I’m talking about Reach Total Care Floss. I know, odd, perhaps, but this is pretty cool… for a floss.

Background. My teeth shred dental floss like a cotton gin. Maybe they’re too close together, though my dentist says that’s impossible. The thread kind is too thick and the tape kind is too breakable. So when this Reach stuff showed up in a package from Johnson & Johnson, I was skeptical. Really? A new floss? Pshaw!

But it’s true. The stuff works better than most. It hasn’t broken once since I’ve started running it between my canines and bicuspids.

The floss is covered with “micro-grooves” that push away plaque “like a squeegee.” (Their words.) I will say my teeth feel clean and squeegee-d, so something is working.

Oh yeah, the Listerine flavors. Scary if we talking about jawbreakers or popsicles. But in floss, it’s kind of perfect. The mint is a little sharp not sweet, just how I like it.

Reach Total Care Floss with Listerine, Mint, $2.99 (30 yrds), visit drugstore.com —Aaron Krach

What is the safest way to whiten your teeth at home?
Custom trays made by the dentist gives the safest and best results.

Is it dangerous to use whitening products all the time?
Whiteners should always be used in moderation. Whitening too often can cause sensitivity and make the enamel chemistry change. You can become more vulnerable to staining because it never has a chance to recover. It’s best to use my patented peroxide-free intelliWHiTE Stain Eraser in between whitenings.

How often can I safely use whitening strips?
I recommend using one two-week treatment every two to three months max.

How does peroxide work?
Peroxide breaks down into active oxygen and goes into the tubes of the teeth to remove built up stains. If used in moderation it is very safe.

There are so many whitening toothpastes, rinses, gels, pens and strips out there, what should I use?
Of the over the counter products available at your drugstore, Crest Whitestrips are the best—but all of the drugstore products have drawbacks.

My toothpaste says its whitening but I’ve been brushing for months but they are still the same shade of mellow yellow. Why aren’t they getting any whiter?
Most pastes that claim to be whitening just remove surface stains from your teeth…it isn’t actually whitening them. The paste should list hydrogen peroxide in its ingredients for it to truly whiten.

How can I get movie star white teeth like George Clooney?
He had porcelain veneers done recently.

What’s the difference between the at-home white strips and the treatments in a dentist’s office?
The in office treatment is 35% peroxide and can be done in 45 minutes. The at-home strips are about 6% peroxide and take two weeks to get similar results.

Why are my teeth so damn sensitive after using whitening strips?
The store-bought strips are not custom shaped to your teeth and contact gum tissue slightly. If you use Sensodyne toothpaste for a week before you start whitening and while you whiten, your teeth won’t feel so sensitive.

I drink a lot of red wine and coffee, and I smoke like a chimney. Are my dreams of having white teeth ruined?
Not at all. Just use my intelliWHiTE Stain Eraser right after drinking or smoking and the stain will instantly be captured and buffed away!

What is the biggest mistake guys make when they try to whiten their teeth?
They overdo it!

intelliWHiTE Stain Eraser, $19.99, visit Rxbright.com

The Sonicare FlexCare brush with UV Sanitizer not only provides a deep clean using super-fast moving bristles (31,000 brush strokes per minute, to be exact) that deliver a high-powered sonic scrub to break up debris wedged between teeth, but it includes a UV Sanitizer to keep your brushes squeaky clean and bacteria-free between uses. Let’s see your manual brush do that!

Philips Sonicare knows everything about your dirty little secrets. Their recent research with GfK Roper found that 54 percent of Americans will reuse their toothbrush after it falls on the floor—even after 57 percent identified the bathroom floor as the area in their house with the most bacteria. Half of Americans said they’d share their toothbrush with their partner, spouse, friend or family member. Nine percent of men even admitted to using their toothbrush after it fell in the toilet! Dirty boys! That UV Sanitizer sounds like a great idea right about now.

The FlexCare also includes various features to note:
—Three modes of scrubbing in strengths to suit your mouth’s needs: Clean, Sensitive and Massage.
—Two cleansing routines for in-between scrubs—so you can give your mouth a quick once-over before your hot date comes over for a different kind of quickie or anytime between your deeper, three-minute cleanings.
—Improved brush head design to attack more plaque.
—Ultraviolet Sanitizer zaps 99% of bacteria in just 10 minutes between uses. And an automatic shut-off timer will conserve your energy bills.

Philips Sonicare FlexCare, $179, Amazon.com

Probiotic bacteria, Lactobacillus anti-caries, in gum have been tested in hundreds of people and have been proven to reduce the concentration of naughty bacteria in your mouth that cause tooth decay. You’ll still have to brush and floss regularly, but it will help reduce your cavities.

Dr Andreas Reindl of BASF said: “The effectiveness has been demonstrated and the first oral hygiene products containing probiotic lactobacilli are scheduled to appear in 2007.”

Probiotic bacteria is also being tested to reduce body odor by using Lactobacillus anti-caries in deodorant. This might sound a bit gross, but we have friendly bacteria living all over our bodies.