Toothbrush Timeline 3500 BC – 2015

3500 BC

Back in 3500 BC Egyptians and Babylonians would chew on the ends of sticks until the fibers of the wood formed a brush which was then used to clean their teeth. Subsequently Miswak, branches of the Salvadora persica tree, was discovered. The Salvadora persica branches have healing and antiseptic qualities, and studies show that Miswak is superior to present day toothbrushes. Many people still use Miswak.

1500

Around 1500 Chinese dentists started using the hairs off of cold climate pigs and pasted them on bamboo sticks or animal bones creating the first bristle toothbrush. Other versions of the toothbrush included bird feathers, porcupine quills and boar bristles.

1700

William Addis introduced the Chinese way of brushing to England in 1780 being the first person to mass produce modern toothbrushes. The Addis version of the toothbrush used cow tail hair drilled and tired on to cow bones, and later versions used horse hair instead of boar hair because it was softer. Dr. Robert Bryan of Dr. Bob Bryan Orthodontics in Allentown, PA recommends using a soft toothbrush. Addis’ company still exists today but they have moved beyond oral hygiene.

1800

• Patent number 18,653 marked the first toothbrush patent in the United States of America. It was registered by an entrepreneur, H.N. Wadsworth, on November 17, 1857.
• In 1885, mass production of Wadsworth’s toothbrushes began.

1900

• Brushing teeth became a regular thing in 1938 when a company called DuPont de Nemours introduced the first toothbrush with nylon bristles. It was called Dr. West’s Miracle-Tuft Toothbrush.
• In 1939, the first electric toothbrush was invented in Switzerland.
• In the 1960s, the electric toothbrush was introduced to the public market.

2000

Today over 3,000 toothbrushes patents exist. Examples of recent toothbrush innovations are the brushes with SmartGuide which wirelessly transmits a map of your mouth to an LCD display. The brush monitors how many times you brush your teeth, area that you missed brushing and which areas still need more work. Once your mouth is perfectly clean, it signals you to stop. Another example is the Tooth Tunes brush which uses sound waves to play a song for two minutes while you brush, two minutes being the amount of time Dr. Bryan recommends that you spend brushing your teeth. For Invisalign® wearers, remember to remove your clear aligners before brushing as well as before flossing, eating and drinking.

For more information on maintaining good oral health, or if you have any questions or concerns about your Invisalign® treatment, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Bryan at 610.553.6246 or visit Dr. Bob Bryan Orthodontics when and if you are in the Allentown, PA area. We look forward to hearing from you!