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’vebeen 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 brush is 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.

The tongue is one of the most unusual organs in the body.

Although actually a muscle, it is the organ of taste, is very sensitive to touch and promotes speech and communication.

“In the beginning was the word.”

Most spoken sounds are directly related to the position and movement of the tongue in the mouth. The tongue’s taste buds are sensitive to “good” and “bad” tastes and can screen out many foods that shouldn’t go into the body. So the tongue, by governing what comes out of the mouth (speech) and what goes in (food) can be considered a gatekeeper of utmost importance.

With all its remarkable qualities, one would expect us to respect the tongue a little more. Most of us exercise the tongue daily (by talking!) but still only a very small percentage of Americans pay any attention to its hygiene. We floss the teeth, clean the ears and wash the body, but what do we do to keep the tongue clean?

A look at history and science may give us some advice as to what we should be doing.

Records show that some older cultures have given attention to tongue hygiene for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. For example, an ancient Ayurvedic text from India says that: “The dirt which is collected at the root of the tongue creates obstruction in respiration and produces a foul smell – hence, one should scrape one’s tongue.”

From artifacts we know that the ancient Romans cleaned their tongues with iron tongue scrapers. The wealthier classes of 18th and 19th century Europe also placed some emphasis on tongue hygiene, as evidenced by the ornate, silver tongue scrapers of the period.

SCIENCE SAYS “CLEAN THE TONGUE”
In the search for possible causes of plaque formation, the tongue is considered a major culprit. A study done at the U.S. Army Institute of Dental Research in Washington, D.C., concluded that the tongue was a major source of plaque. Another study by Jacobson, Crawford and McFall, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, concluded that cleaning the tongue and palate slowed plaque formation on the teeth.

BAD BREATH AND THE TONGUE
A study by Drs. Walter Loesche and Erika De Boever, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association shows that halitosis-causing bacteriais found almost exclusively on the tongue and not elsewhere in the mouth, nor between the teeth, as was previously thought. Dr. De Boever showed that people who for years had bad breath – despite maintaining good oral hygiene – found that this problem virtually disappeared after they took up the practice of cleaning their tongues daily.

Some people will say that digestion plays an important role in causing bad breath and that one needs to treat the whole body and not just the symptom. However, one researcher Dr. Mel Rosenberg of Tel Aviv University, a leading authority on halitosis, examined over 1,000 patients at his clinic and found that not one person’s bad breath was caused by digestive problems.

FEWER INFECTIONS
Many people have reported that they have reduced incidence of colds and flu once they begin using a tongue cleaner regularly. It seems that when mucous and bacteria take hold on the back of the tongue, colds or throat infections are more likely. Naturopathic physician Dr. Diana Ostroff explains that since the tongue is connected to the alimentary canal, scraping the bacteria off the tongue not only prevents the bacteria from building up on the tongue but also prevents it from entering the lymphatic and digestive systems.

With all of these reasons it is therefore no surprise that, in the opinion of one physician, not cleaning the tongue is akin to not washing the body.

There’s still a common misconception that the stomach is the cause of bad breath. This idea is not at all supported by research or current thinking in dental circles, which concludes that bad breath is caused by bacteria on the tongue, and that tongue cleaning or tongue scraping is the best remedy for bad breath!

According to the latest scientific research on halitosis (bad breath), the majority of bad breath is caused by bacteria in the mouth. In an article published in the Journal of the American Dental Association (April 1996), Dr. Mel Rosenberg cites 6 research references in concluding that “in 85% of people with bad breath the bad odor originates in the mouth.” He further says that: “Gentle but effective deep tongue cleaning should become a part of the daily hygiene routine.”

Bad breath from the stomach is so rare, that of a thousand people treated for bad breath by a leading halitosis researcher, not a single case was caused by gastrointestinal problems.

On the investigative news program “20/20”, ABC News Medical Editor Dr. Timothy Johnson explained that most bad breath is produced by a type of bacteria in the back of the mouth, particularly on the back of the tongue.

According to dentist and consumer advisor Dr. Richard Price on the Today Show, the only time the stomach can cause a problem is when you burp. This is because there are valves to prevent air escaping and the esophagus is normally closed (“collapsed”).

Toothbrushes tend to "grip" the tongue causing gagging, while the tongue cleaner slides along the tongue. So it’s more comfortable and more efficient. In fact it’s interesting to note that many cultures have been routinely cleaning their tongues for centuries, and they don’t use brushes for this! They use a similar u-shape cleaner, which can reach the back of the tongue.

It's common practice in many Asian and older cultures. Tongue cleaning was also practiced by ancient Romans and by the wealthier classes in 18th and 19th century Europe. However, for some unknown reasons, the practice did not spread widely in the West.

But now, with more research verifying its benefits, and with TV and other publicity, a growing number of dentists and hygienists are recommending it. We believe that soon it will be as common here as flossing.

There seem to be 2 basic kinds of tongue cleaners available – our U-shaped stainless steel cleaner (can be used with 1 or 2 hands) or one-handed cleaners which are usually T-shaped or have rounded heads.

We believe the U-shaped design is best as it can easily clean the back of the tongue, where most bacteria reside. Using 2 hands gives precise control over the pressure and position of the cleaner. This seemingly simple design has evolved over centuries and gives precise control over the position and pressure of the cleaner on the tongue, making it easy to use and overcoming the gagging problem caused by too much pressure on the tongue (as when trying to clean it with a toothbrush or some other one-handed cleaners).