History of the Toothbrush

HISTORY OF THE TOOTHBRUSH



Though original toothbrushes started out as chewing sticks, over the years the toothbrush has changed quite a bit.



3500 B.C. Babylonians & Egyptians



Used Chewing sticks about the size of a pencil to clean their teeth



They would chew on one end of the twig until it became soft like a brush. The other end was used to pick between teeth.



1600 B.C. Ancient Chinese



Developed chewing sticks made from aromatic tree twigs for fresh breath



1400s Chinese to European



First hard bristle toothbrush was invented in China, made of bone, bamboo and hog hair



The Europeans replaced hard bristles with softer horse hairs or feathers



1690 The Word "Toothbrush"



Earliest identified use of word in English was in autobiography of Anthony Wood



1600s France



French dentists were the first to promote use of toothbrushes



1780 William Addis



Brush made from swine bristles

Handle: carved from cattle bone



Made first modern toothbrush while in prison in England



1844 Dr. Meyer Rhein



Designed first three-row bristle brush



1857 H.N. Wadsworth



Fig 1.

Fig 2. Wadsworth's patent



First to patent the toothbrush



1885 America



American companies begin mass-producing toothbrushes



1938 Dupont



Nylon synthetic bristles



NOW A TOOTHBRUSH

The New Dr. West's



People preferred these because they were softer and more hygienic



1940s U.S. Army Soldiers



Brought habit of toothbrushing home after WWII



1954 Switzerland



Developed and produced first electric toothbrush



1961 Rechargeable cordless toothbrush



1987 Rotary action toothbrush



2003 Lemelson-MIT invention index



The toothbrush was selected as the #1 invention people can't live without... beating out computers, cell phones, and cars



TODAY

Toothbrushes come in many varieties...



Heads

Rectangular, oblong, oval and almost round



Bristles

Ranges from very soft to hard in texture



Handles

Straight, angled, curved



End-tufted brush

Shaped in pointed arrow pattern to allow closer adaptation to gums. Used for cleaning along gum line adjacent to teeth



Chewable toothbrush

Miniature plastic moulded toothbrush, used when no water is available



Interdental brush

Used for cleaning between wire of braces and teeth



The fundamentals have not changed since the Egyptians and Babylonians -- a handle to grip and a bristle with which to clean the teeth. Over this long history, the toothbrush has developed to become a scientifically designed tool using modern ergonomic designs and hygienic materials to save us from cavities and disease. HISTORY OF THE TOOTHBRUSH Though original toothbrushes started out as chewing sticks, over the years the toothbrush has changed quite a bit. 3500 B.C. Babylonians & Egyptians They would chew on one end of the twig until it became soft like a brush. The other end was used to Used chewing sticks about the size of a pencil to clean their teeth pick between teeth. 1400s First hard-bristle toothbrush was invented in China, made of bone, bamboo and hog hair 1600 B.C. Chinese to European Ancient The Europeans replaced hard bristles with softer horse hairs or feathers Developed chewing Chinese sticks made from aromatic tree twigs for fresh breath 1690 French dentists were the first to promote use of toothbrushes Brush: made from swine bristles Handle: carved from cattle bone The Word "Toothbrush" 1780 1600s Earliest identified use of word in English was in autobiography of Anthony Wood William Addis France Made first modern toothbrush while in prison in England Fig1. American companies beğin mass-producing toothbrushes 1885 Wadsworth's patent FigS America 1857 1844 Tay New DrWests NOW-A TOOTHBRUS4 H.N. Wadsworth Dr. Meyer Rhein 1938 First to patent the toothbrush Designed first three- row bristle brush Du Pont Nylon synthetic bristles People preferred these because they were softer and more hygienic 1940s 1954 U.S. Army Soldiers Switzerland Brought habit of toothbrushing home after WWII Developed and produced first electric toothbrush 2003 Lemelson-MIT invention index 1987 1961 The toothbrush was selected as the #1 invention people can't live without.. beating out computers, cell phones, and cars Rotary action toothbrush Rechargeable cordless toothbrush TODAY Toothbrushes come in many varieties... Heads Bristles Handles Straight, angled, curved Rectangular, oblong. oval and almost round Range from very soft to hard in texture End tufted OralB Interdental brush brush Chewable toothbrush Shaped in pointed arrow pattern to allow closer adaptation to gums. Used for cleaning along gum line adjacent to teeth Miniature plastic moulded toothbrush, used when no water is available Used for cleaning between wire of braces and teeth The fundamentals have not changed since the Egyptians and Babylonians Over this long history, the toothbrush has developed to become a scientifically designed tool using modern ergonomic designs and hygienic materials to save us from cavities and disease. a handle to grip and a bristle with which to clean the teeth. SOURCES http://www.colgate.com/app/CP/US/EN/OC/Information/Articles/Oral-and-Dental-Health-Basics/Oral-Hygiene/Brushing-and-Flossing/article/History-of-Toothbrushes-and-Toothpastes.cvsp http://www.padental.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home& Template-/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID-13171 http://www.incisorsandmolars.com/dental-education/toothbrush-history.html http://www.myhealthyspeak.co.in/?p=156