Toothbrush - An Overview

Toothbrush - An Overview
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gancho_Shefa] Gancho Shefa

Most of the people nowadays are using toothbrush or tandbørste to clean their teeth from tartar, residue and plaque. But most of the time people still get tooth decay and other dental problems because of poor oral hygiene. People that develop dental problems are resulted from forgetting to brush their teeth regularly. It can happen during times at rush hours, waking up late in the morning or too much fun from an event that a person forgets the basic routine to follow.

Some of the people though are wondering how toothbrush came to be. One surprising thing is the toothbrush that is usually seen today is not how it looks like before. It is a result of the evolution and innovation for the convenient of people.


At first it was chewing-sticks and they are used by the Babylonians early 3500 BC. In the ancient Roman and Greek literature it even mentions using toothpicks - which they chewed to help remove residue and clean the mouth and teeth.
Toothpicks then evolved into the size of a pencil. The other end was chewed on until it becomes soft like that of a brush and the other is pointed which helps pick and remove food particles or residue on and in between the teeth. The twigs that were used in this era were from trees with aromatic components that helps clean the teeth and freshens it. It was mentioned in the early Chinese literature in the year 1600 BC.
The Chinese during the 15th century invented the first toothbrush but not the same look with the modern toothbrush or tandbørste of today. The brush was made out of the hair of a wild Siberian boar and then later this toothbrush was brought to the continent of Europe by travelers. The western people find the toothbrush too hard and stiff so they prefer using the brush with bristles made from horse hairs.
The French dentist upheld the use of toothbrush during the 17th and 18th centuries. The first mass-produced toothbrush was created by William Adis from England. Until then his descendants continued and made the finest toothbrushes in Europe. The handles were made from the bones of the cattle and heads had natural bristles that were stuck in place by a very thin wire.
Nylon was then introduced in the year 1937 by Wallace Carothers and then the nylon was used as bristles on the head of the toothbrush.
The first electric toothbrush was created in Switzerland in the year 1937 for the sole purpose of patients who have movement inability to brush their teeth using their hands. Battery powered toothbrushes were created by General Electric and captured the attention of the public.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Toothbrush---An-Overview&id=5289158] Toothbrush - An Overview