Facts about Your Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Alongside professional Dental cleanings, toothbrushes and toothpaste are both essential in oral health maintenance. Yet, they do not always spur much excitement from those who use them. Knowing some of the colorful history behind these items can help reignite the appreciation they deserve. Here are some facts you may not know about your toothbrush and toothpaste.

The Progression of Toothbrush Design

The style of the toothbrush we use today was invented by William Addis in the late 1700s. During his time in an English prison, Addis crafted bone into handles and used swine bristles for the brush portion. DuPont de Nemours started making the modern toothbrush that consisted of nylon bristles in 1938.

How Often We Use Toothbrushes

Until soldiers returned from World War II with stringent dental hygiene regimens, Americans did not focus on their oral health to any significant degree at all. Today, researchers have found that people still only brush for 45 to 70 seconds rather than the recommended 120 seconds.

What Toothpaste Contained Then and Now

Toothpaste was based on soap until 1945. At that point, the demand for smooth toothpaste drove the replacement of soap with other ingredients that are still used today, such as sodium lauryl sulphate. In 1956, toothpaste manufacturers started adding fluoride to the mix.

Care Required for Toothbrushes

Patients should replace their toothbrush after suffering any type of oral infection or systemic sickness, as the responsible germs could stay in the bristles afterwards. By keeping toothbrushes at least six feet away from the nearest toilet and by allowing toothbrushes to dry after each use, patients can help guard their oral hygiene necessities from harmful bacteria.