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{{Short description|Oral hygiene tool}}
{{nr|date=March 2008}}
{{Other uses|Toothbrush (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Toothbrush x3 20050716 001.jpg|thumb|alt=plastic toothbrushes |Three plastic toothbrushes]]


A '''toothbrush''' is a special type of [[brush]] used to clean the [[Human tooth|teeth]], [[gingiva|gums]], and [[tongue]]. It consists of a head of tightly clustered [[bristle]]s, atop of which [[toothpaste]] can be applied, mounted on a [[handle (grip)|handle]] which facilitates the cleaning of hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. They should be used in conjunction with something to clean between the teeth where the bristles of the toothbrush cannot reach - for example [[Dental floss|floss]], tape or interdental brushes.
[[Image:Toothbrush-20060209.JPG|thumb|Three toothbrushes.]]


The '''toothbrush''' is an instrument consisting of a small [[brush]] on a handle used to clean [[teeth]] through [[tooth brushing]]. [[Toothpaste]], often containing [[fluoride]], is commonly added to a toothbrush to aid in cleaning. Toothbrushes are offered with varying textures of bristles, and come in many different sizes and forms. Most [[dentist]]s recommend using a toothbrush labelled "Soft", since firmer bristled toothbrushes can damage [[tooth enamel]] and irritate [[Gingiva|gums]] as indicated by the [[American Dental Association]]<ref>[http://www.ada.org/ada/orallongevity/orallongevity_brochure.pdf] "Oral Longevity," American Dental Association brochure (PDF), page 2] Retrieved June 12, 2008 </ref>. Toothbrushes are often made from [[synthetic fiber]]s, although natural toothbrushes are also known in many parts of the world.
They are available with different bristle textures, sizes, and forms. Most [[dentist]]s recommend using a soft toothbrush since hard-bristled toothbrushes can damage [[tooth enamel]] and irritate the gums.<ref>[http://www.parisdentistry.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/orallongevity_brochure.pdf "Oral Longevity," American Dental Association brochure (PDF), page 2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119223615/http://ada.org/sections/publicResources/pdfs/orallongevity_brochure.pdf |date=2010-11-19 }} Retrieved June 12, 2008</ref>

Because many common and effective ingredients in toothpaste are harmful if swallowed in large doses, tooth paste should instead should be spat out. The act of brushing teeth is most often done at a [[sink]] within the kitchen or bathroom, where the brush may be rinsed off afterwards to remove any debris remaining and then dried to reduce conditions ideal for bacterial growth (and, if it is a [[wood]]en toothbrush, [[Mold (fungus)|mold]] as well).

Some toothbrushes have plant-based handles, often [[bamboo]]. However, numerous others are made of cheap [[plastic]]; such brushes constitute a significant source of pollution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greenecoservices.com/green-and-healthy-mouths-toothbrushes/ |title=Green and Healthy Mouths- Toothbrushes |author=Cathy |work=greenecoservices.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905180801/http://www.greenecoservices.com/green-and-healthy-mouths-toothbrushes/ |archive-date=2009-09-05 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://environment.about.com/od/earthtalkcolumns/a/toothbrush.htm |title=Can You Recycle Your Toothbrush? |author=Larry West |work=About.com News & Issues |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204041650/http://environment.about.com/od/earthtalkcolumns/a/toothbrush.htm |archive-date=2009-02-04 }}</ref> Over 1 billion toothbrushes are disposed of into [[landfill]]s annually in the [[United States]] alone.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/06/story-of-plastic-toothbrushes/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614175257/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/06/story-of-plastic-toothbrushes/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 14, 2019|title=How your toothbrush became a part of the plastic crisis|date=2019-06-14|website=Environment|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref> Bristles are commonly made of [[nylon]] (which, while not [[biodegradable]], as plastic is, may still be [[recycling|recycle]]d), [[bamboo viscose]], or [[bristle]] of [[boar]].


==History==
==History==
[[File:宋朝牙刷.png|thumb|[[Song dynasty]] (960–1279) toothbrush handles made of tiger bone]]
A variety of [[oral hygiene]] measures have been used since before recorded history. This has been verified by various excavations done all over the world, in which [[chewstick]]s, tree [[twig]]s, bird [[feather]]s, animal [[bone]]s and [[porcupine]] quills were recovered.
[[File:Napoleon’s toothbrush, c 1795. (9660576547).jpg|thumb|right|The [[horsehair]] toothbrush was said to have been used by [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] (1769–1821)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Napoleon's Toothbrush, Europe, 1790-1821|url=https://wellcomecollection.org/works/kezgq2tb|access-date=2021-04-11|website=Wellcome Collection|language=en}}</ref>]]


===Precursors===
Many peoples used different forms of toothbrushes. [[India]]n medicine ([[Ayurveda]]) has used the [[neem|neem tree]] (a.k.a. ''daatun'') and its products to create toothbrushes and similar products for millennia. A person chews one end of the neem twig until it somewhat resembles the bristles of a [[toothbrush]], and then uses it to brush the teeth. In the [[Muslim]] world, the [[miswak]], or ''siwak'', made from a twig or root with [[antiseptic]] properties has been widely used since the [[Islamic Golden Age]]. Rubbing [[Sodium bicarbonate|baking soda]] or [[chalk]] against the teeth was also common.
[[File:নিমের_ডালের_দাঁতন.jpg|thumb|Traditional [[Bengal|Bengali]] [[miswak]], made out of [[Neem tree]]]]


Before the invention of the toothbrush, a variety of [[oral hygiene]] measures had been used.<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 excavations during which tree [[twig]]s, bird [[feather]]s, animal [[bone]]s and [[porcupine]] quills were recovered.
The first toothbrush to resemble the modern toothbrush is believed to have been invented in [[China]] in the late 1400s,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/tooth.html|title=Who Invented the Toothbrush and When Was It Invented?}}</ref> which used the stiff hairs from a hog's neck, attached to a bamboo stick.
[[Image:Toothbrush1899Paris.jpg|thumb|left|A photo from 1899 showing the use of toothbrush.]]


The predecessor of the toothbrush is the [[chew stick]]. Chew sticks were twigs with frayed ends used to brush the teeth<ref name="origins" /> while the other end was used as a [[toothpick]].<ref name="dentalb">{{cite book|last1=Yu |first1=Hai-Yang |last2=Qian |first2=Lin-Mao |last3=Zheng |first3=Jing |title=Dental Biotribology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tsSqVeaHUv0C&pg=PA19 |year=2013 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-1-4614-4550-0 |pages=18–19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102131335/http://books.google.com/books?id=tsSqVeaHUv0C&pg=PA19 |archive-date=2014-01-02 }}</ref> The earliest chew sticks were discovered in [[Sumer]] in southern [[Mesopotamia]] 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.
William Addis of [[England]] is credited with creating the first mass-produced toothbrush in 1780. In 1770 he had been placed in jail for causing a riot. While in prison, he decided that the method for teeth brushing of the time &ndash; rubbing a [[rag]] on one's teeth with [[soot]] and [[salt]] &ndash; could be improved. So he took a small animal [[bone]], drilled small holes in it, obtained some bristles from a guard, tied them in tufts, then passed the bristles through the holes on the bone and glued them. He soon became very wealthy. He died in the year 1808 and left the business to his eldest son, William II.


The Indian way of using tooth wood for brushing is presented by the Chinese Monk [[Yijing (monk)|Yijing]] (635–713 CE) when he describes the rules for monks in his book:<ref>Li, R., 2000. Buddhist Monastic Traditions of Southern Asia: A Record of the Inner Law Sent Home from the South Seas (p. 198). Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research.</ref>
The first [[patent]] for a toothbrush was by H. N. Wadsworth in 1857 (US Patent No. 18,653) in the [[United States]], but mass production of the product in America only started in 1885. The rather advanced design had a bone handle with holes bored into it for the Siberian Boar hair bristles. [[Boar]] wasn't an ideal material; it retained [[bacteria]], it didn't dry well, and the bristles would often fall out of the brush. It wasn't until [[World War II]], however, that the concept of brushing teeth really caught on in the U.S., in part because it was part of American soldiers' regular daily duty to clean their teeth. It was a practice that they brought back to their home life after the conclusion of the war. {{Fact|date=April 2007}}
"Every day in the morning, a monk must chew a piece of tooth wood to brush his teeth and scrape his tongue, and this must be done in the proper way. Only after one has washed one's hands and mouth may one make salutations. Otherwise both the saluter and the saluted are at fault. In Sanskrit, the tooth wood is known as the dantakastha—danta meaning tooth, and kastha, a piece of wood. It is twelve finger-widths in length. The shortest is not less than eight finger-widths long, resembling the little finger in size. Chew one end of the wood well for a long while and then brush the teeth with it."


The Greeks and Romans used toothpicks to clean their teeth, and toothpick-like twigs have been excavated in [[Qin dynasty]] tombs.<ref name="dentalb" /> Chew sticks remain common in Africa,<ref>''[[salvadora persica]]''</ref> the rural Southern United States,<ref name="origins">{{cite book|last=Panati |first=Charles |title=Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U662rR2VInQC&pg=PA208 |year=2013 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-06-227708-4 |pages=208–209 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102131409/http://books.google.com/books?id=U662rR2VInQC&pg=PA208 |archive-date=2014-01-02 }}</ref> and in the [[Muslim world|Islamic world]], the use of the chewing stick, [[miswak]], is regarded as a pious action and is prescribed for use before every prayer, occurring five times a day.<ref name="IslamKotob">IslamKotob, ''Muslims and Science'', (Islamic Books), p.30.</ref> Miswaks have been used by Muslims since the 7th century.<ref>https://search.app?link=https%3A%2F%2Fpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Farticles%2FPMC5002340%2F%23%3A~%3Atext%3DThe%2520miswak%2520is%2520prepared%2520from%2Cyears%2520ago%2520before%2520religious%2520practices.&utm_campaign=aga&utm_source=agsadl1%2Csh%2Fx%2Fgs%2Fm2%2F4</ref> Twigs of [[Neem]] Tree have been used by ancient Indians.<ref>{{Cite web|title=4 ways our ancestors used benefits from the neem tree|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/health/article/4-ways-our-ancestors-used-benefits-from-the-neem-tree/449982|access-date=2020-08-22|website=www.timesnownews.com|date=7 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Sharma|first1=Abhishek|last2=Sankhla|first2=Bharat|last3=Parkar|first3=Sujal M|last4=Hongal|first4=Sudheer|last5=K|first5=Thanveer|last6=CG|first6=Ajithkrishnan|date=July 2014|title=Effect of Traditionally Used Neem and Babool Chewing Stick (Datun) on Streptococcus Mutans: An In–Vitro Study|journal=Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research|volume=8|issue=7|pages=ZC15–ZC17|doi=10.7860/JCDR/2014/9817.4549|issn=2249-782X|pmc=4149135|pmid=25177629}}</ref> Neem, in its full bloom, can aid in healing by keeping the area clean and disinfected. In fact, even today, Neem twigs called ''[[datun (twig)|datun]]'' are used for brushing teeth in India, although not hugely common.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Does Brushing With Neem Twig Help Give You Stronger Teeth and Gums? We Find Out|url=https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/does-brushing-with-neem-twig-help-give-you-stronger-teeth-and-gums-we-find-out-1897901|access-date=2020-08-22|website=NDTV Food}}</ref>
[[Image:Toothbrush teaching 1.jpg|thumb|right|A child being shown how to use a toothbrush.]]


===Toothbrush===
Natural bristles (from animal [[hair]]) were replaced by [[synthetic fiber]]s, 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 introduced by the Bristol-Myers Company (now [[Bristol-Myers Squibb]]) at the centennial of the American Dental Association in 1959.
The first [[bristle]] toothbrush resembling the modern one was found in China.<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> Used during the [[Tang dynasty]] (619–907), it consisted of hog bristles.<ref>{{cite book |title=Primary preventive dentistry |year=1999 |publisher=Appleton & Lange |location=Stamford |isbn=978-0-8385-8129-2 |edition=5th |editor1=Harris, Norman O. |editor2=García-Godoy, Franklin |url=https://archive.org/details/primarypreventiv0000harr_h7c0 }}</ref> The bristles were sourced from hogs living in Siberia and northern China because the colder temperatures provided firmer bristles. They were attached to a handle manufactured from bamboo or bone, forming a toothbrush.<ref name="origins" /> In 1223, Japanese [[Zen]] master [[Dōgen]] Kigen recorded in his ''[[Shōbōgenzō]]'' that he saw monks in [[China]] clean their teeth with brushes made of horsetail hairs attached to an oxbone handle. The bristle toothbrush spread to Europe, brought from China to Europe by travellers.<ref name="The Library of Congress">{{cite web|publisher=The Library of Congress |date=2007-04-04 |url=https://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/tooth.html |title=Who invented the toothbrush and when was it invented? |access-date=2008-04-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411053746/http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/tooth.html |archive-date=2008-04-11 }}</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 (antiquary)|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=[https://archive.org/details/miltonsteethovid00olme/page/62 62]|url=https://archive.org/details/miltonsteethovid00olme/page/62}}</ref> Europeans found the hog bristle toothbrushes imported from China too firm and preferred softer bristle toothbrushes made from horsehair.<ref name="origins" /> Mass-produced toothbrushes made with horse or boar bristle continued to be imported to Britain from China until the mid 20th century.<ref name=sammons-223 />
[[File:'Indexo' finger toothbrush, New York, United States, 1901-19 Wellcome L0058113.jpg|thumb|'Indexo' finger toothbrush, New York, United States, 1901–1919. It is made entirely of rubber, which has been shaped to fit over the index finger.]]
[[File:Toothbrush1899Paris.jpg|thumb|left|upright|A photo from 1899 showing the use of a toothbrush.]]


In the UK, [[William Addis (entrepreneur)|William Addis]] is believed to have produced the first mass-produced toothbrush in 1780.<ref name="The Library of Congress" /><ref name=Dentistry>{{cite web|url=http://inventors.about.com/od/dstartinventions/a/dentistry_2.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713172145/http://inventors.about.com/od/dstartinventions/a/dentistry_2.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 13, 2012|title=History of the Toothbrush and Toothpaste|author=Mary Bellis|publisher=About.com Money}}</ref> In 1770, he had been jailed for causing a riot. While in prison he decided that using a [[textile|rag]] with [[soot]] and [[salt]] on the teeth was ineffective and could be improved. After saving a small [[bone]] from a meal, he drilled small holes into the bone and tied into the bone tufts of bristles that he had obtained from one of the guards, passed the tufts of bristle through the holes in the bone and sealed the holes with glue. After his release, he became wealthy after starting a business manufacturing toothbrushes. He died in 1808, bequeathing the business to his eldest son. It remained within family ownership until 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.addis.co.uk/our-history |title=History of ADDIS |publisher=addis.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028094022/http://www.addis.co.uk/our-history |archive-date=2014-10-28 }}</ref> Under the name Wisdom Toothbrushes, the company now manufactures 70 million toothbrushes per year in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambridge/New-jobs-joy-in-toothbrushes.htm|title=New jobs joy in toothbrushes|website=Cambridge News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525235443/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambridge/New-jobs-joy-in-toothbrushes.htm|archive-date=25 May 2014}}</ref> By 1840 toothbrushes were being mass-produced in Britain, France, Germany, and Japan.<ref name=Addis>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wisdom-toothbrushes.co.uk/learning-centre/history.html|title=The history of the toothbrush|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630192218/http://www.wisdom-toothbrushes.co.uk/learning-centre/history.html|url-status=dead|archivedate=June 30, 2012}}</ref> Pig bristles were used for cheaper toothbrushes and badger hair for the more expensive ones.<ref name=Addis />
In January 2003, the toothbrush was selected as the number one invention [[United States|Americans]] could not live without, beating out the [[automobile]], [[personal computer|computer]], [[Mobile phone|cell phone]], and [[microwave oven]], according to the [[Jerome H. Lemelson|Lemelson]]-[[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] Invention Index.<sup>[http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/nr/2003/lemelson.html]</sup>


[[Hertford Museum]] in Hertford, UK, holds approximately 5000 brushes that make up part of the Addis Collection. The Addis factory on Ware Road was a major employer in the town until 1996. Since the closure of the factory, Hertford Museum has received photographs and documents relating to the archive, and collected oral histories from former employees.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.hertfordmuseum.org/page73.html |title = The Addis Company}}</ref>
==Electric toothbrushes==

The first [[patent]] for a toothbrush was granted to H.N. Wadsworth in 1857 (U.S.A. Patent No. 18,653) in the United States, but mass production in the United States did not start until 1885. The improved 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 retained [[bacteria]], did not dry efficiently and the bristles often fell out. In addition to bone, handles were made of wood or ivory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ada.org/1321.aspx |title=Toothbrushes&nbsp;– American Dental Association |publisher=ADA.org |date=2010-02-04 |access-date=2013-05-03 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112095938/http://www.ada.org/1321.aspx |archive-date=2012-11-12 }}</ref> In the United States, brushing teeth did not become routine until after [[World War II]], when American soldiers had to clean their teeth daily.<ref name=Dentistry />
[[File:Toothbrush teaching 1.jpg|thumb|right|A child being shown how to use a toothbrush.]]

During the 1900s, celluloid gradually replaced bone handles.<ref name=kumar-412413 /> Natural animal bristles were also replaced by [[synthetic fiber]]s, 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/tooth.html |title=Who invented the toothbrush and when was it? (Everyday Mysteries: Fun Science Facts from the Library of Congress) |publisher=Library of Congress |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411053746/http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/tooth.html |archive-date=2008-04-11 }}</ref> By 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.<ref name=sammons-223 />

[[Johnson & Johnson]], a leading medical supplies firm, introduced the "[[Reach (brand)|Reach]]" toothbrush in 1977.<ref name="tribune1991">{{cite news |last=Lazarus |first=George |date=1991-08-13 |title=P&G Puts Its Crest On A Toothbrush |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/08/13/pg-puts-its-crest-on-a-toothbrush/ |url-status=live |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |location=[[Chicago]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123021148/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-08-13/business/9103280368_1_toothbrush-market-procter-gamble-crest |archive-date=2016-01-23 |access-date=2016-01-23 }}</ref> It differed from previous toothbrushes in three ways: it had an angled head, similar to dental instruments, to reach back teeth; the bristles were concentrated more closely than usual to clean each tooth of potentially [[Dental caries|cariogenic]] (cavity-causing) materials; and the outer bristles were longer and softer than the inner bristles. Other manufacturers soon followed with other designs aimed at improving effectiveness.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fortworthtexasdentist.com/the-complete-history-of-the-toothbrush/|title=The Complete History of the Toothbrush|date=March 15, 2015}}</ref>
In spite of the changes with the number of tufts and the spacing, the handle form and design, the bristles were still straight and difficult to maneuver. In 1978 Dr. George C. Collis developed the Collis Curve toothbrush which was the first toothbrush to have curved bristles. The curved bristles follow the curvature of the teeth and safely reach in between the teeth and into the [[gingival sulcus|sulcular]] areas.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Wilkins|first1=E. M.|title=Clinical practice of the dental hygienist. 5th ed|date=1983|publisher=Lea and Febiger|location=Philadelphia|page=308}}</ref>

In January 2003, the toothbrush was selected as the number one invention [[United States|Americans]] could not live without according to the [[Jerome H. Lemelson|Lemelson]]-[[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] Invention Index.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mit.edu/invent/n-pressreleases/n-press-03index.html |title=2003 Invention Index |access-date=2009-05-20 |date=2003-01-21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628194042/http://web.mit.edu/invent/n-pressreleases/n-press-03index.html |archive-date=2009-06-28 }}</ref>

==Types of toothbrush==

===Multi-sided toothbrushes===
[[File:Six-sided toothbrush.png|right|thumb|A six-sided toothbrush used to brush all sides of the teeth, in both the upper and lower jaw, at the same time.]]

A multi-sided toothbrush is a fast and easy way to brush the teeth.

===Electric toothbrush===
{{main|Electric toothbrush}}
{{main|Electric toothbrush}}
[[Image:Electrical toothbrush 20050717 001.jpg|right|thumb|Electric toothbrush (with charger)]]
[[File:So Many Choices (11693539025).jpg|thumb|Various electric toothbrush heads]]


It has been discovered that compared to a manual brush, the multi-directional power brush might reduce the incidence of gingivitis and plaque, when compared to regular side-to-side brushing. These brushes tend to be more costly and damaging to the environment when compared to manual toothbrushes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New research finds electric toothbrushes 'fairly horrifying' for the environment - but bamboo brushes aren't the answer|url=https://www.independent.ie/news/environment/new-research-finds-electric-toothbrushes-fairly-horrifying-for-the-environment-but-bamboo-brushes-arent-the-answer-39533694.html|access-date=2021-05-08|website=independent|date=15 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Most studies report performances equivalent to those of manual brushings, possibly with a decrease in plaque and gingivitis.<ref name="pmid21154357">{{cite journal|last=Deacon|first=SA|author2=Glenny, AM |author3=Deery, C |author4=Robinson, PG |author5=Heanue, M |author6=Walmsley, AD |author7= Shaw, WC |title=Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health.|journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|date=Dec 8, 2010|issue=12|pages=CD004971|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD004971.pub2|pmid=21154357 |volume=56|pmc=8406707}}</ref> An additional timer and pressure sensors can encourage a more efficient cleaning process.<ref name="pmid21985880">{{cite journal|last=Kallar|first=S|author2=Srivastava, N |author3=Pandit, IK |author4= Gugnani, N |title=Plaque removal efficacy of powered and manual toothbrushes under supervised and unsupervised conditions: A comparative clinical study|journal=Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry|date=1 January 2011|volume=29|issue=3|pages=235–8|doi=10.4103/0970-4388.85832|pmid=21985880|doi-access=free}}</ref>
The first electric toothbrush was developed in 1939 in [[Scotland]], but did not appear on the open market until the 1960s, when it was marketed as the [http://broxodent.com/ Broxodent] in the [[United States]] by [[Bristol-Myers Squibb|Squibb]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}} In 1961, [[General Electric]] introduced a rechargeable cordless toothbrush that moved up and down when activated.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
Electric toothbrushes can be classified, according to the speed of their movements as: standard power toothbrushes, sonic toothbrushes, or [[ultrasonic toothbrush]]es. Any electric toothbrush is technically a powered toothbrush. If the motion of the toothbrush is sufficiently rapid to produce a hum in the [[audible frequency]] range (20&nbsp;Hz to 20,000&nbsp;Hz), it can be classified as a sonic toothbrush. Any electric toothbrush with movement faster than this limit can be classified as an ultrasonic toothbrush. Certain ultrasonic toothbrushes, such as the Megasonex and the Ultreo, have both sonic and ultrasonic movements.


There are different electric toothbrush heads designed for sensitive teeth and gums, increased stain removal, or different-sized bristles for tight or gapped teeth. The hand motion with an electric toothbrush is different from a manual toothbrush. They are meant to have the bristles do the work by just placing and moving the toothbrush. Fewer back and forth strokes are needed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Choosing A Powered Toothbrush |url=https://takehomesmile.com/powered-toothbrush/ |website=Take Home Smile}}</ref>
In 1987, the first rotary action toothbrush for home use, the Interplak, appeared in shops for the general public.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} There are currently many different varieties of model that use this mechanism.


===Interdental brush===
==Use==
[[File:TePe Interdental Brushes original.jpg|thumb|Wire-and nylon interdental brushes]]
# squeeze paste on toothbrush
[[File:Tandenrager.jpg|thumb|Rubbery, elastomer interdental brush]]
#Use short, back-and-forth brushing motions to clean the outside and inside surfaces of the teeth, as well as the chewing surfaces. Follow with up-and-down motions to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth.
{{See also|Interdental cleaning#Interdental brush}}
#Brush along the gum line. This is extremely important, as gum disease starts here. Brush gently to avoid damaging gums.
An interdental or interproximal ("proxy") brush is a small brush, typically disposable, either supplied with a reusable angled plastic handle or an integral handle, used for cleaning between [[Human tooth|teeth]] and between the wires of [[dental brace]]s and the teeth.
#Make sure to brush the back molars, where bacteria like to hide.

#Brush the teeth at least 60 seconds (30 seconds is not long enough).
The use of interdental brushes in conjunction with tooth brushing has been shown to reduce both the amount of plaque and the incidence of gingivitis when compared to tooth brushing alone.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Poklepovic T, Worthington HV, Johnson TM, Sambunjak D, Imai P, Clarkson JE, Tugwell P|date=2013|title=Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults|journal=Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|pmid=24353078|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD009857.pub2|issue=12|page=CD009857|doi-access=free}}</ref> Although there is some evidence that after tooth brushing with a conventional tooth brush, interdental brushes remove more plaque than [[dental floss]],<ref name="pmid22726785">{{cite journal|title=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|year=2012|last1=Gluch|first1=Joan I.|journal=Journal of Evidence Based Dental Practice|volume=12|issue=2|pages=81–83|doi=10.1016/j.jebdp.2012.03.016|pmid=22726785 |issn=1532-3382}}</ref> a systematic review reported insufficient evidence to determine such an association.<ref name=":0" />
#Brush the tongue to remove bacteria that cause bad breath.

#Spit out the toothpaste and rinse with water or mouthwash.
The size of interdental brushes is standardized in [[ISO]] 16409.<ref name="ISO 16409:2010">ISO 16409:2006 + Amd.1:2010, ''Dentistry&nbsp;– Oral hygiene products&nbsp;– Manual interdental brushes''</ref><ref name="ISO 16409:2014">ISO/[[Draft International Standard|DIS]] 16409:2014, ''Dentistry&nbsp;– Oral hygiene products&nbsp;– Manual interdental brushes'' (draft standard)</ref> The brush size,<ref>Different versions of the standard specify different brush sizes.</ref> which is a number between 0 (small space between teeth) and 8 (large space), indicates the ''passage hole diameter''. This corresponds to the space between two teeth that is just sufficient for the brush to go through without bending the wire. The color of the brushes differs between producers. The same is the case with respect to the wire diameter.<ref>Neither the brush color nor the wire diameter are specified in ISO 16409:2010 or ISO/DIS 16409:2014. Just some general properties of the wire (e.g., should not bend) or specifications of the packaging (e.g., the brush size must be noted) can be found there.</ref>
#Dentists recommend flossing before or after brushing. Adults should try to floss at least once a day, since most adult cavities occur between teeth. The most important time to floss is before going to bed. Guide the floss between the teeth and use it to gently rub the side of each tooth.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Brush size according to ISO 16409<ref name="ISO 16409:2010" />
|-
! Brush size
| 0<ref>Brush size 0 still can be found in ISO 16409:2010, however, it is no longer specified in ISO/DIS 16409:2014 (as of December 2015).</ref> || 1<ref>Brush size 1 has passage hole diameter ≤&nbsp;0.8 according to ISO/DIS 16409:2014 (as of December 2015).</ref> || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7<ref name="according to ISO 16409:2014">Sizes 7 and 8 according to ISO/DIS 16409:2014 (as of December 2015).</ref> || 8<ref name="according to ISO 16409:2014" />
|-
! Passage hole diameter in mm
| ≤&nbsp;0.6 || 0.7–0.8 || 0.9–1.0 || 1.1–1.2 || 1.3–1.5 || 1.6–1.8 || 1.9–2.3 || 2.4–2.8 || ≥&nbsp;2.8
|}

===End-tuft brush===

The small round brush head comprises seven tufts of tightly packed soft nylon bristles, trimmed so the bristles in the center can reach deeper into small spaces. The brush handle is ergonomically designed for a firm grip, giving the control and precision necessary to clean where most other cleaning aids cannot reach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gumbrand.com/end-tuft-toothbrush-308rqb.html |title=GUM® End-Tuft Toothbrush&nbsp;– Official Site for GUM® Toothbrushes |work=GUM® Brand |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419163829/http://www.gumbrand.com/end-tuft-toothbrush-308rqb.html |archive-date=2014-04-19 }}</ref> These areas include the posterior of the wisdom teeth (third molars), orthodontic structures (braces), crowded teeth, and tooth surfaces that are next to missing teeth. It can also be used to clean areas around implants, bridges, dentures and other appliances.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/flossingandinterdentalaids/end-tuft-brush |title=End Tuft Brush&nbsp;– Flossing and interdental aids |work=google.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327024601/https://sites.google.com/site/flossingandinterdentalaids/end-tuft-brush |archive-date=2014-03-27 }}</ref>

===Chewable toothbrush===
[[Image:chewabletoothbrush.jpg|thumb|Chewable toothbrushes]]
A chewable toothbrush is a miniature plastic moulded toothbrush which can be placed inside the mouth. While not commonly used, they are useful to travelers and are sometimes available from [[bathroom]] [[vending machine]]s. 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, which can be used without water.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://oaji.net/articles/2014/957-1405051468.pdf|title=Era of "Smart Toothbrushes"}}</ref>

===Musical toothbrush===
A musical toothbrush is a type of manual or powered toothbrush designed to make tooth brushing habit more interesting. It is more commonly introduced to children to gain their attention and positively influence their tooth brushing behavior. The music starts while child starts brushing, it continuously plays during the brushing and it ends when the child stops brushing.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Subburaman|first1=Nivedha|last2=Madan Kumar|first2=ParangimalaiDiwakar|last3=Iyer|first3=Kiran|date=2019|title=Effectiveness of musical toothbrush on oral debris and gingival bleeding among 6–10-year-old children: A randomized controlled trial|url=http://www.ijdr.in/text.asp?2019/30/2/196/259212|journal=Indian Journal of Dental Research|language=en|volume=30|issue=2|pages=196–199|doi=10.4103/ijdr.IJDR_128_17|pmid=31169149|issn=0970-9290|doi-access=free}}</ref>

===Toothpaste-less toothbrush===
[[File:Soladey 3.jpg|thumb|left|Soladey 3 is activated by light to kill bacteria.]]

===Reusable toothbrush===
[[File:Wechselkopfzahnbuerste.jpg|left|thumb|Replaceable head toothbrush, with and without brush head]]

==Tooth brushing==
{{main|Tooth brushing}}

===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, such as [[Hepatitis C]].<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Lock | first1 = G. | last2 = Dirscherl | first2 = M. | last3 = Obermeier | first3 = F. | last4 = Gelbmann | first4 = C. M. | last5 = Hellerbrand | first5 = C. | last6 = Knöll | first6 = A. | last7 = Schölmerich | first7 = J. | last8 = Jilg | first8 = W. | year = 2006 | title = Hepatitis C&nbsp;– contamination of toothbrushes: myth or reality? | journal = Journal of Viral Hepatitis | volume = 13 | issue = 9| pages = 571–573 | doi = 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2006.00735.x | pmid=16907842| s2cid = 24264376 }}</ref>

It is advisable to rinse the toothbrush with water, shake it off and let dry after use.

Studies have shown that brushing to remove [[dental plaque]] more often than every 48 hours is enough to maintain gum and tooth health. Tooth brushing can remove plaque up to one millimeter below the gum line. Each person has a habitual brushing method, so more frequent brushing does not cover additional parts of the teeth or mouth.<ref name="clay">{{cite journal | vauthors = Claydon NC | title = Current concepts in toothbrushing and interdental cleaning | journal = Periodontology 2000 | volume = 48 | pages = 10–22 | date = 2008 | pmid = 18715352 | doi = 10.1111/j.1600-0757.2008.00273.x | url = http://red.unal.edu.co/cursos/odontologia/2016549/pdf/Claydon2008Cepilladoylimpiezainterdental.pdf }}</ref>
Most dentists recommended patients brush twice a day in the hope that frequent brushing would clean more areas of the mouth.<ref name=Attin>{{cite journal | vauthors = Attin T, Hornecker E | title = Tooth brushing and oral health: how frequently and when should tooth brushing be performed? | journal = Oral Health & Preventive Dentistry | volume = 3 | issue = 3 | pages = 135–40 | date = 2005 | pmid = 16355646 }}</ref>
Tooth brushing is the most common [[preventive healthcare]] activity, but tooth and gum disease remain high, since lay people clean at most 40% of their tooth margins at the gum line. Videos show that even when asked to brush their best, they do not know how to clean effectively.<ref name="best">{{cite journal | vauthors = Deinzer R, Ebel S, Blättermann H, Weik U, Margraf-Stiksrud J | title = Toothbrushing: to the best of one's abilities is possibly not good enough | journal = BMC Oral Health | volume = 18 | issue = 1 | pages = 167 | date = October 2018 | pmid = 30340623 | pmc = 6194646 | doi = 10.1186/s12903-018-0633-0 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

===Adversity of toothbrushes===
Teeth can be damaged by several factors including poor oral hygiene, but also by wrong oral hygiene. Especially for sensitive teeth, damage to dentin and gums can be prevented by several measures<ref name="PreventiveMeasures">{{cite journal|last=Magalhães|first=AC|author2=Wiegand, A |author3=Rios, D |author4=Honório, HM |author5= Buzalaf, MA |title=Insights into preventive measures for dental erosion.|journal=Journal of Applied Oral Science |date=Mar–Apr 2009|volume=17|issue=2|pages=75–86|doi=10.1590/S1678-77572009000200002|issn=1678-7757|pmid=19274390 |pmc=4327581}}{{open access}}</ref> including a correct brushing technique.

It is beneficial when using a straight bristled brush: not to scrub horizontally over the necks of teeth; not to press the brush too hard against the teeth, to choose a toothpaste that is not too abrasive;<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Lussic | first1 = A. | last2 = Jaeggi | first2 = T. | year = 2008 | title = Erosion—diagnosis and risk factors | journal = Clin Oral Investig | volume = 12 | issue = Suppl 1| pages = 5–13 | doi = 10.1007/s00784-007-0179-z |pmc=2238777 | pmid=18228059}} {{open access}}</ref> and to wait at least 30 minutes after consumption of acidic food or drinks before brushing.<ref name="PreventiveMeasures" /><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Cheng | first1 = R | last2 = Yang | first2 = H | last3 = Shao | first3 = M | last4 = Hu | first4 = T | last5 = Zhou | first5 = X | year = 2009 | title = Dental erosion and severe tooth decay related to soft drinks: a case report and literature review | journal = Journal of Zhejiang University Science B| volume = 10 | issue = 5| pages = 395–399 | doi = 10.1631/jzus.B0820245 | pmid=19434767 | pmc = 2676420 }} {{open access}} "It is concluded that keeping tooth unbrushed for at least 30 min after an erosive attack is necessary for protecting dentin"</ref>
Harder toothbrushes reduce plaque more efficiently but are more stressful to teeth and gum; using a medium to soft brush for a longer cleaning time was rated to be the best compromise between cleaning result and gum and tooth health.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Zimmer | first1 = S | last2 = Öztürk | first2 = M | last3 = Barthel | first3 = CR | last4 = Bizhang | first4 = M | last5 = Jordan | first5 = RA | date = Feb 2011 | title = Cleaning efficacy and soft tissue trauma after use of manual toothbrushes with different bristle stiffness | journal = J Periodontol | volume = 82 | issue = 2| pages = 267–71 | doi = 10.1902/jop.2010.100328 | pmid = 20722532 }} {{open access}}</ref>

A study by [[University College London]] found that advice on brushing technique and frequency given by 10 national dental associations, toothpaste and toothbrush companies, and in dental textbooks was inconsistent.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-08-teeth-dentists-dental-associations-dont.html |title=What's the best way to brush teeth? Even dentists and dental associations don't agree |newspaper=Medical Xpress |date=7 August 2014 |access-date=8 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809061606/http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-08-teeth-dentists-dental-associations-dont.html |archive-date=9 August 2014 }}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Oral hygiene]]
* [[Dental floss]]
* [[Dental floss]]
* [[Toothpaste]]
* [[Mouthwash]]
* [[Chewable toothbrush]]
* [[Toothbrush moustache]]
* [[Electric toothbrush]]
*[[Scaling_and_root_planing|Ultrasonic cleaning]]
* [[Miswak]]


==References==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Commonscatinline}}
{{Commons|Toothbrush}}
* [http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/positions/statements/toothbrush.asp American Dental Association statements on Toothbrushing]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070404144834/http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/positions/statements/toothbrush.asp American Dental Association statements on Tooth brushing]
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2818686 BBC h2g2 The History of Toothpaste and Toothbrushes]
* [http://www.toothbrushcollection.org International Toothbrush Collection], a searchable database
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2818686 BBC h2g2 The History of Toothpaste and Toothbrushes]
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[[Category:Dental equipment]]
[[Category:Dental equipment]]
[[Category:oral hygiene]]
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Latest revision as of 15:06, 23 November 2024

plastic toothbrushes
Three plastic toothbrushes

A toothbrush is a special type of brush used to clean the teeth, gums, and tongue. It consists of a head of tightly clustered bristles, atop of which toothpaste can be applied, mounted on a handle which facilitates the cleaning of hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. They should be used in conjunction with something to clean between the teeth where the bristles of the toothbrush cannot reach - for example floss, tape or interdental brushes.

They are available with different bristle textures, sizes, and forms. Most dentists recommend using a soft toothbrush since hard-bristled toothbrushes can damage tooth enamel and irritate the gums.[1]

Because many common and effective ingredients in toothpaste are harmful if swallowed in large doses, tooth paste should instead should be spat out. The act of brushing teeth is most often done at a sink within the kitchen or bathroom, where the brush may be rinsed off afterwards to remove any debris remaining and then dried to reduce conditions ideal for bacterial growth (and, if it is a wooden toothbrush, mold as well).

Some toothbrushes have plant-based handles, often bamboo. However, numerous others are made of cheap plastic; such brushes constitute a significant source of pollution.[2][3] Over 1 billion toothbrushes are disposed of into landfills annually in the United States alone.[4] Bristles are commonly made of nylon (which, while not biodegradable, as plastic is, may still be recycled), bamboo viscose, or bristle of boar.

History

[edit]
Song dynasty (960–1279) toothbrush handles made of tiger bone
The horsehair toothbrush was said to have been used by Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821)[5]

Precursors

[edit]
Traditional Bengali miswak, made out of Neem tree

Before the invention of the toothbrush, a variety of oral hygiene measures had been used.[6] This has been verified by excavations during which tree twigs, bird feathers, animal bones and porcupine quills were recovered.

The predecessor of the toothbrush is the chew stick. Chew sticks were twigs with frayed ends used to brush the teeth[7] while the other end was used as a toothpick.[8] The earliest chew sticks were discovered in Sumer in southern Mesopotamia in 3500 BC,[8] an Egyptian tomb dating from 3000 BC,[7] and mentioned in Chinese records dating from 1600 BC.

The Indian way of using tooth wood for brushing is presented by the Chinese Monk Yijing (635–713 CE) when he describes the rules for monks in his book:[9] "Every day in the morning, a monk must chew a piece of tooth wood to brush his teeth and scrape his tongue, and this must be done in the proper way. Only after one has washed one's hands and mouth may one make salutations. Otherwise both the saluter and the saluted are at fault. In Sanskrit, the tooth wood is known as the dantakastha—danta meaning tooth, and kastha, a piece of wood. It is twelve finger-widths in length. The shortest is not less than eight finger-widths long, resembling the little finger in size. Chew one end of the wood well for a long while and then brush the teeth with it."

The Greeks and Romans used toothpicks to clean their teeth, and toothpick-like twigs have been excavated in Qin dynasty tombs.[8] Chew sticks remain common in Africa,[10] the rural Southern United States,[7] and in the Islamic world, the use of the chewing stick, miswak, is regarded as a pious action and is prescribed for use before every prayer, occurring five times a day.[11] Miswaks have been used by Muslims since the 7th century.[12] Twigs of Neem Tree have been used by ancient Indians.[13][14] Neem, in its full bloom, can aid in healing by keeping the area clean and disinfected. In fact, even today, Neem twigs called datun are used for brushing teeth in India, although not hugely common.[15]

Toothbrush

[edit]

The first bristle toothbrush resembling the modern one was found in China.[16] Used during the Tang dynasty (619–907), it consisted of hog bristles.[17] The bristles were sourced from hogs living in Siberia and northern China because the colder temperatures provided firmer bristles. They were attached to a handle manufactured from bamboo or bone, forming a toothbrush.[7] In 1223, Japanese Zen master Dōgen Kigen recorded in his Shōbōgenzō that he saw monks in China clean their teeth with brushes made of horsetail hairs attached to an oxbone handle. The bristle toothbrush spread to Europe, brought from China to Europe by travellers.[18] It was adopted in Europe during the 17th century.[19] 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.[20] Europeans found the hog bristle toothbrushes imported from China too firm and preferred softer bristle toothbrushes made from horsehair.[7] Mass-produced toothbrushes made with horse or boar bristle continued to be imported to Britain from China until the mid 20th century.[6]

'Indexo' finger toothbrush, New York, United States, 1901–1919. It is made entirely of rubber, which has been shaped to fit over the index finger.
A photo from 1899 showing the use of a toothbrush.

In the UK, William Addis is believed to have produced the first mass-produced toothbrush in 1780.[18][21] In 1770, he had been jailed for causing a riot. While in prison he decided that using a rag with soot and salt on the teeth was ineffective and could be improved. After saving a small bone from a meal, he drilled small holes into the bone and tied into the bone tufts of bristles that he had obtained from one of the guards, passed the tufts of bristle through the holes in the bone and sealed the holes with glue. After his release, he became wealthy after starting a business manufacturing toothbrushes. He died in 1808, bequeathing the business to his eldest son. It remained within family ownership until 1996.[22] Under the name Wisdom Toothbrushes, the company now manufactures 70 million toothbrushes per year in the UK.[23] By 1840 toothbrushes were being mass-produced in Britain, France, Germany, and Japan.[24] Pig bristles were used for cheaper toothbrushes and badger hair for the more expensive ones.[24]

Hertford Museum in Hertford, UK, holds approximately 5000 brushes that make up part of the Addis Collection. The Addis factory on Ware Road was a major employer in the town until 1996. Since the closure of the factory, Hertford Museum has received photographs and documents relating to the archive, and collected oral histories from former employees.[25]

The first patent for a toothbrush was granted to H.N. Wadsworth in 1857 (U.S.A. Patent No. 18,653) in the United States, but mass production in the United States did not start until 1885. The improved 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 retained bacteria, did not dry efficiently and the bristles often fell out. In addition to bone, handles were made of wood or ivory.[26] In the United States, brushing teeth did not become routine until after World War II, when American soldiers had to clean their teeth daily.[21]

A child being shown how to use a toothbrush.

During the 1900s, celluloid gradually replaced bone handles.[16] 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.[27] By 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 1977.[28] It differed from previous toothbrushes in three ways: it had an angled head, similar to dental instruments, to reach back teeth; the bristles were concentrated more closely than usual to clean each tooth of potentially cariogenic (cavity-causing) materials; and the outer bristles were longer and softer than the inner bristles. Other manufacturers soon followed with other designs aimed at improving effectiveness.[29] In spite of the changes with the number of tufts and the spacing, the handle form and design, the bristles were still straight and difficult to maneuver. In 1978 Dr. George C. Collis developed the Collis Curve toothbrush which was the first toothbrush to have curved bristles. The curved bristles follow the curvature of the teeth and safely reach in between the teeth and into the sulcular areas.[30]

In January 2003, the toothbrush was selected as the number one invention Americans could not live without according to the Lemelson-MIT Invention Index.[31]

Types of toothbrush

[edit]

Multi-sided toothbrushes

[edit]
A six-sided toothbrush used to brush all sides of the teeth, in both the upper and lower jaw, at the same time.

A multi-sided toothbrush is a fast and easy way to brush the teeth.

Electric toothbrush

[edit]
Various electric toothbrush heads

It has been discovered that compared to a manual brush, the multi-directional power brush might reduce the incidence of gingivitis and plaque, when compared to regular side-to-side brushing. These brushes tend to be more costly and damaging to the environment when compared to manual toothbrushes.[32] Most studies report performances equivalent to those of manual brushings, possibly with a decrease in plaque and gingivitis.[33] An additional timer and pressure sensors can encourage a more efficient cleaning process.[34] Electric toothbrushes can be classified, according to the speed of their movements as: standard power toothbrushes, sonic toothbrushes, or ultrasonic toothbrushes. Any electric toothbrush is technically a powered toothbrush. If the motion of the toothbrush is sufficiently rapid to produce a hum in the audible frequency range (20 Hz to 20,000 Hz), it can be classified as a sonic toothbrush. Any electric toothbrush with movement faster than this limit can be classified as an ultrasonic toothbrush. Certain ultrasonic toothbrushes, such as the Megasonex and the Ultreo, have both sonic and ultrasonic movements.

There are different electric toothbrush heads designed for sensitive teeth and gums, increased stain removal, or different-sized bristles for tight or gapped teeth. The hand motion with an electric toothbrush is different from a manual toothbrush. They are meant to have the bristles do the work by just placing and moving the toothbrush. Fewer back and forth strokes are needed.[35]

Interdental brush

[edit]
Wire-and nylon interdental brushes
Rubbery, elastomer interdental brush

An interdental or interproximal ("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 wires of dental braces and the teeth.

The use of interdental brushes in conjunction with tooth brushing has been shown to reduce both the amount of plaque and the incidence of gingivitis when compared to tooth brushing alone.[36] Although there is some evidence that after tooth brushing with a conventional tooth brush, interdental brushes remove more plaque than dental floss,[37] a systematic review reported insufficient evidence to determine such an association.[36]

The size of interdental brushes is standardized in ISO 16409.[38][39] The brush size,[40] which is a number between 0 (small space between teeth) and 8 (large space), indicates the passage hole diameter. This corresponds to the space between two teeth that is just sufficient for the brush to go through without bending the wire. The color of the brushes differs between producers. The same is the case with respect to the wire diameter.[41]

Brush size according to ISO 16409[38]
Brush size 0[42] 1[43] 2 3 4 5 6 7[44] 8[44]
Passage hole diameter in mm ≤ 0.6 0.7–0.8 0.9–1.0 1.1–1.2 1.3–1.5 1.6–1.8 1.9–2.3 2.4–2.8 ≥ 2.8

End-tuft brush

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The small round brush head comprises seven tufts of tightly packed soft nylon bristles, trimmed so the bristles in the center can reach deeper into small spaces. The brush handle is ergonomically designed for a firm grip, giving the control and precision necessary to clean where most other cleaning aids cannot reach.[45] These areas include the posterior of the wisdom teeth (third molars), orthodontic structures (braces), crowded teeth, and tooth surfaces that are next to missing teeth. It can also be used to clean areas around implants, bridges, dentures and other appliances.[46]

Chewable toothbrush

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Chewable toothbrushes

A chewable toothbrush is a miniature plastic moulded toothbrush which can be placed inside the mouth. While not commonly used, they are useful 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, which can be used without water.[47]

Musical toothbrush

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A musical toothbrush is a type of manual or powered toothbrush designed to make tooth brushing habit more interesting. It is more commonly introduced to children to gain their attention and positively influence their tooth brushing behavior. The music starts while child starts brushing, it continuously plays during the brushing and it ends when the child stops brushing.[48]

Toothpaste-less toothbrush

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Soladey 3 is activated by light to kill bacteria.

Reusable toothbrush

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Replaceable head toothbrush, with and without brush head

Tooth brushing

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Hygiene and care

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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, such as Hepatitis C.[49]

It is advisable to rinse the toothbrush with water, shake it off and let dry after use.

Studies have shown that brushing to remove dental plaque more often than every 48 hours is enough to maintain gum and tooth health. Tooth brushing can remove plaque up to one millimeter below the gum line. Each person has a habitual brushing method, so more frequent brushing does not cover additional parts of the teeth or mouth.[50] Most dentists recommended patients brush twice a day in the hope that frequent brushing would clean more areas of the mouth.[51] Tooth brushing is the most common preventive healthcare activity, but tooth and gum disease remain high, since lay people clean at most 40% of their tooth margins at the gum line. Videos show that even when asked to brush their best, they do not know how to clean effectively.[52]

Adversity of toothbrushes

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Teeth can be damaged by several factors including poor oral hygiene, but also by wrong oral hygiene. Especially for sensitive teeth, damage to dentin and gums can be prevented by several measures[53] including a correct brushing technique.

It is beneficial when using a straight bristled brush: not to scrub horizontally over the necks of teeth; not to press the brush too hard against the teeth, to choose a toothpaste that is not too abrasive;[54] and to wait at least 30 minutes after consumption of acidic food or drinks before brushing.[53][55] Harder toothbrushes reduce plaque more efficiently but are more stressful to teeth and gum; using a medium to soft brush for a longer cleaning time was rated to be the best compromise between cleaning result and gum and tooth health.[56]

A study by University College London found that advice on brushing technique and frequency given by 10 national dental associations, toothpaste and toothbrush companies, and in dental textbooks was inconsistent.[57]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Oral Longevity," American Dental Association brochure (PDF), page 2 Archived 2010-11-19 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved June 12, 2008
  2. ^ Cathy. "Green and Healthy Mouths- Toothbrushes". greenecoservices.com. Archived from the original on 2009-09-05.
  3. ^ Larry West. "Can You Recycle Your Toothbrush?". About.com News & Issues. Archived from the original on 2009-02-04.
  4. ^ "How your toothbrush became a part of the plastic crisis". Environment. 2019-06-14. Archived from the original on June 14, 2019. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
  5. ^ "Napoleon's Toothbrush, Europe, 1790-1821". Wellcome Collection. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  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. ^ a b c d e Panati, Charles (2013). Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things. HarperCollins. pp. 208–209. ISBN 978-0-06-227708-4. Archived from the original on 2014-01-02.
  8. ^ a b c Yu, Hai-Yang; Qian, Lin-Mao; Zheng, Jing (2013). Dental Biotribology. Springer. pp. 18–19. ISBN 978-1-4614-4550-0. Archived from the original on 2014-01-02.
  9. ^ Li, R., 2000. Buddhist Monastic Traditions of Southern Asia: A Record of the Inner Law Sent Home from the South Seas (p. 198). Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research.
  10. ^ salvadora persica
  11. ^ IslamKotob, Muslims and Science, (Islamic Books), p.30.
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  13. ^ "4 ways our ancestors used benefits from the neem tree". www.timesnownews.com. 7 July 2019. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  14. ^ Sharma, Abhishek; Sankhla, Bharat; Parkar, Sujal M; Hongal, Sudheer; K, Thanveer; CG, Ajithkrishnan (July 2014). "Effect of Traditionally Used Neem and Babool Chewing Stick (Datun) on Streptococcus Mutans: An In–Vitro Study". Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 8 (7): ZC15–ZC17. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2014/9817.4549. ISSN 2249-782X. PMC 4149135. PMID 25177629.
  15. ^ "Does Brushing With Neem Twig Help Give You Stronger Teeth and Gums? We Find Out". NDTV Food. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  16. ^ a b 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.
  17. ^ Harris, Norman O.; García-Godoy, Franklin, eds. (1999). Primary preventive dentistry (5th ed.). Stamford: Appleton & Lange. ISBN 978-0-8385-8129-2.
  18. ^ a b "Who invented the toothbrush and when was it invented?". The Library of Congress. 2007-04-04. Archived from the original on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ a b Mary Bellis. "History of the Toothbrush and Toothpaste". About.com Money. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012.
  22. ^ "History of ADDIS". addis.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2014-10-28.
  23. ^ "New jobs joy in toothbrushes". Cambridge News. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014.
  24. ^ a b "The history of the toothbrush". Archived from the original on June 30, 2012.
  25. ^ "The Addis Company".
  26. ^ "Toothbrushes – American Dental Association". ADA.org. 2010-02-04. Archived from the original on 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  27. ^ "Who invented the toothbrush and when was it? (Everyday Mysteries: Fun Science Facts from the Library of Congress)". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on 2008-04-11.
  28. ^ Lazarus, George (1991-08-13). "P&G Puts Its Crest On A Toothbrush". Chicago Tribune. Chicago. Archived from the original on 2016-01-23. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
  29. ^ "The Complete History of the Toothbrush". March 15, 2015.
  30. ^ Wilkins, E. M. (1983). Clinical practice of the dental hygienist. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger. p. 308.
  31. ^ "2003 Invention Index". 2003-01-21. Archived from the original on 2009-06-28. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  32. ^ "New research finds electric toothbrushes 'fairly horrifying' for the environment - but bamboo brushes aren't the answer". independent. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  33. ^ Deacon, SA; Glenny, AM; Deery, C; Robinson, PG; Heanue, M; Walmsley, AD; Shaw, WC (Dec 8, 2010). "Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 56 (12): CD004971. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004971.pub2. PMC 8406707. PMID 21154357.
  34. ^ Kallar, S; Srivastava, N; Pandit, IK; Gugnani, N (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): 235–8. doi:10.4103/0970-4388.85832. PMID 21985880.
  35. ^ "Choosing A Powered Toothbrush". Take Home Smile.
  36. ^ a b Poklepovic T, Worthington HV, Johnson TM, Sambunjak D, Imai P, Clarkson JE, Tugwell P (2013). "Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (12): CD009857. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009857.pub2. PMID 24353078.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  37. ^ 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): 81–83. doi:10.1016/j.jebdp.2012.03.016. ISSN 1532-3382. PMID 22726785.
  38. ^ a b ISO 16409:2006 + Amd.1:2010, Dentistry – Oral hygiene products – Manual interdental brushes
  39. ^ ISO/DIS 16409:2014, Dentistry – Oral hygiene products – Manual interdental brushes (draft standard)
  40. ^ Different versions of the standard specify different brush sizes.
  41. ^ Neither the brush color nor the wire diameter are specified in ISO 16409:2010 or ISO/DIS 16409:2014. Just some general properties of the wire (e.g., should not bend) or specifications of the packaging (e.g., the brush size must be noted) can be found there.
  42. ^ Brush size 0 still can be found in ISO 16409:2010, however, it is no longer specified in ISO/DIS 16409:2014 (as of December 2015).
  43. ^ Brush size 1 has passage hole diameter ≤ 0.8 according to ISO/DIS 16409:2014 (as of December 2015).
  44. ^ a b Sizes 7 and 8 according to ISO/DIS 16409:2014 (as of December 2015).
  45. ^ "GUM® End-Tuft Toothbrush – Official Site for GUM® Toothbrushes". GUM® Brand. Archived from the original on 2014-04-19.
  46. ^ "End Tuft Brush – Flossing and interdental aids". google.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-27.
  47. ^ "Era of "Smart Toothbrushes"" (PDF).
  48. ^ Subburaman, Nivedha; Madan Kumar, ParangimalaiDiwakar; Iyer, Kiran (2019). "Effectiveness of musical toothbrush on oral debris and gingival bleeding among 6–10-year-old children: A randomized controlled trial". Indian Journal of Dental Research. 30 (2): 196–199. doi:10.4103/ijdr.IJDR_128_17. ISSN 0970-9290. PMID 31169149.
  49. ^ Lock, G.; Dirscherl, M.; Obermeier, F.; Gelbmann, C. M.; Hellerbrand, C.; Knöll, A.; Schölmerich, J.; Jilg, W. (2006). "Hepatitis C – contamination of toothbrushes: myth or reality?". Journal of Viral Hepatitis. 13 (9): 571–573. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2893.2006.00735.x. PMID 16907842. S2CID 24264376.
  50. ^ Claydon NC (2008). "Current concepts in toothbrushing and interdental cleaning" (PDF). Periodontology 2000. 48: 10–22. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0757.2008.00273.x. PMID 18715352.
  51. ^ Attin T, Hornecker E (2005). "Tooth brushing and oral health: how frequently and when should tooth brushing be performed?". Oral Health & Preventive Dentistry. 3 (3): 135–40. PMID 16355646.
  52. ^ Deinzer R, Ebel S, Blättermann H, Weik U, Margraf-Stiksrud J (October 2018). "Toothbrushing: to the best of one's abilities is possibly not good enough". BMC Oral Health. 18 (1): 167. doi:10.1186/s12903-018-0633-0. PMC 6194646. PMID 30340623.
  53. ^ a b Magalhães, AC; Wiegand, A; Rios, D; Honório, HM; Buzalaf, MA (Mar–Apr 2009). "Insights into preventive measures for dental erosion". Journal of Applied Oral Science. 17 (2): 75–86. doi:10.1590/S1678-77572009000200002. ISSN 1678-7757. PMC 4327581. PMID 19274390.Open access icon
  54. ^ Lussic, A.; Jaeggi, T. (2008). "Erosion—diagnosis and risk factors". Clin Oral Investig. 12 (Suppl 1): 5–13. doi:10.1007/s00784-007-0179-z. PMC 2238777. PMID 18228059. Open access icon
  55. ^ Cheng, R; Yang, H; Shao, M; Hu, T; Zhou, X (2009). "Dental erosion and severe tooth decay related to soft drinks: a case report and literature review". Journal of Zhejiang University Science B. 10 (5): 395–399. doi:10.1631/jzus.B0820245. PMC 2676420. PMID 19434767. Open access icon "It is concluded that keeping tooth unbrushed for at least 30 min after an erosive attack is necessary for protecting dentin"
  56. ^ Zimmer, S; Öztürk, M; Barthel, CR; Bizhang, M; Jordan, RA (Feb 2011). "Cleaning efficacy and soft tissue trauma after use of manual toothbrushes with different bristle stiffness". J Periodontol. 82 (2): 267–71. doi:10.1902/jop.2010.100328. PMID 20722532. Open access icon
  57. ^ "What's the best way to brush teeth? Even dentists and dental associations don't agree". Medical Xpress. 7 August 2014. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
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