Where is the toothbrush invented

The Romans opted for sticks with frayed ends, while the Greeks used rough cloths. About years ago, the Chinese began fashioning proto-toothbrushes by attaching coarse animal hairs to bamboo or ivory handles; during the Middle Ages, travelers brought these devices to Europe.

Fast-forward to the late 18th century, when an Englishman named William Addis landed in jail for inciting a riot. To while away the time—and freshen up in the process—he carved a bone handle, drilled holes into it and inserted boar bristles that were held in place by wire. Addis starting mass-producing his contraption after leaving prison and died a wealthy man. In the DuPont company developed the first toothbrush with nylon fibers, which proved sturdier and more efficient than animal hairs.

But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Take a look at the timeline below to learn how the toothbrush has changed over the years. Babylonians used chewing sticks to clean their teeth. They were careful to select twigs from aromatic trees that they believed would clean and freshen their mouth.

They chewed on one end of the stick until it became soft like a brush, and kept the other end pointed to pick out food that got stuck between their teeth. These sticks were the size of a pencil.

The bristles were very hard. Middle Ages -- The Chinese couldn't keep it secret for long. In , a Japanese Zem master witnessed monks in China using these brushes to clean their teeth.

Travelers then brought the bristle toothbrush from China to Europe and it spread throughout the continent. Late s -- William Addis of England was thrown in jail for causing a riot.

While in prison, Addis ruminated over the effectiveness of the traditional way people were cleaning their teeth -- by running a rag with soot and salt on the teeth. Using a small animal bone from his meal, he drilled small holes into it, obtained bristles from a guard, tied them into tufts for the holes and held it all together with wire.

Once he was released from prison, he mass-manufactured the toothbrush and became a very wealthy man. The company still exists today under the name of Wisdom Toothbrushes. The DuPont company is responsible for switching to synthetic typically nylon fibers, which held up much better and didn't retain the bacteria animal bristles did. Post WWII -- In America, the widespread practice of brushing one's teeth regularly was unofficially inaugurated when soldiers returned home from World War II with military hygiene habits ingrained in their heads.

There you have it. Did you already know any of these fun facts about the development of the toothbrush? Brad Hylan is a gentle and affordable comprehensive care dentist located in Cleveland, OH with a keen interest in history, travel, and wind-surfing.