The History of The Toothbrush

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Even before the invention of the toothbrush and the toothpaste, people had already known that the mouth needs to be taken care of regularly.

The evolution of the toothbrush

The first toothbrushes were created in 3500 BC and were being used by the Egyptians and Babylonians. They were in the form of chewing sticks (looking like the above image) and were made from the branches of the Salvadora persica tree. Research reveals that the ancients who discovered these toothbrushes were not only concerned about removing food extracts from their teeth, but they also knew that brushing your teeth twice a day prevented your gums from getting diseases and, therefore, resulted in a healthy mouth.

This means that oral health care is an ancient human practice that has grown to be more serious and significant. In the generations that followed, the first mass-produced toothbrush was made in England by William Addis in the year 1780. Apparently he made his first toothbrush in jail, after being arrested for making a riot. After he passed in 1808 he left his company to his eldest son and the business is still running even today.

More and more people were beginning to catch on and the general interest in oral health began to rise dramatically, when toothbrushes were being mass-produced all over Europe, France, Germany and Japan. Just as the system is today, the type of bristles used in the creation of a specific toothbrush determined how expensive it is. Due to how dentistry evolved over the years, the designs of the toothbrush kept on improving.

How it all began

At first the use of animal bristles was the norm. But then as time went by and dentists realised that animal bristles took too long to dry and sometimes fell off the base, new inventions were bound to arise.

From the traditional manual toothbrush (which looks like William Addis' brushes above) there have been many variations of the oral cleansing instrument we all use today. Some are powered by batteries, some are chewable and some are sonic powered. However, one of the most innovative characteristics that were included in the toothbrush is the interdental brush (also known as the interproximal brush). Since dentists designed a manual toothbrush fused with the tongue scraper (giving a more thorough scrub on the tongue and cheeks), the creation of the interdental brush was to take gum health a few steps further.

These bristles can reach the food, plaque and debris that are hiding in the tight spaces between your teeth. This obviously allows you take special care of your gingiva, leaving you with fresh breath and a healthy smile.

The evolution of the toothbrush gives a good insight on the importance of oral health. Ancient civilizations developed it to protect their gums and pick food from between their teeth. As the field of dentistry grew older - the toothbrush was improved to do jobs that (when done properly) would enable you to be your own dentist twice a day every day.

It really is interesting how the toothbrush has evolved and what the brushes of today offer us. With oral hygiene having so much importance in this day and age, it's no wonder better dental care products are coming out each year. From electronic toothbrushes to the ones with tongue brushes and extended bristles, we now have a wide variety to choose from. Alexia