What is an Orabrush?
An Orabrush is a fine bristled brush, specially designed for cleaning the bacterial coating of the tongue surface. The Orabrush has become the number 1 best-selling tongue cleaner in the world, largely due to some clever marketing and viral YouTube videos. Check out our best tongue scraper guide here.
Dr. Robert Wagstaff or “Dr. Bob” as he is commonly known is the inventor and founder of Orabrush. After training as a biochemist and nutritionist Dr Bob served as a mission president for the Mormon church. While working overseas as a missionary he was often confronted by complaints of bad breath among his colleagues. After some thought and research Dr Bob came to the conclusion that the worst enemy of fresh breath is the tongue.
In the early 2000’s he set about studying the oral hygiene products already on the market and came to the conclusion that there was nothing available that effectively removed the smelly tongue gunk that causes bad breath Dr Bob realised that:
- Toothbrushes are designed to clean the smooth, hard enamel surface of the teeth, rather than the soft flesh of the tongue. Therefore, the bristles of a toothbrush cannot get deep into the crevices of the tongue were bacteria and residue build up. A toothbrush might dislodge the gunk coating the tongue, but it won’t actually remove it from your mouth.
- Tongue scrapers collect the residue from the tongue and remove it from the mouth, but again they don’t reach the crevices of the tongue.
- Tongue brushes have bristles that can get into the nooks and crannies of the tongue, but again they do not effectively remove the residue from your mouth.
Dr. Bob then set himself up in this basement, and using his biochemical training and knowledge, began developing a tongue cleaner that would work better than the other products on the market and eliminate bad breath. It was only by evaluating the products available that Dr. Bob realised the limitations of oral hygiene products on the market. This lead him to develop the features that would set his invention apart from everything else. Dr. Bob developed a product with:
- Ultra-soft needle shaped bristles, which would reach deep into the tongue without causing discomfort.
- A flat head, which would combat the gag reflex many people experienced while cleaning their tongues.
- An angled lip which gathers the gunk as it is moved along the tongue.
And so came the Orabrush. Unfortunately, Dr. Bob’s enthusiasm was not met with excitement by consumers. The original Orabrush marketing campaign failed, and no retailers agreed to stock the Orabrush in their stores. Dr. Bob had to come up with a new way to market his product, and he enlisted a marketing student to create a $500 Youtube marketing video. The Bad Breath Test video was wacky, fun and ultimately went viral. This video has since been viewed over 26 million times on Youtube and the Orabrush Youtube channel has close to 179,000 subscribers. Not only that, but the Orabrush is now the best selling tongue cleaner in the world.
Why use an Orabrush?
Since childhood, we’ve all known that we need to brush our teeth twice a day, floss regularly, and get a dental check-up at least once a year. However, what many people don’t realise is that the greatest amount of bacteria in the mouth is actually found on the tongue. Therefore, cleaning your tongue daily will help to remove and reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth, leaving your breath cleaner and fresher. Some people use their toothbrush to scrub their tongue, but unlike a regular toothbrush, the Orabrush has been specially designed for cleaning the tongue. It has a low, flat head with soft bristles that are designed to get into the nooks and crannies of your tongue tissue, gathering the residue in the lip and removing it hygienically from the mouth. This means the Orabrush is more effective than a regular toothbrush, and can get deeper into the pores of your tongue than a traditional tongue scraper.
How do you use an Orabrush?
is very simple to use an Orabrush, and requires no special preparation or follow-up. You brush your tongue from back to front, as far back as you can comfortably place it. This cleans the peaks and valleys of your tongue. When you’re finished, all you have to do is rinse it under running water and let it dry. Does the Orabrush work? There is a reason why the Orabrush is the number one tongue cleaner in the world, and according to Amazon customer reviews, 85% of people who have tried Orabrush have found it works. Not only can it eliminate bad breath, it is an easy and effective way to clean your tongue without a lot of effort.
How long does an Orabrush last?
An Orabrush will last just as long as your toothbrush will. This means it should be replaced every 3 months, or after an illness. When you replace your toothbrush, you should replace your Orabrush and vice versa.
Where can you buy an Orabrush?
You can buy an Orabrush in most large pharmacies, in Walmart and online on Amazon.
How much does an Orabrush cost?
An Orabrush sells for around £5 in the UK and $8 in the US. The Orabrush is also available in two, three and four qauntity multipacks that can offer savings for people who buy them regularly.
How do you clean an Orabrush?
To clean your Orabrush, you simply put it under running water to rinse it off. Then, leave it so that the bristles can air-dry. If you want, you can dip it in a sanitizing mouthwash, which contains peroxide or alcohol; this will remove more bacteria, and sanitize the surface. Alternatively, it is safe to put the Orabrush in the top-rack of the dishwasher, if you really want to steam clean it.
Why not use a toothbrush to clean the tongue?
Toothbrushes are designed to get rid of bacteria and plaque from the smooth, enamel surface of teeth. A tongue is not a smooth surface, and it is not made of enamel. The tongue is full of bumps and ridges and it is in these that most bacteria will live. A toothbrush will hurt your tongue, and won’t clean beyond the surface. Research has shown that a dedicated tongue scraper is more effective at removing tongue residue than a regular toothbrush.[1]
What are the benefits of cleaning the tongue?
Cleaning your tongue can radically reduce the amount of Volatile Sulphur Compounds found in your mouth. These compounds are the by-products of mouth bacteria, and a leading cause of bad breath. A buildup of residue on the tongue can also reduce your sense of taste. In one study, researchers found that after two weeks of using a tongue scraper, the patients in the study had increased taste sensation. Cleaning your tongue could rid you of halitosis and even prevent the development of other health problems over time.
Why is having a buildup of bacteria on the tongue bad for you?
Apart from causing bad breath and reducing your taste buds, having excess bacteria on your tongue can cause a range of other problems. If you have bacteria building up on your tongue, you could develop infections of the throat and gums, this bacteria can then be swallowed leading to indigestion or upset stomach. This is because your body tries to excrete toxins as you sleep, which is what most of the white film on your tongue in the mornings is made of. This film is made of chemicals and toxins that are no longer needed by your body, and swallowing this bacteria means reabsorbing the toxins into your system. Research is now linking oral bacteria to the development of cardiovascular disease, bacterial pneumonia, diabetes, pancreatic cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, taking the extra precaution and adding daily tongue cleaning to your oral hygiene routine could prevent the build-up of the bacteria which could potentially cause major long term health issue.
Will cleaning the tongue cause gagging?
For some, the sensation of cleaning the tongue can cause them to gag, especially if they clean the very back of their tongue. With frequent use, cleaning the tongue will become easier, and be less likely to cause gagging. The Orabrush is also specially designed in such a way as to reduce gagging, because it is a low, flat brush, compared to a regular toothbrush. If you have a very sensitive gag reflex, use only forward sweeping motions, and do not use the Orabrush very far back on your tongue. Click here to see more tongue cleaning options.
Will cleaning the tongue hurt?
Cleaning the tongue should not be painful, it may feel odd at first, but after a while you will get used to the sensation. Be careful not to scrape the tongue with too much force, gentle pressure ia all that is required. If the tongue does start to feel tender, stop cleaning for a couple of days to let it recover and then try again.
Why does cleaning the tongue help bad breath?
Cleaning the tongue can help eliminate bad breath because 90% of the causes of bad breath come from a dirty tongue. This is due to the tongue acting as the “largest niche for microorganisms” in the entire mouth. Its large surface is perfect for accumulating debris that brushing and flossing your teeth cannot reach. Like any surface that comes into contact with food, it should be thoroughly cleaned to prevent odour and bacterial build-up.
How often does the tongue need to be cleaned?
Tongue cleaning should be a part of your daily oral cleaning routine. This means you should clean your tongue at least once a day, but ideally, every time you brush your teeth. By adding it to your oral care routine, you will soon do it automatically.
What are alternative methods of cleaning the tongue?
Tongue cleaning has been a part of Ayurvedic practice for centuries, and from the Ayurvedic perspective, the tongue is the mirror to the body. Removing the bacteria and buildup of materials on the tongue can lead to improved digestion, increased sense of taste and clarity of mind. The ancient method of tongue cleaning was to use a copper scraper to remove residue from your tongue. Alternatively, you can use your toothbrush to brush your tongue, if you don’t want to buy a new oral hygiene product. Overall, the Orabrush is the most effective and hygienic way of cleaning your tongue and preventing the buildup of harmful bacteria by reaching deep into the pores of the tissue and removing the gunk that has burrowed its way down there.
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