History of the toothbrush - Who invented the toothbrush

The history of the toothbrush goes back as early as 3500 BC. The earliest relatives of the toothbrush could be the 'chewing sticks' (primitive toothpicks) used by the Babylonians and Egyptians.

This form of the toothbrush was crafted from a stick that was chewed on one edge so that the fibers of the wood were made softer and brush-like in shape. It was then rubbed against the teeth to clean them. Sometimes the sticks were made from aromatic trees to freshen the mouth. Ancient Greeks used to rub their teeth every morning with a thin linen towel.

Who invented the toothbrush

The Chinese are believed to make the next big step in the history of the toothbrush, creating the ancestor of today’s toothbrush. These first toothbrushes were crafted with a handle made of bamboo and a set of Siberian wild boar bristles attached to the handle.

The Chinese are considered as the ones who invented the toothbrush. Their version of the toothbrush spread to Europe, brought back from China to Europe by travellers. But the hair of the Siberian wild boar were very rough on the gums for the Europeans and they were soon replaced by horse hair.

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Modern toothbrush history

French dentists, promoted the use of toothbrushes in Europe in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. The first toothbrush mass-produced was made by William Addis in England. (image: Pictures of toothbrushes from a Store Catalog - 1907)

The modern history of the toothbrush starts with the invention of nylon by Du Pont in 1937. Just a year later in 1938, the first nylon bristle toothbrush got in the market.

The electric toothbrush although conceived as an idea in 1880, was first produced in 1939, in Switzerland and much later in 1960 was first marketed in U.S.

A rechargeable cordless toothbrush was introduced by General Electric in 1961. The first rotary action electrical toothbrush for home use was introduced in 1987.

Today you can find numerous brands, types and designs of toothbrushes on the market.

'Last minute' news of toothbrush history

Oral-B launched a new power toothbrush which comes with a stand-alone wireless display that provides real time feedback and visibly guides patients to promote better brushing habits. It includes

- Quadrant timer that displays brushing time by quadrant
- Brush head replacement indicator
- Pressure sensor alert to avoid excessive pressure when brushing

Oral-B Triumph with SmartGuide is the more sophisticated brushing system so far in the history of the toothbrush.

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