We began manufacturing and distributing the first commercially available stainless steel tongue cleaner in the USA. Distributed to health stores and dental practices nationwide, this best-seller is now a household name in the health industry.

Next we brought you the clinically-proven Ionic toothbrush that positively removes plaque! Our REJUV for gums has proven to be one of the most effective gum treatment formulas available today.

Now we bring you Dr. Tung’s gum brush, designed for receding and sensitive gums; the innovative Smart Floss, proven to be up to 40% more effective than regular floss; and our patent-pending Snap-On Toothbrush Sanitizer that uses natural agents to keep toothbrushes hygienic and fresh.

Yes. Teeth, breath and gums love Dr. Tung’s!

“Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General” confirms that the signs and symptoms of life-threatening diseases appear in the mouth long before they show up in other parts of the body.

Dental hygienists and other oral health professionals routinely look for signs and symptoms of these diseases, which can be detected during regular oral health examinations. In addition, the presence of periodontal disease (gum disease) has been linked to the development of serious illnesses and conditions such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Health professionals have long suspected that infections in the mouth can play havoc with the entire body. According to the report, recent studies investigating the relationship between periodontal disease and other health problems suggest that a primary bacteria found in the mouth when periodontal disease is present can enter the blood stream and spread throughout the body. This bacteria can infect the heart, as well as other body organs, and cause inflamed coronary arteries and blood clots, as well as changes in blood pressure and heart rate.

• Approximately 75 percent of American adults have some form of periodontal disease, and the majority of them do not know they have it, because it usually is painless and silent in its early stages.

• Brushing with an ordinary toothbrush and flossing is not enough.

• About 30 percent of adults 65 years old and older no longer have any natural teeth. Having missing teeth can affect nutrition, since people without teeth often prefer soft, easily-chewed foods. Denture wearers also may choose soft diets and avoid fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Periodontal (gum) disease or dental decay (cavities) most often cause tooth loss. Older Americans continue to experience dental decay on the crowns of teeth (coronal caries) and on tooth roots (because of gum recession).

• Oral and pharyngeal cancers, which are diagnosed in some 30,000 Americans each year, result in 8,000 deaths annually.

• Most older Americans take both prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Over 400 commonly used medications can be the cause of a dry mouth. Reduction of salivary flow increases the risk for oral disease since saliva contains antimicrobial components as well as minerals that help rebuild tooth enamel attacked by decay-causing bacteria. Individuals in long-term care facilities – about 5 percent of the elderly – take an average of eight drugs each day.

When it comes to teeth and gums, Dr. Tung’s believe that “prevention is better than a cure.” Tooth and gum problems can literally cost thousands of dollars to remedy, not to mention the pain and discomfort.

Plaque is one of the main causes of tooth decay, and that’s why preventing plaque buildup is so important. In fact our triple approach to oral care seeks to consider all aspects of the mouth – tongue, gums and teeth – and help keep them healthy and plaque-free.

“I’ve been a hygienist for 25 years and have used several of the better power brushes – Rotadent, Sonicare, Utrasonex, etc. Until now Rotadent has been my brush of choice... Since using the hyG Ionic I have had to change my mind. This brush even keeps my night guard free of plaque!” Barbara Wagner, R.D.H., Chicago, IL

Not everyone wants to spend $100 on a toothbrush--and now you don’t have to! You see, the Ionic toothbrush is just 1/4 the price of a Sonicare – and it's the only toothbrush with patented Ionic technology.

This is what Shirley Jenkins writes:

“My teeth have improved so much since using the Ionic toothbrush, my hygienist is amazed. I am 54 years old and have spent a fortune keeping my teeth, as I am one of those people that has a terrible time with plaque build-up and gum problems. When visiting the hygienist, she usually needs a “jack hammer” to remove the plaque, but there was very little this time, and the deep pockets are going away.”

The Ionic toothbrush is clinically proven to remove plaque far more effectively than a regular toothbrush and to dramatically improve gingival health. This means healthier teeth and gums, which for Maysel from Portland, means much lower dental bills.

“When I recently went to the dentist for a checkup, he congratulated me on how clean my teeth were, with no plaque or cavities. I’m a 95 year old woman, so I appreciate a toothbrush that helps me save money on dental bills!” Maysel E., Portland, Oregon

According to the latest Surgeon General’s report, 48 percent of adults aged 35 to 44 have gingivitis, and 22 percent have destructive gum disease. About 30 percent of adults 65 years and older have no teeth! The report also says that “most older Americans take both prescription and over-the-counter drugs. In all probability, at least one of the medications used will have an oral side effect – usually dry mouth. The inhibition of salivary flow increases the risk for oral disease.”

Think what it will cost to get dentures, or have gum surgery! Following a good dietary and hygiene regimen today is important for the future of your teeth and gums. So visit your dentist regularly, and consider adding the conditioning and moisturizing REJUV for gums and the patented Ionic toothbrush to your daily regimen.

(With Michael J. Olmstead, D.D.S.)

What happens in our mouth can affect our health, our lives, and even our children.

Sound a little far-fetched? Not according to Dr. Mike Olmstead, D.D.S., a well-known dentist who has appeared on numerous radio talk shows over the past few years and is featured in the upcoming “Doctors Book of Alternative Remedies” by Rodale Press.

“Latest dental research shows that there’s a relationship between bacteria in the mouth and disease in the body. To me this seems logical and easy to understand. For instance, nasty oral bacteria and their waste products can be swallowed, or can enter the blood stream or lymph system through the gums, thereby causing all sorts of health problems.”*

That’s no understatement!

One study showed that pregnant women who have periodontal disease are seven times more likely to have a premature, underweight baby. So gum disease can directly affect the health of your baby. It appears that periodontal disease triggers increased levels of the biological fluids that induce labor, causing the baby to come early and underweight.*

MEN TOO!
If you’re a man and think that only pregnant woman are at risk, think twice! Yes, twice--because research has shown that people with periodontal disease are twice as likely to suffer from heart disease than those without periodontal disease. Several theories exist to explain this link between the heart and the gums. For example, oral bacteria may enter the blood stream and attach to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries, thus contributing to plaque formation. Periodontal disease also increases the body's amount of fibrinogen (a potent natural clotting agent in the blood stream). Of course this would increase the chance of blood clots and the possibility of a debilitating stroke.*

OK, so you don’t have periodontal disease, and therefore you’re safe, right? Well, not so fast! Periodontal disease affects 4 out of 5 Americans, according to information released by the American Dental Association. This figure is also confirmed by the recent Surgeon General’s report on Oral Health. Younger adults are also badly affected. According to the report, 48 percent of 35 to 44 year-olds have gingivitis, and about half of these have destructive gum disease, and like almost everything except wine, it worsens with age.*

DIABETES, PNEUMONIA
Gum disease is also linked to diabetes and respiratory diseases. Virtually all diabetics have gum disease and research indicates that the relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes goes both ways. Even in non-diabetics, periodontal disease can increase blood sugar and thus contribute to the body having a high blood sugar level for longer periods of time than normal. So even though most people brush and floss and visit their dentists, they may not be following the routine consistently or are using toothbrushes that don’t remove plaque effectively.*

NO PLAQUE, PLEASE!
“If you brush your teeth and still need a thorough cleaning when you go for a checkup, then the toothbrush can’t be doing its job properly, can it?” asks Dr. Olmstead.

“What I recommend,” says Olmstead, “is that people visit their dentist regularly, and start using a toothbrush that will remove more plaque than can be removed by friction alone. My favorite toothbrush is Dr. Tung’s Ionic toothbrush, which works with or without toothpaste, and actually makes teeth repel plaque, unlike a mechanical or electric brush which tries to scrub plaque off the teeth. Also, this brushis silent and doesn’t vibrate, so it's comfortable for all users. It's also important to note that toothbrush trauma is one of the primary causes of gum recession, so this frictionless Ionic action is a great breakthrough.”

So how does such a technological marvel work? “We learn in dental school that plaque and teeth have opposite charges,” says Olmstead, “and we know that opposites attract. This brush simply reverses the attraction while you’re brushing, so that teeth will repel plaque rather than attract it.” Simple, he says? Well, the principle may be simple, but it took some inventive minds to create it and make it as small and comfortable to use as a regular toothbrush.

Even periodontists are delighted with this advanced Ionic toothbrush. Dr. D.E. Van Scotter did extensive research on the Ionic brush at Marquette University School of Dentistry. As a periodontist he knows what a plaque-free tooth should look and feel like and has personally found that difficult to reach molar areas are much cleaner and his mouth fresher since using this toothbrush. This is to be expected, as the double-blind research at Marquette showed that the group using the Ionic brush had a highly significant reduction in plaque and a dramatic improvement in gingival health.

“The build-up of bacteria-laden plaque leads to gum problems, and eventually to gum disease,” says Olmstead. "Remove the plaque, disallow its build-up, and you’ll have healthier teeth and gums. You can live a healthier and longer life.”

PREVENTION IS BEST
To live you need to breathe. So breathe fresh air and not polluted air. Some respiratory infections such as pneumonia may be acquired from “oral pollution”. The mouth and throat contain bacteria. Through aspiration (inhaling), fine droplets laden with this bacteria enter into the lungs, where they breed and multiply, causing pneumonia or other respiratory ailments. Therefore, preventive oral hygiene measures are important in making sure that your mouth is free of the plaque upon which the “nasty” bacteria thrive.

“Prevention is better than cure” is an old and very wise dictum, and very appropriate in the realm of oral care. It's not much fun having periodontal disease, and it can affect our overall health, yet for the most part it seems to be quite preventable. Only a few simple steps are required. So follow a good hygiene routine, see your dentist regularly, and use a better toothbrush. After all, you’re only spending a minute or two brushing your teeth, and you want to make sure that you’re removing the most plaque possible in the most efficient way.

In a previous article we quoted a dentist who recommended that people “start using a toothbrush that will remove more plaque than can be removed by friction alone”.

Now research has shown that indeed toothbrushes that are designed to remove plaque mechanically (using friction) are basically no better than each other. It doesn’t matter if your hand is doing the moving or if an electric motor is moving the bristles of a power brush. They still leave a lot of plaque on the teeth.

In this landmark study to see whether powered toothbrushes were any better than manual toothbrushes in removing plaque and improving the health of gums, the researchers concluded that most types of power brushes gave similar results to inexpensive manual toothbrushes. Almost all the big name (and expensive) power brushes were involved in the study – Interplak, Ultrasonex, Sonicare, Epident, Braun Oral B, etc. The power brushes' ineffectiveness compared with manual brushes wasn’t the only surprise. The one power brush that did show an improvement only managed a surprisingly modest reduction in plaque (7–11%) compared to manual tooth brushing!

This study made headlines in newspapers everywhere. It showed that a lot of the hype about electric toothbrushes is not based on scientific fact. The fact is that plaque attaches to the teeth through an electrostatic bond and friction alone (mechanical action) just cannot break this bond.

Our Ionic toothbrush does break this bond. Why?

The reason is simple.

1. Plaque and teeth have opposite charges (This is why plaque gets attached to the teeth – dentists actually learn this in dental school.)

2. When you brush, the Ionic toothbrush reverses the polarity and makes the teeth let go of plaque, like turning off a magnet!

The revolutionary Ionic brush has been clinically proven to remove up to 48% more plaque than a manual toothbrush. This is significantly more than the Cochrane Study shows for the best power brush!

If you’re brushing your teeth, it makes sense to use a brush that removes the most plaque. So why not try the Ionic toothbrush and get the benefit of patented Ionic technology, not found in ordinary manual or power brushes.

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For reference we have included a summary of the Abstract from the Cochrane report.

Manual versus powered tooth brushing for oral health.

Cochrane Oral Health Group, University Dental Hospital of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Specific oral bacteria, generically known as “dental plaque” are the primary cause of gingivitis (gum disease) and caries. The removal of dental plaque is thought to play a key role in the maintenance of oral health. There is conflicting evidence for the relative merits of manual and powered toothbrushes in achieving this.

OBJECTIVES
To compare manual and powered toothbrushes in relation to the removal of plaque, the health of gingivae, staining and calculus, dependability, adverse effects and cost.

MAIN RESULTS
Twenty–nine trials, involving 2547 participants, provided data for the meta–analysis.

Brushes that worked with a rotation oscillation action removed more plaque and reduced gingivitis more effectively than manual toothbrushes in the short and long term.

...Over 3 months these (results) represented an 11% reduction on the Quigley Hein plaque index and a 6% reduction on the Loe and Silness gingival index.

...At over three months these (results) represented a 7% reduction on the Quigley Hein plaque index.

No other powered brush designs were consistently superior to manual toothbrushes.

REVIEWERS’ CONCLUSIONS
Powered toothbrushes with a rotation oscillation action achieve a modest reduction in plaque and gingivitis compared to manual tooth brushing.

No other powered brush designs were consistently superior to manual toothbrushes.

Research studies on the Ionic toothbrush confirm its effectiveness in removing plaque, improving gum health and relieving tooth sensitivity:

A CLINCIAL STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AN IONTOPHORETIC TOOTHBRUSH IN THE REMOVAL OF DENTAL PLAQUE: Marquette University School of Dentistry

The Ionic toothbrush from Dr. Tung’,s breaks this ionic bond by temporarily reversing the polarity of tooth surfaces as you brush. The plaque molecules are then repelled by the teeth and drawn to the negatively polarized bristles of the ION toothbrush.

Plaque scores were determined using the Turesky-Gilmore-Glickman Index. Likewise, gingival indices were determined using the Loe Silness Gingival Inflammation Index. Other studies in both Japan and the USA have shown similar improvements in plaque scores, as well as improvements in dental hypersensitivity.

You needn’t worry about moving heads or vibrating bristles causing discomfort against some teeth or your gums.

As the Ionic action makes teeth repel plaque, you don’t have to brush hard to get clean teeth (unlike regular brushes which only use friction and abrasion to clean the teeth.) This is especially valuable for those with sensitive gums.

In addition, the Ionic action works – and cleans – with or without toothpaste!

1. Push button near bottom of handle.

2. If the red light comes on then the battery is active.

3. If the light does not go on, then it is time to order a new Ionic toothbrish.