Who Owns Oral-B?

• Parent Company: Procter & Gamble Company
• Ownership Type: Wholly owned
• Acquisition Year: 2005
• Company Type: Publicly Traded
• Stock Ticker: NYSE: PG

• Founded: 1950
• Founders: Dr. Robert Huston
• Acquired by Procter & Gamble Company: 2005

• Founded: 1837
• Headquarters: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
• Company Type: Publicly Traded
• Stock: NYSE: PG
• Revenue: approximately $84 billion (FY2025)
• Employees: Approximately 107,000

Visit Procter & Gamble Company website

• Headquarters: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
• Manufacturing / Operations: United States, Mexico, China, Germany, Various international locations

Oral-B operates under Procter & Gamble's comprehensive sustainability framework, focusing on environmental responsibility, sustainable manufacturing, and product lifecycle innovation. As P&G's leading oral care brand, Oral-B's sustainability initiatives encompass packaging redesign, manufacturing efficiency, and circular economy solutions for dental care products.

Sustainable Manufacturing: Oral-B manufacturing facilities in the United States purchase 100% renewable electricity and send zero manufacturing waste to landfills. The brand's localized manufacturing approach produces over 90% of toothpaste and manual toothbrushes for the U.S. market within U.S. facilities, reducing transportation emissions and supporting local economies. This manufacturing efficiency is part of P&G's broader commitment to environmental responsibility across all production operations.

Product Innovation and Design: Oral-B has developed innovative products designed to reduce environmental impact while maintaining performance. The Oral-B Clic manual toothbrush uses 60% less plastic than traditional manual toothbrushes, earning recognition from Fast Company as a winner in the 2020 Innovation by Design Awards sustainability category. This design innovation demonstrates Oral-B's ability to reduce plastic consumption while delivering effective oral care solutions.

Packaging Sustainability: Oral-B and Crest are converting to recyclable HDPE toothpaste tubes in the United States, with a goal of 100% recyclable toothpaste tubes by 2025. The brands are adding How2Recycle labels on selected product packaging to educate consumers about proper recycling practices. These packaging initiatives support P&G's global goal of ensuring all product packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025.

Recycling Programs: Oral-B has established alternative recycling programs to help consumers give used oral care products new life. The brand participates in P&G's broader recycling initiatives, making it easier for consumers to properly dispose of and recycle oral care products including toothbrushes, brush heads, and packaging materials. These programs help reduce the environmental impact of oral care products through circular economy solutions.

Responsible Sourcing and Transparency: Oral-B maintains transparent ingredient and component information through brand websites and SmartLabel technology. The brand provides consumers with detailed information about product ingredients and components, enabling informed purchasing decisions. This transparency commitment extends to responsible sourcing practices throughout the supply chain, ensuring ethical standards are maintained across all suppliers and manufacturing partners.

Climate and Water Conservation: As part of P&G's climate transition action plan, Oral-B contributes to the company's goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions across operations and supply chains by 2040. Manufacturing facilities implement water conservation measures and energy efficiency programs to reduce environmental impact while maintaining product quality and safety standards.

Oral-B has earned significant recognition within the dental care industry and among healthcare professionals for innovation, product efficacy, and contributions to oral health. The brand's awards reflect its position as the world's leading dentist-recommended toothbrush brand and its pioneering role in electric toothbrush technology.

American Dental Association Acceptance: Oral-B is the first electric toothbrush brand to be accepted by the American Dental Association (ADA), demonstrating the highest standards of safety and efficacy. This prestigious recognition signifies that Oral-B electric toothbrushes meet rigorous ADA criteria for removing plaque and improving gum health. The ADA Seal of Acceptance is considered the gold standard in dental care product validation.

Innovation and Design Awards: Oral-B Clic manual toothbrush won Fast Company's 2020 Innovation by Design Award in the sustainability category, recognizing its innovative design that uses 60% less plastic than traditional toothbrushes. This award highlights Oral-B's ability to combine sustainability with product innovation, creating environmentally responsible solutions without compromising performance.

Professional Endorsements: Oral-B maintains the distinction of being the No. 1 dentist-recommended toothbrush brand worldwide. This professional endorsement reflects the trust and confidence dental professionals place in Oral-B products for their patients' oral care needs. The brand's strong relationships with dental professionals contribute to its market leadership and credibility.

Research and Academic Recognition: Oral-B supports dental research through programs like the Crest and Oral-B Promising Researcher Award, administered through the ADA Foundation. This award recognizes emerging researchers in oral health sciences, demonstrating Oral-B's commitment to advancing dental science and supporting the next generation of dental researchers. The 2025 award was granted to Merna Gress for research on oral-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Consumer Trust and Market Leadership: While not traditional awards, Oral-B's consistent ranking as the leading toothbrush brand in consumer satisfaction surveys and market research studies represents ongoing recognition of the brand's quality and effectiveness. The brand's market leadership position reflects sustained consumer trust and preference across multiple global markets.

PFAS Dental Floss Lawsuit (2023-2024): Oral-B faced a class-action lawsuit filed in August 2023 alleging that certain Oral-B Glide Dental Floss products contained harmful PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), commonly known as "forever chemicals." The lawsuit, filed by plaintiff Alan Dalewitz, claimed that despite being marketed as part of Oral-B's "Pro-Health" line, laboratory testing indicated the products likely contained PFAS. Independent testing by Mamavation and the Environmental Health Network found evidence of PFAS in 39 different dental floss brands, with Oral-B testing among the highest levels. However, U.S. District Court Judge Nelson Roman granted Procter & Gamble's motion to dismiss the case in 2024, ruling in favor of P&G and ending the litigation.

FDA Device Classification: Oral-B electric toothbrushes are regulated by the FDA as Class 2 medical devices, requiring adherence to specific safety and efficacy standards. While not a controversy, this regulatory classification subjects the brand to ongoing FDA oversight and compliance requirements. The FDA maintains the authority to issue recalls or safety communications if issues arise with Oral-B electric toothbrush products, though no major recalls have been initiated in recent years.

Environmental Impact Concerns: Like many oral care brands, Oral-B has faced scrutiny regarding the environmental impact of plastic toothbrush components and packaging. Environmental advocates have raised concerns about the contribution of plastic toothbrushes to ocean pollution and landfill waste. In response, Oral-B has developed sustainability initiatives including the Clic toothbrush with reduced plastic content and recycling programs for used products. These environmental concerns have driven the brand's innovation in sustainable design and packaging solutions.

Product Safety and Regulatory Compliance: Oral-B maintains strict product safety protocols and compliance with global regulatory requirements for oral care products. The brand undergoes regular safety testing and quality control measures to ensure product safety and efficacy. While no major product safety recalls have been issued recently, Oral-B, like all oral care manufacturers, must maintain vigilance regarding potential safety issues such as allergic reactions to materials or component failures in electric toothbrush models.

Market Competition and Innovation Pressure: Oral-B operates in a highly competitive oral care market, facing pressure from both traditional competitors and new entrants offering natural or sustainable alternatives. This competitive landscape creates ongoing challenges for market share maintenance and requires continuous innovation to maintain brand leadership. The brand must balance innovation investment with price competitiveness while addressing growing consumer demand for environmentally sustainable products.