Who Invented the Toothbrush?

For many of us, brushing our teeth is an essential routine that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay. But have you ever wondered when this important oral regimen started? Who Invented the First Toothbrush?

The Babylonians are credited with being the first to use what appears to be the forerunner of the modern toothbrush. In those days, there weren’t many designs to choose from, but they managed with a chewing stick as early as 3500 BC. C.

The chewing stick started out as a toothpick that was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans. No bigger than a pencil, the chewing stick was literally chewed at one end until it became a rough brush while the other end was pointed. Part toothbrush and part toothpick, this device was used by the Chinese in 1600 BC to clean teeth. The sticks or twigs that were used came from aromatic trees that helped keep the breath fresh.

“Many peoples used different forms of toothbrushes. Indian medicine (Ayurveda) has used the neem tree and its products to create toothbrushes and similar products for millennia. One person chews one end of the neem twig until it It looks a bit like the bristles of a toothbrush, and then you use it to brush your teeth.In the Muslim world, the miswak or siwak made from a twig or root with antiseptic properties has been widely used since the Islamic Golden Age. It was also common to rub baking soda or chalk against the teeth. ” Wikipedia editors said.

“The first toothbrush with bristles is originally from China and traders brought it to Europe. It was made from hairs from the neck of the Siberian boar, which were attached to a bamboo or bone handle. In Europe, where very few people brushed their teeth. teeth. teeth, wild boar hairs were found to be too stiff and made the gums bleed, so horse hair was used instead, which was softer. In Europe it was even more common to use a toothpick after meals, made from a goose feather, silver or copper, “added the BBC.

Although the Chinese are credited with inventing the modern toothbrush in the late 1400s, it was William Addis of England who popularized them in 1780. At the time, he was in prison for causing a riot and the usual way of cleaning the teeth then was by rubbing a cloth on the teeth with soot and salt. Addis felt this was not enough, so she took a small animal bone, poked holes in it, and glued animal bristles on.

To do this, he became a wealthy man and his invention was mass-produced by his descendants in the 19th century. These were made from cattle bones and the bristles came from wild boar or horse hair.

In 1937, Wallace H. Carothers of Du Pont Laboratories in the United States invented nylon, ending the misery allegedly experienced by the Siberian boar and the common horse. This was good news for many, as boar hair retained bacteria, did not dry well, and often fell off the brush.

In contrast, nylon was tough, durable, dried easily, and did not harbor bacteria. Beginning in 1938, toothbrush bristles were made of nylon and were first used by Dr. West’s Miracle Tuft toothbrush.

The early nylon toothbrushes, however, were stiff and damaging to the gums and were not recommended by dentists. In the 1950s, Du Pont introduced the Park Avenue toothbrush, an expensive brand that used soft nylon.

But the concept of brushing your teeth became mainstream in the United States only during World War II, when American troops were forced to do it as part of their daily routine. They brought this practice home to their families when the war ended.

“In 1939 the first electric toothbrush was produced in Switzerland, but it did not appear on the open market until the 1960s. It appeared on the American market, produced by Squibb and was called Broxodent. The first cordless rechargeable electric toothbrush was introduced by General Electric at the same time. However, it was not until 1987 that the rotary action electric toothbrush appeared in stores, “revealed the BBC.