Flipper Museum

Dear readers, seasons greetings! We recently came back from the 2011 IDA Congress in Taipei where global thought leaders expounded on the topics of design, urban planning and consumption culture. What stood out for us was a renewed sense of how in this milieau of behavioral economics, products and technology are increasingly embracing human nuances, working with rather than against our quirks and habits. The theme for this issue is ‘Design for Humans’. We’ll share why a humanistic approach may just be the key that turns automatic into auto-magic. Read more.

Looking to create a ‘seamless’ user experience? What exactly goes on behind it? We share our thoughts in this issue of Orcarina. Read more.

今日では、２５％以上の子供たちが５本以上の治療済である歯があります。多くの場合、それらの治療は虫歯によるものです。子供たちは幼いときから、これに対抗するためにも良好な口腔衛生を保護者が教えなくてはいけません。米国ボストン小児病院のウン医師は、保護者が子供に自分自身で歯ブラシをする習慣づけが大切だと言っています。

しかし、実際には子供たちにとって歯ブラシはとても退屈で面倒な毎日の習慣作業です。子供たちのそうした反応は珍しいことではなく、それを教える保護者との洗面所での忍耐と戦いでもあります。そこでフリッパーは遊びと楽しさの要素を取り入れるツールとして活用することができます。簡単で手軽にその歯ブラシのきっかけ作りになります。考えすぎることなく、まずは試しに使ってみてください。きっと簡単に楽しい時間になると思います。

1. 楽しい「トゥースフェアリー」のビデオ

歌もある歯ブラシアニメーションをご覧ください。歯ブラシを楽しくさせる工夫を凝らした内容になっています。

2. お子様といっしょに歯ブラシを・・

パパ、ママも一緒にお子様と歯ブラシタイムを過ごすことは貴重な時間を過ごせます。忙しい日々でも、一緒に鏡の前でその時間を過ごせます。歯ブラシのお手本を見せることで、お子様もそのブラッシングテクニックを覚えていきますね。

3. ブラシの回数を数えてみましょう

たとえば、歯を一本ずつ数を数えながらブラッシングをしてみましょう。そう、「前歯１本、みがけた！２本目、３本目・・・というように」。お子さんも数を数えることを覚えながら、歯ブラシができますよね。

4. 歌いながら！

うがいでも「あーいーう」というように、歯ブラシでも２～３分くらいハミングしながらでも歌を歌って楽しく歯ブラシをしてみませんか？

5. トゥースフェアリーと一緒に・・・

歯ブラシも歯みがきペースト、コップ等たくさんのキャラクターがついたものやいろいろな種類があるように、歯ブラシホルダーにも楽しさを提供するのがトゥースフェアリーです。毎日の歯ブラシ習慣を楽しくできます。

6. ステッカーを張る台紙をつくってみましょう

毎日歯みがきが楽しくできたら、星のシールを張れるような台紙を洗面所につくってください。毎日ちゃんとできたら１枚張るようにすれば、歯ブラシ習慣を開発するのに役立ちます。

Die meisten Menschen bewahren ihre Zahnbürsten offen im Badezimmerschrank, auf dem Waschbecken oder in der Dusche auf. Das ist unhygienisch und manchmal sogar gefährlich, weil sich Bakterien leicht auf den Zahnbürsten sammeln und Infektionen oder Entzündungen auslösen können. Flipper, der clever-witzige Zahnbürstenhalter, macht damit ein für alle Mal Schluss.


In mehr als 30 witzigen Designs bietet GEDALABELS die Flipper-Zahnbürstenhalter für Kinder aller Altersstufen. Auch die Erwachsenen müsse nicht auf die praktischen Helfer verzichten: Für sie gibt es unter anderem einen Halter mit eleganter Silhouette in Form eines Tautropfens.


Ein absolutes Plus des Flipper-Zahnbürstenhalters ist sein einfacher und lustiger Schnappverschluss, der Kindern großen Spaß macht und sie inspiriert, noch öfter zur Zahnbürste zu greifen. Dank praktischer Saugnäpfe kann der Halter platzsparend auf jeder glatten Oberfläche befestigt.

genussmaenner.de und Flipper verlosen zwei Sets a drei Zahnbürstenhalter für Kinder und zwei Sets a drei Zahnbürstenhalter für Erwachsene. Bitte geben Sie an, welches Set Sie gewinnen wollen.

Hier klicken und gewinnen!


29.07.2011 | Gewinnspiele

Today, more than 25% of children under 5 sport untreated tooth decays. Often, these lead to cavities. To counter this, children need to inculcate good oral hygiene habits from young. In fact, Man Wai Ng — the Dentist-in-Chief for the Children’s Hospital Boston — advises parents to encourage their toddlers to start brushing independently.

However, for many young children, brushing their teeth can be a boring or even downright frustrating routine. After all, diligence and discipline are not the typical hallmarks of your average tot. Upon seeing the child’s resistance, some parents may in turn attempt to ‘force it down’. Eventually, the washbasin becomes a dragged out battleground in a mutual test of patience.

Why not try a paradigm shift? Introduce an element of casual play into the brushing routine. Be light-hearted about it. Make it engaging. Make it an adventure. Make it FUN! Not sure how? No worries, here are some ideas to get you going!

1. Fun Tooth Fairies Video

Watch this animation while brushing, and sing along! The on-screen tooth fairies will go through the joy and importance of brushing teeth in a fun and light-hearted manner.

2. Brush with your child

Brushing your teeth together with your child can be a great bonding time. Grab your toothbrush, stand beside your child in front of the mirror. Encourage (or challenge!) your child to follow and mimic your movements exactly, as you go through the brushing techniques.

3. Count as you brush

As you brush each tooth, count aloud. For example, “Number one, all clear!” “Tooth number two, done! Here we go for tooth number threeeeeeee!” This can even be an entertaining way for your child to learn the numbers and practice counting.

4. Sing-‘Aaahh-long’-song!

As you brush your child’s teeth, encourage him/her to go “Aaahh~~~” for as long as he can, varying the pitch, tone and rhythm into a tune. A typical song is just about 2-3 minutes long: just about the right timing for a thorough brush.

5. Together with Tooth fairies!

There are a variety of toothbrushes, toothpastes and other products that comes with cartoon characters. These favorite characters can then become the ‘Tooth Fairies’ in the bathroom, keeping your child’s attention and turn the routines from work to play.

6. Make a Sticker Poster

Create a ToothFairy brushing chart ! Award your child a sticker or a star that he/she can paste onto the poster after a thorough brushing. When your child completes the chart, give a small award, or do a fun activity together!

Ultimately, children are great emulators. Your enthusiasm and eagerness will definitely rub off on them. Hopefully these tips will help your child develop healthy oral hygiene habits in a fun and engaging way!

British Dental Journal 210, 545 (2011)
Published online: 10 June 2011 | doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2011.471

We are excited to announce we have moved to new office – but thankfully not that far!

We are now situated at No. 11, Jalan Impian Emas 5/2, Taman Impian Emas, 81300 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia, just across the road opposite our previous office. Our telephone and facsimile numbers have remained the same. We are loving this bigger and brighter place, and it gives us much more room for our growing operation.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to providing you with unique contents in years to come.

ORCA Green

The ORCA Green represents the infusion of freshness, vitality, energy and youthful exuberance. This is the spirit that spurs and inspires ORCA: our staff (more like a family, really), our product image and our designs. This same spirit is what we weave into every design detail: alive with humor, brimming with emotion and possessing universal appeal.

As times change, we endeavor to evolve and remain forever youthful. By staying tuned to the society’s pulse, we hope to create balanced, fulfilling lives both now and in the future.

The old adage says, “You are what you eat”. To a certain extent, our teeth are what we eat too! Some foods tend to improve oral health, while others can make it worse. To understand the concept of “good” and “bad” food with respect to oral hygiene, we need to first have an understanding of how tooth decay occurs.

Even if we brush your teeth diligently, various microscopic bacteria still live naturally in our mouths. As we eat, the bacteria feed off the sugars from the food remnants and turn them into acid. This in turn corrodes the enamel on the teeth surface and causes decays over time.

Having understood this, let us take a closer look at how various food can affect our teeth:

THE GOOD

Strengthening your enamel – Milk, cheese and meat contains large amounts of calcium and phosphorus, which are key ingredients used to rebuild tooth enamel. Nuts and seeds also typically contain natural fats, which can form a protective coating on the teeth to shield it away from bacteria.

Chew on it – As we munch on crisp vegetables such as raw carrots and celery, they break dow into small bits that act as natural ‘sponges’ that scrape away dental plaque on the tooth surface.

Water it down – Firm foods such as vegetables, pears and apples require more chewing, and thus stimulate saliva production. Typically, these foods also come with high water content. Both saliva and water dilute the food acids and reduce corrosion. Naturally, drinking lots of water (particularly fluoridated water) also works wonders!

Go sugarless – If you crave for sweetness, consider sugar substitutes. They taste sweet but are not sugar-based, and are thus not nourishing for bacteria. Some examples include saccharin, aspartame (also known as Equal) and sucralose (also known as Splenda).

Get your vitamins – Vitamin-C, which is present in large amounts in melons, berries and citrus fruits, inhibits bacterial growth and helps to prevent gingivitis and gum diseases.

THE BAD

Sugar, sugar, sugar – Sugar is certainly among the chief culprits of tooth decay as it is the primary fuel for acid producing bacteria. It is present in large amounts in processed foods, such as candies, cookies, cakes, ice-creams and canned-fruit syrups. Sugar can also take a disguise in the form of carbohydrates, as found in bread, fries and potato chips.

Acidic drinks – Soft drinks, orange juice and lemonade are acidic, and can thus directly attack the tooth surface, resulting in increased sensitivity and tooth-softening. If drank in between meals, the impact is worse as these acids can linger around for much longer before being diluted away by saliva.

CONCLUSION

As foods have a direct impact on our oral health, it is certainly important to be mindful of how food choices affect our oral health. Naturally, healthy eating habits should be complemented by hygiene routines such as brushing and flossing.

Ultimately, our teeth are for life, and it is only our responsibility to take the very best care of them. With Christmas just around the corner, make sure to eat, drink and be merry!

Phthalates are a commonly used of chemicals found in an alarming amount of consumer products, it act as a solvent in products such as cosmetics, fragrances and hairspray. As a softener for plastic products, phthalates are found in PVC, vinyl, and other forms of plastic.

Danger of Phthalates

More research and studies have found out that phthalates are harmful, trends suggest that phthalates can cause reproductive harm, especially among young males. In lab tests, rats exposed to higher concentrations of phthalates produced male offspring with reproductive abnormalities. Health concerns associated with high phthalate exposure include reduced sperm counts, testicular atrophy, and other reproductive harm.

Ways to Avoid Phthalates

Public concerns have been raised about the health risks of phthalates because there is extensive scientific literature that reports their hormone-disrupting effects, and there is substantial evidence that the levels of phthalates found in humans may have adverse effects.

In light of the growing concern over phthalates in consumer products, there are some ways to prevent exposure to phthalates.

1. Check product labels for the phrase ‘phthalate free’ or ‘ non-phthalate’.
2. Do not install vinyl flooring or carpet in your home – opt instead for natural flooring materials sealed with low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) sealers.
3. Vinyl shows up in a lot of different products; lawn furniture, garden hoses, building materials, and items of clothing (like some raincoats) are often sources. Aside from carefully choosing materials when you’re making purchases, there is one easy change you can make: switch to a non-vinyl shower curtain. That “new shower curtain” smell (you know the one) is a result of chemical off-gassing, and it means your shower curtain is a source of phthalates in your home.
4. The fragrances in many products contain phthalates, so whenever possible use products that are unscented or scented only with essential oils. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, fragrance is the number one cause of allergic cosmetic reactions. Phthalates are added to help fragrances last longer, according the American Chemistry Council.
5. Choose cleaning products with plant-derived surfactants and make use of the natural cleaning powers of vinegar, baking soda, and borax.
6. Buy foods packaged in glass instead of plastic or cans. Canned food and plastic water bottles are heavily contaminated with phthalates as well as other chemicals. This is almost impossible to do consistently, but if there are alternatives packaged in glass, buy them.
7. Eliminate plastic food storage containers. Microwaving food in plastic allows chemicals to leach into food. Replace plastic containers with glass food storage containers.
8. If using hard polycarbonate plastics (water bottles/ baby bottles / sippy cups), do not use for warm or hot liquids.
9. Paints and other hobby products may contain phthalates as solvents, so be sure to use them in a well-ventilated space.
10. Read the ingredients. According to the organization Pollution in People, you can identify phthalates in some products by their chemical names, or abbreviations:
    • DBP (di-n-butyl phthalate) and DEP (diethyl phthalate) are often found in personal care products, including nail polishes, deodorants, perfumes and cologne, aftershave lotions, shampoos, hair gels and hand lotions. (BzBP, see below, is also in some personal care products.)
    • DEHP (di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) is used in PVC plastics, including some medical devices.
    • BzBP (benzylbutyl phthalate) is used in some flooring, car products and personal care products.
    • DMP (dimethyl phthalate) is used in insect repellent and some plastics (as well as rocket propellant).
11. Since it is also possible to be exposed to phthalate by simply breathing, it’s a good idea to keep things well ventilated when indoors. This is because many household items, even wallpaper, can contain phthalate. It’s possible that phthalate may find its way into the dust indoors and eventually into the air. Phthalates can even be found in building materials, so it’s a good idea to keep ventilation a priority during construction and renovation.
12. Check the symbol on the bottom of the plastic items before you buy. Recycling codes 3, 6 and 7 are more likely to contain phthalates.

Because phthalates are widespread in everyday items we use, elimination is difficult. However, reducing exposure is a step in the right direction and will have positive effects on family health.

A Look at Flipper’s Material Composition

Based on assurances and test results provided by manufacturers and test results of samples of finished products that had tested by an independent accredited third-party laboratory, the Flipper meets the applicable requirements of US toy standard (such as ASTM F963 & CPSIA) and EU toy standard (EN71 & REACH) for phthalates, lead content, soluble heavy metal and all other applicable standards.

Sources / References:
http://www.aoec.org/PEHSU/documents/bpa_patient_july_8_08.pdf
http://pollutioninpeople.org/toxics/labels
http://environment.about.com/od/healthenvironment/a/phthalates.htm
http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-limit-my-exposure-to-phthalates.htm
http://attainfertility.com/article/prevent-infertility

Toothbrushes are now commonplace in our daily routines. In fact, many of us have taken it for granted – but did you know that toothbrushes have a long history dating all the way back to 3500BC? Let’s have a look at how toothbrushes have evolved:

Early Toothbrush – Chewing Stick

The earliest toothbrushes were primitive. From around 3500BC, the Egyptians and Babylonians began to chew on sticks so that the wood fiber would form a brush that they could use to clean their teeth. This form of toothbrush is also the direct ancestor of the Miswak toothbrush (essentially a twig off the Salvadora persica tree) that is still popular in some Muslim communities today as it is endowed with natur

al healing and antiseptic properties. Image Courtesy of www.toptipspot.com

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

First Bristled Toothbrush

Europeans, on the other hand, coped by dipping cloth or sponges in oils and salt solutions to rub and clean their teeth. By the late 15^th century, the Chinese had their versions of toothbrushes as they plucked hairs from Siberian wild boars and pasted them onto animal bones or bamboo sticks. Eventually, Englishman William Addis emulated the Chinese approach and introduced the modern form of toothbrushes to Europe in 1780, using a similar combination of bones and animal hairs.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

First Patented Toothbrush

Meanwhile, entrepreneur H.N. Hadsworth helped to popularize toothbrush usage in America. In 1857, he was granted the very first toothbrush patent, and that lead to the mass production of toothbrushes from 1885.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Plastic Toothbrush

Toothbrush handles were made with soup bones until World War I disrupted the supplies (bones were diverted for the troops instead). Thus, an alternative material had to be found – and moldable plastic celluloid rose to the challenge.

By 1938, DuPont further cemented plastic’s central role in toothbrushes by using nylon bristles on toothbrushes on a large scale. With the advantage of lower costs and improved performance, fully plastic-based toothbrushes soon took central stage and became the norm.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Electric Toothbrush

Simultaneously, Switzerland saw the first electric toothbrush in 1939, as scientists sought to improve cleaning results by simulating brushing actions. Electric toothbrushes, however, did not take off for most of the century, even as they became much more technologically sophisticated. For example, the Oral-B Triumph 9100 can detect and monitor how thoroughly you have brushed your teeth, and alerts you to quadrants that need further brushing. However, the manual toothbrush still forms the great majority in home usage.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Today, there are over 3000 patents on various types of toothbrushes, with continued research and innovations in toothbrush development. Regardless of its size and shape though, the various toothbrushes through time and civilizations share the same goal – to help us maintain our oral hygiene, and give us brighter sparkly smiles!