Brush Up on Your Dental Trivia

100 years ago 50% of adult North Americans were toothless. Today, less than 10% of adults over age 65 have lost their teeth. This decrease is due to advances in dental health awareness, modern dental and medical treatments and the evolution of common dental products.

The toothbrush is an always evolving cultural artifact, not an invention. It all began around 3000BC with a twig, frayed at one end, called a"chew stick". The Chinese took it one step further, using twigs from trees with a nice smell. (Perhaps an early attempt at freshening their breath?!) The modern toothbrush originated in China about the time that Columbus discovered America. The bristles were made from boar, badger or horse hair which were attached to a piece of bamboo or bone.

Mass production of the toothbrush began in the United States about 1885. DuPont Corporation replaced the coarse animal hair bristles with softer nylon ones in 1938 bringing awareness to the practice of good oral hygiene. However, tooth brushing did not become routine in the U.S. until it was enforced on soldiers during World War II!

The first paste used to clean teeth was invented about 5,000 years ago by the Egyptians and consisted of a mixture of pumice and wine. Colgate began manufacturing toothpaste in 1873. It was packaged in jars until the collapsible tubes were introduced in 1896.

Today, approximately $2billion a year is spent on dental products in the United States. Your toothbrush should be replaced every two to three months due to splaying of the bristles and sanitary reasons. Although you should brush 2 minutes twice a day, most people only brush for 30-45 seconds once a day!

So the next time you brush your teeth, take a moment to be thankful that you have a nice, clean, soft toothbrush instead of a stick!