Why you only need to spend 25p on toothpaste - but splash out on a toothbrush

From deep heat gel to throat lozenges, we spend a whopping £3.5 billion each year on over-the-counter health products. But should you scrimp on budget remedies or spend more on big-name brands? Here, the experts give their verdict...

TOOTHPASTE: SCRIMP

It's easy to spend a small fortune on toothpaste. But surprisingly dentists insist there's little difference between budget products - such as Tesco Everyday Value Toothpaste, 25p for 75ml - and premium brands, such as Blanx White Shock Toothpaste, £5 for 75ml.

'The key thing for healthy teeth is fluoride, which makes tooth enamel more resistant to acid attack and in turn decay,' says Dr Ben Atkins, principal dentist at Revive Dental Care in Manchester. 'Most of the own-brand toothpastes have about the same amount as the expensive makes - check the packets.'

Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association, agrees. 'Toothpaste is just a vehicle to make the mouth feel good and have flavour - fluoride is the ingredient you want to check.'

If you're buying pricey brands with special claims, it's worth seeing your dentist first, he adds. 'Many toothpastes have extra ingredients such as potassium nitrate to reduce sensitivity, but if sensitivity is down to a cavity, toothpaste won't help. Equally, discolouration can be caused by smoking or drinking tea.

'For whiter teeth, you'd do better to address these than waste money on whitening toothpaste.'

TOOTHBRUSHES: SPEND

A BASIC toothbrush such as Tesco's Everyday Value Toothbrush, 18p for two, is just as effective as an electric one if used properly for two minutes. But, in practice, few people do, says Dr Atkins. 'Research has shown people are more motivated to brush their teeth for the correct period if they have an electric toothbrush.'

Electric toothbrushes range in price, from £35 to £250. If you must use a manual brush, don't use the very cheap ones, adds Professor Damien Walmsley.

'Something with a brand on will have been through years of research,' he says. 'Some cheap toothbrushes have large, oblong heads with bristles all the same length. Evidence shows a compact, round head with different-length bristles is the best.'

EYE DROPS: SPEND

Eye drops cost from £2 to £12, but you get what you pay for, say Francesca Marchetti, a West Midlands optometrist and spokesperson for the College of Optometrists.

'Always look for preservative-free eye drops, which tend to be slightly more expensive. Used frequently, preservatives can damage the delicate cells on the eye's surface or cause inflammation, which can dry the eyes even more. You can also develop an allergy to preservatives, making eyes itchy and red.'

Ms Marchetti recommends  products such as Hyabak or Hycosan Eye Drops, which cost around £8 and last two months.

'The slightly more expensive products also have a good amount of hyaluronic acid, the lubricant that provides relief from dry eye,' she adds.

'And they have a good pump dispenser - some cheaper bottles are rock hard, which makes them difficult to use.'

 

 

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It's a question of finding one that suits you, whether that's antacid or liquid

HEARTBURN CURES: SCRIMP

Pharmacies offer a wide range of treatments for indigestion - when stomach acid splashes up into the oesophagus or gullet, causing pain in the chest or stomach. Antacids neutralise acid in the stomach, while liquids form a protective layer on top of the stomach contents to stop them seeping into the oesophagus.

Rennie Extra Tablets, promising to 'get to work in two minutes', cost £4.39 for 24 - Boots own-brand antacids cost just £1.79 for 24. Meanwhile, Gaviscon Advance Peppermint Liquid is £8.79 for 300ml, compared with Sainsbury's own version, £3.75 for 300ml.

'It's a question of finding one that suits you, whether that's antacid or liquid,' says Ash Soni, a spokesperson for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

'But there's no evidence that the higher priced, branded versions are any better.  The generic own-brand versions of liquids are generally just as effective - they just don't always taste as nice.'

SORE THROAT REMEDIES: SPEND

Don't waste money on over-the-counter lozenges for sore throat, says Mr Soni. 'The lozenges contain mild antiseptics to kill bacteria, but they're basically just sweets. However, they can lubricate your throat if it's a bit dry.

'Throat sprays tend to be more expensive, but for a really sore throat they're the best choice.'

Sprays, such as Dual Action Covonia Throat Spray, £5.29, tend to have higher doses of antiseptic ingredients than lozenges, along with anaesthetic qualities, too. More powerful throat lozenges are available from behind the pharmacist's counter, Mr Soni adds.

PAIN RELIEVING  GELS: SCRIMP

For joint and back pain, gels containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or diclofenac can provide effective relief, says Mr Soni.

But cheaper products with just a cooling ingredient like menthol, or a heating ingredient (such as Deep Heat, £3 for 67g), can work just as well. Rather than acting on the cause of the pain, these stimulate the nerves at the surface of the skin, effectively blocking muscle pain.

'People often report more relief with these than with just plain painkiller gels,' he says.

However, it does depend on your injury - for fast pain relief, a cooling or heating product may be sufficient, but if you have an inflammatory condition such as, say, tennis elbow, use an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen.

'There's Voltarol gel [£12.99] which contains diclofenac - some evidence has shown this to be very effective,' says Mr Soni. Voltarol is the only one of its kind on the market - there is no generic, cheaper product available.

SUN CREAM: SCRIMP

 

 

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If you do buy a cheaper sun cream, make sure it has a UVB and UVA protection - an SPF of 15 or over

Each summer the sun cream industry launches a raft of new products. Prices range from £1.49 for Superdrug Solait, 200ml, to £24.99 for the same quantity of Riemann P20 Sun Protection.

But Dr Tabi Leslie, consultant dermatolgist at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, advises that rather than worrying about price, 'you simply have to find what's right for you and easiest  to apply'.

'If you do buy a cheaper sun cream, make sure it has a UVB and UVA protection - an SPF of 15 or over and a five-star rating.'

She is not convinced by the  one-application sun creams,  such as Riemann P20, that  cost more but promise less need for reapplying.

'Sweating and swimming affect the efficacy, so you'll still need to apply frequently in the sun.'

THERMOMETERS: SCRIMP

Thermometers with a  digital display cost as little as £5, and for general use these should be more than sufficient, says Mr Soni.

'But for a child under five, or an  elderly person, the more costly ear thermometers are better.

'They take temperature more rapidly and it can be hard getting a baby to keep a thermometer in their mouth.'

Ear thermometers cost  about £30.

ANTISEPTICS: SCRIMP

Antiseptic products cleanse bacteria from damaged skin, preventing infection and encouraging  healing. 'There are loads of anti-septic creams and products, from £2 to £8, but very little difference between them,' says Mr Soni. 'Generally, go with your trusted brand,  as psychology is important.'

PREGNANCY TESTS: SCRIMP

Pregnancy tests range in price from £1.25 to £12, but they all work by checking for the presence of the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), in urine.

'The cheap tests are just as effective, but harder to interpret,' says Mr Soni. 'They'll give you a line whereas higher end ones like Clear Blue say "yes" or "no". If you feel unsure, it may be useful to buy the slightly more expensive ones.'

Some tests also tell you how many weeks pregnant you are. The ClearBlue Digital Pregnancy Test with Conception Indicator costs £13.99 for two. Scans will reveal this information anyway, adds Mr Soni.

VITAMINS: SCRIMP

Whether multivitamins and supplements make any difference to health remains a point of contention. But some brands cost as much as £23 for 180 tablets.

There's no hard evidence showing expensive multivitamins are superior, says George Lewith, professor of health research at the University of Southampton and a former GP.

'Packaging is probably a sizeable part of the expense,' he adds.  'Look for something that's not just sold in the UK but also made here, or in the EU, so you know it's been produced in a controlled environment.'

PS: DONT WASTE MONEY ON PRICEY PARACETAMOL

Branded painkillers can cost up to 11 times more than non-branded versions - yet usually contain exactly the same active ingredients at the same dosage.

And don't bother with faster-acting pills, those containing caffeine or promising to target period pain - experts say all painkillers must be broken down in the same way, so differences are marginal. 

'In the majority of cases, budget paracetamol or ibuprofen will work just as well,' says Mr Soni.