# "I'm sorry, I can't sell you this toothbrush." **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 22, 2005, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793 "2005-03-22T23:19:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/1 "2005-03-22T23:19:11Z")
The head to my electric toothbrush, the _Crest Spin-Brush Pro Whitening_, was starting to wear down a bit so I decide to hit the local Wal-Mart and pick up some replacement heads. I searched through the dental aisle for twenty minutes looking for the replacement heads but found nothing. Oh well, I guess I just have to buy a replacement toothbrush. The thing was only like $5 anyway so I start looking for a new one. I was particularly fond of this brush (hence why I chose it the first time). It was cheap, but not crappy looking. So, after pushing aside boxes for SoniCare and Oral-B and Sponge-Bob electrip brushes, I finally manage to find a single remaining Spin-Brush. As far as I’m concerned, my day is complete. I gather some other minor things before heading to the checkout line. There wasn’t a long wait, which was good. I put my items on the conveyer belt and pull out my wallet in preparation to pay. The cashier stops at the toothbrush. _beep_ [puzzled stare from cashier] _beep_ … “I can’t sell this to you.” Oh for the love of Og, it’s a toothbrush. “It might explode in your mouth and knock out all of your teeth and give you cancer.” (he really did say something like this, at least he was being jovial) He was close. [It has been recalled](http://www.wegmans.com/kitchen/storage/product_recalls/Crest_Spinbrush_Pro_Whitening_brushes_and_refills.asp). Fine, I’ll take my Black Pepper Jack Doritos and get gingivitis. I admit, this is pretty mundane. Besides, I picked up some new Oral-B hotness later. 😃 Anyone else put something really dangerous in their mouth? Bad puns welcome, ney, encouraged. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/2 "2005-03-22T23:29:55Z")
When I was nine, I took a class in fire-eating. Proof-positive that my mom would sign just about anything I put in front of her. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/3 "2005-03-22T23:51:24Z")
Sort of . . . Back about 1980 I read about a new prescription medication called ibuprofen that supposedly worked wonders with menstrual cramps. The first doctor I went to had never heard of it and wouldn’t prescribe it. The second doctor I went to hadn’t heard of it, but did some research and agreed to prescribe it to me. When I took the prescription to a pharmacy, the pharmacist told me that ibuprofin caused liver cancer and I shouldn’t take it. Well, since danger is my middle name, I took it anyway. I sometimes wonder if that pharmacist remembers our encounter as he rings up bottle after bottle of 500-count over-the-counter Advil geltabs. P.S. Great setup in the O.P. ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/4 "2005-03-23T00:07:53Z")
I remember when L-Tryptophan was all the rage as a sleep inducing agent. Sure, you can get it from eating turkey or drinking milk, but these tablets were the bomb. Until they discovered that the factory responsible for supplying the whole world with the pills was somehow tainted, and the pills were recalled. Every time I have a muscle pain or a headache, I blame it on the L-Tryptophan. BTW, I like to use sticks and twigs for cleaning my teeth. I learned that on Survivor. The trick is to know which sticks and twigs are carcinogenic, and then just not use those ones. Also, don’t use them if they might explode in your mouth. ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/5 "2005-03-23T14:31:47Z")
Ephedra \ :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/6 "2005-03-23T14:37:59Z")
Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pops. Broke one of my fillings. Cost me $900 to get a root canal. oh, and possibly the most dangerous thing I’ve had in my mouth is …a hot dog. A big ol’ mystery meat by-prouduct conundrum. All the unwanted parts of a cow, pig and chicken scrumbled up to make a sodium-laced weiner. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/7 "2005-03-23T14:40:51Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pops. > > Broke one of my fillings. > > Cost me $900 to get a root canal. Same, only it was a Tic-Tac. ---
**Author:** ![velveeta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/13edae/32.png) [@velveeta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velveeta)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/8 "2005-03-23T15:05:40Z")
My dad broke a tooth biting the head off a marshmallow Peep. Watch out for Peeps!! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/9 "2005-03-23T15:09:13Z")
One of the many who took Vioxx - and then switched to Celebrex once they took Vioxx off the market. Of course, the hydroxychloroquine that caused an allergic reaction and scarring in my eyes wasn’t that peachy either. Susan ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/10 "2005-03-23T15:12:09Z")
I broken teeth on a baked potato, a sausage mcmuffin, and a sub sandwich. Not all at the same sitting, mind you. For the OP, \*Olestra \* anyone? Anyone? Bueller? ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/11 "2005-03-23T17:05:04Z")
Yeah, at least my toothbrush doesn’t cause anal leakage. I feel for you **DeVena**. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/12 "2005-03-23T17:19:40Z")
> [@Flander](#): > > Yeah, at least my toothbrush doesn’t cause anal leakage. \ ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Sakamoto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mr\_Sakamoto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Sakamoto)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/13 "2005-03-23T18:22:40Z")
Eep. Quite the brush with danger you’ve had there. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/14 "2005-03-23T19:09:27Z")
> [@Mr Sakamoto](#): > > Eep. Quite the brush with danger you’ve had there. \ Subscribe. Please. I’ll even make sure you get a fresh goat on initation day. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/15 "2005-03-23T19:16:03Z")
> [@Mr Sakamoto](#): > > Eep. Quite the brush with danger you’ve had there. I know it; I bristle in fear at the very thought. Bad enough? I got others if not… ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/16 "2005-03-23T21:17:54Z")
Dam you all for these dental puns. I’m going to have to scrub my eyes clean with bleach. > [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > All the unwanted parts of a cow, pig and chicken scrumbled up to make a sodium-laced weiner. Don’t forget rat and dog. ---
**Author:** ![OhFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecccb3/32.png) [@OhFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OhFace)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/17 "2005-03-23T22:13:09Z")
I hope you didn’t throw your old brush away, I noticed in your link that you can take it back and get a refund. 🙂 So pack up that old toothbrush with the wiggly brush-head and old toothpaste remains and get your money back! It may even prove for another interesting story. I wanna return this used toothbrush and get my money back, it’s been recalled. Uh, what? Are you serious. Do I look serious? That thing could have broke and knocked out all my teeth! Now give me back my five bucks before I use it to knock out _your_ teeth! Well… maybe not, but at least the cashier had a sense of humor at the time of purchase. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/18 "2005-03-23T22:31:59Z")
> [@Flander](#): > > Anyone else put something really dangerous in their mouth? I drank acid when I was young. That stuff’s pretty darn dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Sakamoto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mr\_Sakamoto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Sakamoto)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/19 "2005-03-23T22:44:09Z")
> [@Joe K](#): > > I know it; I bristle in fear at the very thought. > > Bad enough? I got others if not… Nice pun. I expect you want me to lather you in praise, but you’ve got another thing coming. I’m practically foaming at the mouth here waiting to unleash some hardcore puns, but the subject is so vague, there’s not a lot for me to sink my teeth into. I guess I could squeeze a few out, but there _is_ a cap to the amount of puns you get out of one action. A mere mortal would quiver at the thought, but rest assured, I can handle the challenge. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2005, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793/20 "2005-03-24T00:02:20Z")
> [@Flander](#): > > Yeah, at least my toothbrush doesn’t cause anal leakage. I feel for you **DeVena**. Maybe you’re not holding it at the right angle. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-i-cant-sell-you-this-toothbrush/295793.md?page=2)