Oral care market grows steadily. (Oral Hygiene)

NEW YORK--With Americans taking better care of their teeth than ever before, the oral hygiene category will grow into an almost $4 billion a year industry by the end of 1998, notes New York-based market researcher Packaged Facts Inc. Part of the steady growth is expected to come from consumers buying more toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss and mouthwash. The rest will be as a result of technological innovations in those areas.

The segments that will see the most action, researchers say, are toothbrushes and breath fresheners. The growth of toothbrush sales, which posted a 15.8% increase in dollar …