Today, the toothbrush is a very appreciated, important aspect of dental hygiene and the health of your smile. But how did the toothbrush come to be? Before the toothbrush, how did people clean their teeth? Continue reading to explore the answers to these questions with our dentists and team.
Tools for cleaning the teeth date back to about 3500 BC. The Babylonians and the Egyptians chewed on twigs with frayed ends to clean their teeth. Chew sticks have been discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs. The Chinese began using aromatic chew sticks to freshen their breath around 1600 BC.
In 1498 in China, the bristle toothbrush was invented. Coarse, stiff hairs were taken from the back of a hog’s neck and attached to a handle made of either bone or bamboo. The bristle toothbrush was brought to Europe, where it was adapted to use horsehairs or feathers.
Soon after nylon was invented by Du Pont, the modern toothbrush was developed in 1938. The original nylon-bristled toothbrush was called Doctor West’s Miracle Toothbrush. By the 1950s, softer nylon bristles were being used, as many people preferred those. The first electronic toothbrush was made in 1939.
We welcome you to contact Signature Smiles at 512-212-9803 today to learn more about toothbrushes and to schedule a visit with our dentists in Bastrop, Texas.