DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Invention of the Toothbrush - June 26th, 1498
Photograph by The Humble Co. on Unsplash.com
We usually just think of the toothbrush as an everyday item, after all we use it everyday for at least four minutes (right? *wink*). Even though we don't give the toothbrush too much thought, it actually has an impressive history!
Chewing Sticks
The first recorded tool for cleaning teeth was the Babylonian and Egyptian chewing sticks. One end would be chewed to creat a frayed end, which could be used to scrape and clean the teeth. The bristles were
The First Patented Toothbrush
On June 26th, 1498 the Chinese Emperor patented the first toothbrush similar to the design we know today. The handle was made out of bamboo or animal bone and then pig hair was used for the bristles. The bristles were much harder than today's toothbrushes, but they did a better job of cleaning the teeth than a frayed stick.
William Addis's Invention
In 1780, a prison inmate named William Addis spent his time inventing the first ever mass-produced toothbrush. Once again it required using a bone for the handle and then gluing bunches of wild pig fibers for the bristles.
Nylon Bristles
Up to the 20th century, the toothbrush bristles were all made of natural fibers (usually animal fur or hair). In 1938, the first nylon bristle was invented which allowed people to brush their teeth with a softer brush. Quickly the nylon toothbrushes took off!
Electric Toothbrushes
The first electric toothbrush was invented in 1939 by a Swiss dentist. But this invention was a prototype that didn't reach the market until 1954.
Check out these dental health crafts and activities below that are all great ways to celebrate the anniversary of the toothbrush invention!
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Dental Health Coloring Pages |
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preschoolers and up |
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Age 7+ |
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preschoolers and up |
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Tooth Fairy Coloring Pages |
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Tooth Fairy Toilet Paper Roll Craft preschool and kindergarten |
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Kindergarten and grade school |
Other Holidays You May Be Interested In:
- Children's Dental Health Month - February