a medical standard).

Tips

• Best filtration is melt-blown fabric in a multi-layer sandwich.
• Carbon filtering is not effective against COVID-19.
• Avoid masks with valves, because they are less effective against spreading infection.

Genuine KN95 Masks

1. Powecom KN95 Protective Face Mask (10-Pack) (white)
2. Chengde Technology KN95 Face Mask 20Pcs (white)
3. ChiSpi KN95 Face Mask 20Pcs (colors)
4. ChiSpi KN95 Face Mask 60Pcs (white)
5. Hotodeal KN95 Face Mask 40 PCs (white)

Disclaimer: Provided as public service, accuracy not guaranteed.

Treatment of Cold Sores

Cold sores (also known as fever blisters, herpes labialis / orolabial herpes viral infections), small lesions that form on or near the lips, can be unpleasant or even painful. They normally run their course and heal in about 2 weeks, but the duration and severity of outbreaks can be significantly decreased with proper medication.

In addition to prescription antivirual drugs like Acyclovir, heavily promoted treatments include Abreva, Releev and Viroxyn (all relatively expensive at $20 and up). What really matters, of course, is the active ingredient, not the brand name. The active ingredient in Abreva is Docosanol (behenyl alcohol); in Releev and Viroxyn it's benzalkonium chloride, which was found to be more effective than Docosanol in a recent study.

So is benzalkonium chloride a new wonder drug? No, it's the active ingredient in classic Bactine, which has been around since 1950. In other words, inexpensive Bactine is as effective in treating cold sores as these newer, more heavily promoted, more expensive medications.

For best results, cold sores should be treated at the earliest signs, typically a tingling in the skin, and the treatment should be worked into (penetrate) the skin. The drawback to Bactine is that it's a liquid, so working it into the skin is inconvenient, but there are gel products with the same active ingredient that are easy to apply effectively:

• Tecnu First Aid Antiseptic Pain-Relieving Gel ($10 at Walgreens)
  Extra strength (0.20% versus standard 0.13%), easily absorbed, recommended.
• Scar Zone Topical Analgesic and Antiseptic Burn Gel ($5.50 at Walgreens)
  Standard strength, least expensive.

For related information, see Cold Sore Relief Scam.

Tip: Benzalkonium chloride is also effective in treating acne. Acne treatments by Neutrogena with benzalkonium chloride are recommended.