When Was the Toothbrush Invented? (2024)

Wonder of the Day #1618

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When Was the Toothbrush Invented? (1)

TECHNOLOGYInventions

Have You Ever Wondered...

  • When was the toothbrush invented?
  • Who invented the toothbrush?
  • What types of bristles were used on the earliest toothbrushes?

Tags:

See All Tags

  • Health,
  • Human Body,
  • Inventions,
  • Teeth,
  • Oral,
  • Hygiene,
  • Tool,
  • Clean,
  • Finger,
  • Dirt,
  • Powder,
  • Eggshell,
  • Chew,
  • Stick,
  • Twig,
  • Babylonian,
  • Egyptian,
  • Archeologist,
  • Bird,
  • Feather,
  • Animal,
  • Bone,
  • Porcupine,
  • Quill,
  • Bristle,
  • China,
  • Chinese,
  • Hair,
  • Neck,
  • Pig,
  • Boar,
  • Bamboo,
  • Handle,
  • Europe,
  • Horsehair,
  • Toothbrush,
  • Mass-Produced,
  • William Addis,
  • England,
  • Patent,
  • H. N. Wadsworth,
  • Bacteria,
  • Dupont,
  • Nylon,
  • United States,
  • World War Ii,
  • Soldier,
  • Military,
  • Brush,
  • Tooth,
  • Dental,
  • Mouth

Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Lucas. Lucas Wonders, “Who invented the toothbrush ” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Lucas!

Have you ever gone a couple of days without brushing your teeth? We hope not! Good oral hygiene is important. But if you have, you've probably experienced that grimy, mucky feeling that can happen when your teeth need to be cleaned.

That same feeling has been felt by human beings for as long as they've been around. For example, ancient cavemen surely experienced those same feelings as their teeth got dirty and grimy over time.

No one knows for sure when ancient man first began to develop tools to clean the teeth. The first tool could have been a simple finger used to remove dirt and food particles from the teeth with a fingernail. Some experts believe some ancient peoples may have used a powder made of broken eggshells to help clean their teeth.

Before the modern toothbrush, various tools were used to clean teeth. The first of these was likely the chew stick, which was a simple twig with a frayed end. Ancient chew sticks have been found dating back to the ancient Babylonians (3500 B.C.) and ancient Egyptians (3000 B.C.).

In other cultures, other items may have been used in a way similar to chew sticks. Items that have been recovered by archeologists include bird feathers, animal bones, and even quills from porcupines!

The first toothbrushes featuring bristles were probably created in China over 800 years ago. Historians believe the Chinese were the first to attach stiff hairs from the necks of pigs or boars to bone or bamboo handles. When these primitive toothbrushes made their way to Europe, they were modified to use softer materials, such as horsehair or feathers.

The creator of the first mass-produced toothbrush is believed to have been William Addis of England in 1780. Addis had been jailed in 1770 for inciting a riot. In jail, he developed a toothbrush consisting of an animal bone and bristles made of pigs' hair that were inserted into drilled holes and held in place by glue. After his release, he started a toothbrush manufacturing company called ADDIS that stayed in his family until 1996 and still manufactures toothbrushes today.

It would not be until 1857 that the first United States patent for a toothbrush would be granted to H. N. Wadsworth. Mass production of toothbrushes didn't start in the United States until 1885, though.

Toothbrush design didn't improve much for many decades, unfortunately. Animal bristles were prone to falling out. They also retained bacteria and did not dry easily. That all changed in 1938, when DuPont created nylon, a tough, lightweight, elastic synthetic polymer.

The first toothbrushes that resembled our modern devices were created in 1938 with softer nylon fibers. Despite the improved design of these toothbrushes, brushing teeth didn't become widespread in the United States until after World War II, when returning soldiers helped to popularize the practice after they had been trained to brush their teeth daily in the military.

Wonder What's Next?

The smell of tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day might go straight to your head!

Try It Out

Are you ready to brush up on your dental knowledge? Be sure to check out the following activities with a friend or family member:

  • What color is your toothbrush? Do all the members of your family use the same type and color of toothbrush? Or do you use different types or colors to make them easier to distinguish? Take an up-close look at your toothbrush today. If you have a magnifying glass, use it to inspect the bristles closely. What do you see? Is your toothbrush worn? If so, you may need to get a new one soon!
  • Up for a field trip? Ask an adult friend or family member to take you to a local store or pharmacy to check out their supply of toothbrushes. How many different varieties can you find? How are they similar? In what ways are they different? If possible, choose a couple of toothbrushes to purchase. Try them out at home. Do you prefer one type over another? Why?
  • Do you know how to clean your entire mouth with your toothbrush? Use the fun Toothbrush Painting activity to reinforce how important it is to get all the areas of your mouth when it's time to brush. Have fun!

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Wonder Contributors

We’d like to thank:

Samantha, Haim, harshith and Emma from IL
for contributing questions about today’s Wonder topic!

Keep WONDERing with us!

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Wonder Words

  • oral
  • riot
  • jail
  • twig
  • boar
  • tool
  • frayed
  • mucky
  • bamboo
  • quill
  • military
  • patent
  • hygiene
  • primitive
  • inciting
  • bristle
  • archeologist
  • polymer

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When Was the Toothbrush Invented? (2024)

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