Toothbrush

The bristle toothbrush emerged in China during the Tang Dynasty, around 619 CE, using hog bristles attached to bamboo or bone handles. This design represented a significant improvement over the chewing sticks and tooth-cleaning cloths used elsewhere—a dedicated instrument with bristles that could reach between teeth and scrub surfaces effectively.

Hog bristles were well-suited to the purpose: stiff enough to dislodge debris, flexible enough not to damage gums, and available from an animal already widely raised for food. Attaching bristles perpendicular to a handle required skilled craftsmanship—each bristle had to be secured firmly—but the result was a tool that could be used repeatedly over months.

The design spread westward gradually. European travelers encountered Chinese toothbrushes by the 17th century. William Addis reportedly manufactured the first mass-produced toothbrush in England in 1780, using a bone handle with holes drilled for boar bristle tufts. He had conceived the design while imprisoned, where the usual tooth-cleaning method—rubbing with a rag—struck him as inadequate.

Bristle toothbrushes remained essentially unchanged until DuPont introduced nylon bristles in 1938. Nylon dried faster, resisted bacterial growth better, and could be manufactured in consistent diameters. The switch from animal to synthetic bristles transformed the economics of toothbrush production without changing the fundamental design.

The handle-and-bristle configuration has proven remarkably stable. Electric toothbrushes add power; different bristle arrangements optimize plaque removal; handles incorporate rubber grips and angled necks. But the basic concept—a stick with perpendicular bristles—persists from Tang Dynasty China through modern pharmacy shelves.

Dental health improved dramatically when toothbrushing combined with fluoride toothpaste in the 20th century. The toothbrush provided the delivery mechanism; fluoride provided the chemical protection. Neither alone achieved what both together accomplished.