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==History==
==History==
[[File:Napoleon’s toothbrush, c 1795. (9660576547).jpg|thumb|right|[[Horsehair]] toothbrush said to have been used by [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] (1769-1821)]]
[[File:Napoleon’s toothbrush, c 1795. (9660576547).jpg|thumb|right|[[Horsehair]] toothbrush said to have been used by [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] (1769-1821)]]
A variety of [[oral hygiene]] measures have been used since before recorded history prior to the toothbrush.<ref name=sammons-223>{{cite book | last=Sammons | first=R. | chapter=Control of dental plaque | title=Medical biofilms detection, prevention and control | year=2003 | publisher=John Wiley & Sons | location=Chichester | page=223 | isbn=978-0-471-98867-0}}</ref> This has been verified by various excavations done all over the world, in which [[chew stick]]s, tree [[twig]]s, bird [[feather]]s, animal [[bone]]s and [[porcupine]] quills were recovered. The predecessor of the toothbrush is the [[Teeth cleaning twig|chew stick]]. Chew sticks were twigs with a frayed end used to brush against the teeth,<ref name="origins"/> while the other end was used as a toothpick,<ref name="dentalb">{{cite book|last=Yu|first=Hai-Yang|last2=Qian|first2=Lin-Mao|last3=Zheng|first3=Jing|title=Dental Biotribology|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=tsSqVeaHUv0C&pg=PA19|year=2013|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-1-4614-4550-0|pages=18–19}}</ref> The earliest chew sticks were discovered in Babylonia in 3500 BC,<ref name="dentalb"/> an Egyptian tomb dating from 3000 BC,<ref name="origins"/> and mentioned in Chinese records dating from 1600 BC. The Greeks and Romans used toothpicks to clean their teeth and toothpick-like twigs have been excavated in [[Qin Dynasty]] tombs.<ref name="dentalb"/> In Africa, chew sticks are made from the tree ''[[salvadora persica]]'', also known as the "toothbrush tree." Chew sticks are still used in the rural Southern United States, where they are known as "twig brushes.".<ref name="origins">{{cite book|last=Panati|first=Charles|title=Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=U662rR2VInQC&pg=PA208|year=2013|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-0-06-227708-4|pages=208–209}}</ref> In the Islamic world the use of chewing stick [[Miswak]] is considered a pious action, and has been prescribed to be used before every prayer five times a day.<ref name="IslamKotob">IslamKotob, ''Muslims and Science'', (Islamic Books), p.30.</ref> [[Miswak]] has been used by Muslims since 7<sup>th</sup> Century AD.
A variety of [[oral hygiene]] measures have been used since before recorded history prior to the toothbrush.<ref name=sammons-223>{{cite book | last=Sammons | first=R. | chapter=Control of dental plaque | title=Medical biofilms detection, prevention and control | year=2003 | publisher=John Wiley & Sons | location=Chichester | page=223 | isbn=978-0-471-98867-0}}</ref> This has been verified by various excavations done all over the world, in which [[chew stick]]s, tree [[twig]]s, bird [[feather]]s, animal [[bone]]s and [[porcupine]] quills were recovered. The of the toothbrush is the [[Teeth cleaning twig|chew stick]]. Chew sticks were twigs with a frayed end used to brush against the teeth,<ref name="origins"/> while the other end was used as a toothpick,<ref name="dentalb">{{cite book|last=Yu|first=Hai-Yang|last2=Qian|first2=Lin-Mao|last3=Zheng|first3=Jing|title=Dental Biotribology|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=tsSqVeaHUv0C&pg=PA19|year=2013|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-1-4614-4550-0|pages=18–19}}</ref> The earliest chew sticks were discovered in Babylonia in 3500 BC,<ref name="dentalb"/> an Egyptian tomb dating from 3000 BC,<ref name="origins"/> and mentioned in Chinese records dating from 1600 BC. The Greeks and Romans used toothpicks to clean their teeth and toothpick-like twigs have been excavated in [[Qin Dynasty]] tombs.<ref name="dentalb"/> In Africa, chew sticks are made from the tree ''[[salvadora persica]]'', also known as the "toothbrush tree." Chew sticks are still used in the rural Southern United States, where they are known as "twig brushes.".<ref name="origins">{{cite book|last=Panati|first=Charles|title=Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=U662rR2VInQC&pg=PA208|year=2013|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-0-06-227708-4|pages=208–209}}</ref> In the Islamic world the use of chewing stick [[Miswak]] is considered a pious action, and has been prescribed to be used before every prayer five times a day.<ref name="IslamKotob">IslamKotob, ''Muslims and Science'', (Islamic Books), p.30.</ref> [[Miswak]] has been used by Muslims since 7<sup>th</sup> Century AD.


The first bristle toothbrush, resembling the modern toothbrush, was found was in China during the [[Tang Dynasty]] (619–907) and used hog bristle.<ref name=kumar-412413>{{cite book | last=Kumar | first=Jayanth V. | title=Textbook of preventive and community dentistry | year=2011 | publisher=Elsevier | isbn=978-81-312-2530-1 | pages=412–413 | edition=2nd | chapter=Oral hygiene aids}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title=Primary preventive dentistry | year=1999 | publisher=Appleton & Lange | location=Stamford | isbn=978-0-8385-8129-2 | edition=5th | editor=Harris, Norman O. (ed); García-Godoy, Franklin}}</ref> The bristles were sourced from hogs living in Siberia and northern China because the colder temperatures provided firmer bristles. They were then attached to a handle manufactured from bamboo or bone, forming a toothbrush.<ref name="origins"/> In 1223, Japanese [[Zen]] master [[Dōgen|Dōgen Kigen]] recorded on [[Shōbōgenzō]] that he saw monks in [[China]] clean their teeth with brushes made of horse-tail hairs attached to an ox-bone handle. The bristle toothbrush spread to Europe, brought back from China to Europe by travellers.<ref name="The Library of Congress">{{cite web|publisher=The Library of Congress|date=2007-04-04|url=http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/tooth.html|title=Who invented the toothbrush and when was it invented?|accessdate=2008-04-12}}</ref> It was adopted in Europe during the 17th century.<ref name="stay">{{cite book | last=Stay | first=Flora Parsa | title=The fibromyalgia dental handbook: A practical guide to maintaining peak dental health | year=2005 | publisher=Marlowe & Company | location=New York | isbn=978-1-56924-401-2 | page=118}}</ref> The earliest identified use of the word toothbrush in English was in the autobiography of [[Anthony Wood]], who wrote in 1690 that he had bought a toothbrush from J. Barret.<ref>{{cite book|last=Olmert|first=Michael|title=Milton's teeth & Ovid's umbrella : curiouser and curiouser adventures in history|publisher=Simon & Schuster|location=New York|isbn=0-684-80164-7|year=1996|page=62}}</ref> Europeans found the hog bristle toothbrushes exported from merchants in China too firm, and preferred softer bristle toothbrushes manufactured from horsehair.<ref name="origins"/> Mass-produced toothbrushes, made with horse or boar bristle, continued to be imported to England from China until the mid-20th century.<ref name=sammons-223/>
The first bristle toothbrush, resembling the modern toothbrush, was found was in China during the [[Tang Dynasty]] (619–907) and used hog bristle.<ref name=kumar-412413>{{cite book | last=Kumar | first=Jayanth V. | title=Textbook of preventive and community dentistry | year=2011 | publisher=Elsevier | isbn=978-81-312-2530-1 | pages=412–413 | edition=2nd | chapter=Oral hygiene aids}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title=Primary preventive dentistry | year=1999 | publisher=Appleton & Lange | location=Stamford | isbn=978-0-8385-8129-2 | edition=5th | editor=Harris, Norman O. (ed); García-Godoy, Franklin}}</ref> The bristles were sourced from hogs living in Siberia and northern China because the colder temperatures provided firmer bristles. They were then attached to a handle manufactured from bamboo or bone, forming a toothbrush.<ref name="origins"/> In 1223, Japanese [[Zen]] master [[Dōgen|Dōgen Kigen]] recorded on [[Shōbōgenzō]] that he saw monks in [[China]] clean their teeth with brushes made of horse-tail hairs attached to an ox-bone handle. The bristle toothbrush spread to Europe, brought back from China to Europe by travellers.<ref name="The Library of Congress">{{cite web|publisher=The Library of Congress|date=2007-04-04|url=http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/tooth.html|title=Who invented the toothbrush and when was it invented?|accessdate=2008-04-12}}</ref> It was adopted in Europe during the 17th century.<ref name="stay">{{cite book | last=Stay | first=Flora Parsa | title=The fibromyalgia dental handbook: A practical guide to maintaining peak dental health | year=2005 | publisher=Marlowe & Company | location=New York | isbn=978-1-56924-401-2 | page=118}}</ref> The earliest identified use of the word toothbrush in English was in the autobiography of [[Anthony Wood]], who wrote in 1690 that he had bought a toothbrush from J. Barret.<ref>{{cite book|last=Olmert|first=Michael|title=Milton's teeth & Ovid's umbrella : curiouser and curiouser adventures in history|publisher=Simon & Schuster|location=New York|isbn=0-684-80164-7|year=1996|page=62}}</ref> Europeans found the hog bristle toothbrushes exported from merchants in China too firm, and preferred softer bristle toothbrushes manufactured from horsehair.<ref name="origins"/> Mass-produced toothbrushes, made with horse or boar bristle, continued to be imported to England from China until the mid-20th century.<ref name=sammons-223/>

Revision as of 18:20, 28 January 2014

Toothbrushes

The toothbrush is an oral hygiene instrument used to clean the teeth and gums that consists of a head of tightly clustered bristles mounted on a handle, which facilitates the cleansing of hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. Toothpaste, which often contains fluoride, is commonly used in conjunction with a toothbrush to increase the effectiveness of tooth brushing. Toothbrushes are available with different bristle textures, sizes and forms. Most dentists recommend using a toothbrush labelled "soft", since hard bristled toothbrushes can damage tooth enamel and irritate the gums.[1] The predecessor of the toothbrush, the chew stick, first appeared in Egypt and Babylonia,[2][3] and the earliest bristle toothbrushes originate from China.[4] Toothbrushes were introduced to Europe through merchants and travelers in East Asia by the 17th century.[3][5] The nylon toothbrush was invented in the 1930s.[2]

History

Horsehair toothbrush said to have been used by Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)

A variety of oral hygiene measures have been used since before recorded history prior to the toothbrush.[6] This has been verified by various excavations done all over the world, in which chew sticks, tree twigs, bird feathers, animal bones and porcupine quills were recovered. The of the toothbrush is the chew stick. Chew sticks were twigs with a frayed end used to brush against the teeth,[3] while the other end was used as a toothpick,[2] The earliest chew sticks were discovered in Babylonia in 3500 BC,[2] an Egyptian tomb dating from 3000 BC,[3] and mentioned in Chinese records dating from 1600 BC. The Greeks and Romans used toothpicks to clean their teeth and toothpick-like twigs have been excavated in Qin Dynasty tombs.[2] In Africa, chew sticks are made from the tree salvadora persica, also known as the "toothbrush tree." Chew sticks are still used in the rural Southern United States, where they are known as "twig brushes.".[3] In the Islamic world the use of chewing stick Miswak is considered a pious action, and has been prescribed to be used before every prayer five times a day.[7] Miswak has been used by Muslims since 7th Century AD.

The first bristle toothbrush, resembling the modern toothbrush, was found was in China during the Tang Dynasty (619–907) and used hog bristle.[4][8] The bristles were sourced from hogs living in Siberia and northern China because the colder temperatures provided firmer bristles. They were then attached to a handle manufactured from bamboo or bone, forming a toothbrush.[3] In 1223, Japanese Zen master Dōgen Kigen recorded on Shōbōgenzō that he saw monks in China clean their teeth with brushes made of horse-tail hairs attached to an ox-bone handle. The bristle toothbrush spread to Europe, brought back from China to Europe by travellers.[9] It was adopted in Europe during the 17th century.[5] The earliest identified use of the word toothbrush in English was in the autobiography of Anthony Wood, who wrote in 1690 that he had bought a toothbrush from J. Barret.[10] Europeans found the hog bristle toothbrushes exported from merchants in China too firm, and preferred softer bristle toothbrushes manufactured from horsehair.[3] Mass-produced toothbrushes, made with horse or boar bristle, continued to be imported to England from China until the mid-20th century.[6]

A photo from 1899 showing the use of a toothbrush.

In Europe, William Addis of England is believed to have produced the first mass-produced toothbrush in 1780.[9][11] In 1770, he had been jailed for causing a riot; while in prison he decided that the method used to clean teeth – at the time rubbing a rag with soot and salt on the teeth – was ineffective and could be improved. To that end, he saved a small animal bone left over from the meal he had eaten the previous night, into which he drilled small holes. He then obtained some bristles from one of his guards, which he tied in tufts that he then passed through the holes in the bone, and which he finally sealed with glue. After his release, he started a business that would manufacture the toothbrushes he had built, and he soon became very rich. He died in 1808, and left the business to his eldest son, also called William; the company was continuing, as of the middle of October 2013, to do business under the name of Wisdom Toothbrushes.[12] By 1840 toothbrushes were being mass-produced in England, France, Germany, and Japan.[12] Pig bristle was used for cheaper toothbrushes, and badger hair for the more expensive ones.[12]

The first patent for a toothbrush was granted to H. N. Wadsworth in 1857 (US Patent No. 18,653) in the United States, but mass production in the United States only started in 1885. The rather advanced design had a bone handle with holes bored into it for the Siberian boar hair bristles. Unfortunately, animal bristle was not an ideal material as it retains bacteria and does not dry well, and the bristles often fell out. In addition to bone, sometimes handles were made of wood or ivory.[13] In the United States, brushing teeth did not become routine until after World War II, when American soldiers had to clean their teeth daily.[11]

A child being shown how to use a toothbrush.

During the 1900s, celluloid handles gradually replaced bone handles in toothbrushes.[4] Natural animal bristles were also replaced by synthetic fibers, usually nylon, by DuPont in 1938. The first nylon bristle toothbrush, made with nylon yarn, went on sale on February 24, 1938. The first electric toothbrush, the Broxodent, was invented in Switzerland in 1954.[14] As of the turn of the 21st century, nylon had come to be widely used for the bristles, and the handles were usually molded from thermoplastic materials.[6]

Johnson & Johnson, a leading medical-supplies firm, introduced the "Reach" toothbrush in the middle 1980s.[citation needed] It differed from previous toothbrushes in three ways: First, it had an angled head, similar to dental instruments, to reach back teeth; second, the bristles were concentrated more closely than usual to clean each tooth of potentially carigenic (cavity-causing) materials; and third, the outer bristles were longer and softer than the inner bristles, to clean between teeth. The Reach toothbrush was the first to have a specialized design intended to increase its effectiveness. Other models, from other manufacturers, soon followed; each of these had unique design features intended to be, and promoted as being, more effective than the basic toothbrush design that had been employed for years.

In January 2003 the toothbrush was selected as the number one invention Americans could not live without according to the Lemelson-MIT Invention Index.[15]

Types of toothbrush

Electric toothbrush

An Electric toothbrush is a tooth brush that performs oscillations or rotations driven by a motor. Most studies report a medical performance equal to the one of manual brushes,[16] the electric version can be more comfortable, an additional timer and pressure sensors can support a correct cleaning process.[17]

Interdental brush

TePe Interdental Brushes, color-coded according to ISO 16409.

An interdental brush, also called an interproximal brush or a proxy brush, is a small brush, typically disposable, either supplied with a reusable angled plastic handle or an integral handle, used for cleaning between teeth and between the wire of dental braces and the teeth.

There are evidences that, after tooth brushing with a conventional tooth brush, interdental brushes remove more plaque than dental floss.[18]

Brushes are available in a range of widths from 1 to 7, color-coded as per ISO 16409. Interdental brushes are classified according to ISO standard 16409:2006. The ISO brush size is determined by the PHD or Passage Hole Diameter in mm. This PHD is the minimum diameter of a hole that the interdental brush will pass through without deforming the brush wire stem.

Set of interdental brushes.
Brush Color (coded as per ISO 16409) Brush Size Wire Size Passage Hole Diameter (PHD)
Pink 0 0.4mm
Orange 1 0.45mm <=0.8mm
Red 2 0.5mm 0.9 mm-1.0 mm
Blue 3 0.6mm 1.1 mm-1.2 mm
Yellow 4 0.7mm 1.3 mm-1.5 mm
Green 5 0.8mm 1.6 mm-1.8 mm
Purple 6 1.1mm >1.9 mm
Grey 7 1.3mm
Black 7 1.5mm
Set of end-tufted brushes.

End-tufted brush

An end-tufted brush is a type of toothbrush used specifically for cleaning along the gumline adjacent to the teeth. The bristles are usually shaped in a pointed arrow pattern to allow closer adaptation to the gums. An end-tufted brush is ideal for cleaning specific difficult-to-reach areas, such as between crowns, bridgework and crowded teeth. End-tufted brushes may also be used around fixed orthodontic appliances, such as braces.

Chewable toothbrush

chewable toothbrushes

A chewable toothbrush is a miniature plastic moulded toothbrush. While not commonly used they prove to be quite handy to travelers and are sometimes available from bathroom vending machines. They are available in different flavors such as mint or bubblegum and should be disposed of after use. Other types of disposable toothbrushes include those that contain a small breakable plastic ball of toothpaste on the bristles, can be used without water.

Ecological toothbrushes

Traditionally, toothbrushes are made of plastic. Such brushes constitute a small source of pollution.[19][20] In order to reduce the environmental impact, some manufacturers have switched to using biodegradable materials and/or use replaceable heads.[citation needed]

Adversity of toothbrushes

Teeth can be damaged by several factors including poor oral hygiene, but also by wrong oral hygiene. Especially for sensitive teeth dentin and gums damages can be prevented by several measures[21] including a correct brushing technique.

It is beneficial not to scrub horizontally over the necks of teeth, pressing the brush not too hard against the teeth, not choosing a tooth paste that is too abrasive,[22] and maintain a waiting time of 30 minutes minimum after consumption of acidic food or drinks before brushing.[21][23]

Harder tooth brushes reduce plaque more efficiently but are more stressful to teeth and gum, using a medium to soft tooth brush for a longer cleaning time was rated to be the best compromise between cleaning result and gum and tooth health.[24]

Hygiene and care

  • It is not recommended to share toothbrushes with others since besides general hygienic concerns there is a risk of transmitting diseases that are typically transmittable by blood, like Hepatitis C.[25]
  • After use it is advisable to rinse the toothbrush with water, shake it off and let the toothbrush dry.
  • Bent and worn out bristles of a toothbrush lead to decreased cleaning efficiency. It is therefore recommended to change it for a new one when it appears to be worn out (roughly after 6–16 weeks).

See also

References

  1. ^ "Oral Longevity," American Dental Association brochure (PDF), page 2 Retrieved June 12, 2008
  2. ^ a b c d e Yu, Hai-Yang; Qian, Lin-Mao; Zheng, Jing (2013). Dental Biotribology. Springer. pp. 18–19. ISBN 978-1-4614-4550-0.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Panati, Charles (2013). Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things. HarperCollins. pp. 208–209. ISBN 978-0-06-227708-4.
  4. ^ a b c Kumar, Jayanth V. (2011). "Oral hygiene aids". Textbook of preventive and community dentistry (2nd ed.). Elsevier. pp. 412–413. ISBN 978-81-312-2530-1.
  5. ^ a b Stay, Flora Parsa (2005). The fibromyalgia dental handbook: A practical guide to maintaining peak dental health. New York: Marlowe & Company. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-56924-401-2.
  6. ^ a b c Sammons, R. (2003). "Control of dental plaque". Medical biofilms detection, prevention and control. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. p. 223. ISBN 978-0-471-98867-0.
  7. ^ IslamKotob, Muslims and Science, (Islamic Books), p.30.
  8. ^ Harris, Norman O. (ed); García-Godoy, Franklin, ed. (1999). Primary preventive dentistry (5th ed.). Stamford: Appleton & Lange. ISBN 978-0-8385-8129-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  9. ^ a b "Who invented the toothbrush and when was it invented?". The Library of Congress. 2007-04-04. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
  10. ^ Olmert, Michael (1996). Milton's teeth & Ovid's umbrella : curiouser and curiouser adventures in history. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 62. ISBN 0-684-80164-7.
  11. ^ a b History of Dentistry and Dental Care
  12. ^ a b c The company founded by Addis in 1780
  13. ^ "Toothbrushes - American Dental Association". ADA.org. 2010-02-04. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  14. ^ Retrieved 2008-04-12. "Who invented the toothbrush and when was it invented?" The Library of Congress. 2007-04-04.
  15. ^ "2003 Invention Index". 2003-01-21. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  16. ^ Deacon, SA (Dec 8, 2010). "Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health". The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (12): CD004971. doi:10.1111/j.1834-7819.2011.01329.x. PMID 21154357. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Kallar, S (1 January 2011). "Plaque removal efficacy of powered and manual toothbrushes under supervised and unsupervised conditions: A comparative clinical study". Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry. 29 (3): 235. doi:10.4103/0970-4388.85832. PMID 21985880. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  18. ^ Gluch, Joan I. (2012). "As an Adjunct to Tooth Brushing, Interdental Brushes (IDBs) are More Effective in Removing Plaque as Compared with Brushing Alone or the Combination Use of Tooth Brushing and Dental Floss". Journal of Evidence Based Dental Practice. 12 (2): 81–3. doi:10.1016/j.jebdp.2012.03.016. ISSN 1532-3382. PMID 22726785.
  19. ^ Toothbrushes make up 50 million pounds of plastics discarded in landfill per year in the USA alone
  20. ^ Amount of toothbrushes per year for USA
  21. ^ a b Magalhães, AC (Mar–Apr 2009). "Insights into preventive measures for dental erosion". Journal of applied oral science : revista FOB. 17 (2): 75–86. doi:10.1590/S1678-77572009000200002. ISSN 1678-7757. PMID 19274390. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)Open access icon
  22. ^ Erosion—diagnosis and risk factors; A. Lussic, T. Jaeggi; (2008) Clin Oral Investig.; 12(Suppl 1): 5–13.; Open access icon doi:10.1007/s00784-007-0179-z PMCID: PMC2238777
  23. ^ (2009)Dental erosion and severe tooth decay related to soft drinks: a case report and literature review; R Cheng, H Yang, M Shao, T Hu, X Zhou; J Zhejiang Univ Sci B.; 10(5): 395–399.; Open access icon doi:10.1631/jzus.B0820245 PMCID: PMC2676420 : "It is concluded that keeping tooth unbrushed for at least 30 min after an erosive attack is necessary for protecting dentin"
  24. ^ Cleaning efficacy and soft tissue trauma after use of manual toothbrushes with different bristle stiffness. Zimmer S, Öztürk M, Barthel CR, Bizhang M, Jordan RA. J Periodontol. 2011 Feb; 82(2):267-71. Open access icon doi:10.1902/jop.2010.100328
  25. ^ Lock, G., Dirscherl, M., Obermeier, F., Gelbmann, C. M., Hellerbrand, C., Knöll, A., Schölmerich, J. and Jilg, W. (2006), Hepatitis C – contamination of toothbrushes: myth or reality?. Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 13: 571–573. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2893.2006.00735.x

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