Oral-B

American brand of oral hygiene products Oral-BLogo since 2020Product typeOral hygieneOwnerProcter & GambleCountryUnited StatesIntroducedJanuary 13, 1950; 76 years ago (1950-01-13)MarketsWorldwidePrevious ownersThe Gillette CompanyWebsiteoralb.com Oral-B toothbrushes and dental floss, purchased in 2011 Oral-B is an American brand of oral hygiene products currently owned by Procter & Gamble. Its products include toothpastes, toothbrushes, electric toothbrushes, and mouthwashes. The brand was launched in 1950 in California by Robert W. Hutson, who was a pioneer of modern toothbrushes. Oral-B has market availability in 150-170 countries. History Robert W. Hutson (1919–2001), owner of a periodontal practice in San Jose, began designing a toothbrush in the 1940s. By 1949, he discovered that thin, round-ended, nylon filaments would be gentle on the gums yet effective for cleaning teeth. Hutson patented a toothbrush in 1950. The application for a design patent for his "Hutson toothbrush" was filed on January 13, 1950, and U.S. Design Patent No. 160,604 was granted on October 24 the same year. In 1958, he was granted a utility patent for a "mouthbrush" having fine, soft, flat-ended nylon