Ellen Coates
Preview
Evolution of the toothbrush
Timeline
Changes in design
Effects on our society and the
environment
Timeline
3500 B.C.
Concern of teeth
1498
First bristles
1600 B.C.
Chewing sticks
1780
First toothbrush
1600’s
Toothpaste
1920’s
Bristles
1918
Celluloid handles
1963
Electric
1938
Nylon Filament
3500 B.C.
Babylonians chewed on sticks
Helped to clean teeth and mouth
Mentioned in Greek and Roman
literature
(www.toothbrushexpress.com)
1600 B.C.
“Chewing sticks” were used
Chewing sticks had two sides--one was
chewed on and the other was pointy to
pick at teeth
Sticks were about the size of a pencil
Twigs could freshen the mouth
Found in Chinese literature
(www.toothbrushexpress.com)
1498
First bristles were invented in China
Coarse hairs were taken from the back
of a hog’s neck
Bristles were attached to bone or
bamboo
(www.loc.gov)
1600
Europe
Rags and sponges were dipped in
sulfur oil or salt solution
Sticks were attached to help reach
(www.asme.org)
1780
First toothbrush
William Addis of Clerkenwall, England
Hairs of a cow tail were attached to
the same cow’s thighbone
(www.asme.org)
1918
World War 1
Soup industries called for cow parts
being used in toothbrushes
Celluloid handles were created by
pouring plastic into mold
(www.asme.org)
1920’s
New method of attaching bristles
Drill hole in brush head
Force in many bristles
Secure with staple
Easier to manufacture
(www.oralb.com)
1938
Nylon filament developed in 1938
Chinese boar hair was favored bristle
material
World War 2 stopped export of hair
into the United States
Nylon replaced boar hair
(www.asme.org)
1963
First electric toothbrush
German engineer Max Braun
Copied movements of manual
toothbrush
Not common until the 1970’s
(www.oralb.com)
Effects on Society/Environment
Cleaner teeth
Healthier mouth
Less pain and aches
Affordable
Everyone has chance to brush teeth
Replaceable
Nylon hair and celluloid handle
Less cow slaughtering
Reduction in production costs, making it affordable
(www.asme.org)
Summary
Evolution of the toothbrush
Timeline
Changes in design
Effects on our society and the
environment
References
The Library of Congress (2004). Electronic Reference: The
Library of Congress. Retrieved Aug. 31, 2005 from
http://loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/tooth.html
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2001).
Electronic Reference: The American Society of
Mechanical Engineers. Retrieved Aug. 31, 2005 from
http://asme.org/mechanicaladvantage/march2001/tooth
brush.html
ToothbrushExpress.com (2005). Electronic Reference:
ToothbrushExpress.com. Retrieved Aug. 31, 2005 from
http://toothbrushexpress.com/html/toothbrush_history.h
tml
Oral-B (2004). Electronic Reference: Oral-B. Retrieved Aug.
31, 2005 from http://www.oralb.com/aboutus/history.asp