It is unlikely that historians will be able to more or less accurately answer the question of when the first toothbrush appeared, since this event took place in those ancient times, about which only meager and fragmentary information has been preserved. It is known that a few millennia ago people tried to solve the problems associated with oral hygiene with the help of improvised means, but before the toothbrush took on the shape so familiar to us, it had come a long evolutionary path. We will only mention its main stages.

Toothbrushes of the ancient Assyrians

In the reports of the British archaeological expedition, which conducted excavations in 1892 on the territory of the ancient Assyrian kingdom, there is one curious entry. It says that, among other artifacts, fossilized from time to time, but well-preserved wooden sticks, one end of which was pointed and the other macerated like a brush, were extracted from the earth. After a comprehensive study of the find, scientists concluded that they were nothing but samples of the first toothbrushes.

It turns out that the subjects of King Ashurbanipal and other legendary rulers of Assyria took care of the hygiene of their own mouths. This is evidenced by the objects found during the excavations. Their pointed ends served as a kind of toothpicks - they removed food debris from the mouth. The opposite end of this "first toothbrush" was used in a very peculiar way: it was simply chewed, removing plaque with the help of coarse wood fibers.

Discoveries made in Egypt, India, Iran and other parts of the world

Somewhat later, exactly the same devices for putting things in order in the mouth were discovered during excavations of ancient Egyptian tombs. As you know, pharaohs and other noble persons were sent to the afterlife, providing everything necessary for a worthy stay there. This is probably why the sticks described above, which are considered to be the first toothbrushes, were found in burials among weapons, jewelry, magnificent dresses and other things, without which the deceased is ashamed to appear in a decent society.

A more detailed study of the issue showed that similar devices were used in ancient times by the peoples who inhabited the territories of China, Iran and India. For their manufacture, mastic wood was used, and in some cases bronze or even gold. And the information received from the members of the expeditions who studied the life of the tribes inhabiting the hard-to-reach areas of Central Africa was a complete surprise. As it turned out, they are very zealous about oral hygiene and to this day they use exactly the same sticks chewed at one end, like the inhabitants of long-disappeared civilizations.

Invention of the ancient Chinese

As mentioned above, historians can only roughly indicate the era in which people began to clean up their mouths by chewing special sticks, but it is known exactly when and where the first toothbrush appeared. Reviews, or rather, evidence of this event have been preserved in the ancient Chinese chronicles of the late 15th century. From them it is clear that in June 1498 a certain wise man had the idea to make a very close analogue of a modern brush. He attached a strip of pig bristle to a bamboo handle and publicly demonstrated his invention.

His "technical development" was a success with compatriots and was, as they say today, put into mass production. Brush handles were made not only from bamboo, but also from bone, ceramics and various other metals. Only the porcine bristle hedgehog remained unchanged, which, by the way, had a very big drawback: in the cold it became stiff and injured the gums. For this reason, when the first toothbrushes were brought from China to Europe, pig bristles were replaced with more suitable short-cut horsehair.

Historical facts that cannot be denied

To the shame of "enlightened Europe", it should be noted that toothbrushes took root in it with great difficulty. It is known that even in the Renaissance (XV-XVI centuries), taking care of hygiene, not only of the mouth, but of the whole body, was considered completely unnecessary. Moreover, for a true aristocrat, it was an unworthy and even humiliating business. Court ladies drowned out the bad smell by pouring streams of expensive perfumes on themselves (this was especially true on critical days). Men simply did not pay attention to such trifles.

Only by the middle of the 17th century did the Europeans gradually assimilate the truth, formulated three centuries later by Moidodyr, and realized that "it is necessary, it is necessary to wash in the mornings and evenings." At the same time, a toothbrush, imported from China and considered until then only an exotic curiosity, became widespread among them.

Tooth brooms from the time of Ivan the Terrible

At the same time, to the credit of our compatriots, it should be noted that in Russia personal hygiene was taken much more seriously, and much earlier than Europeans they came to the conclusion that “unclean chimney sweeps are shame and disgrace.” Suffice it to recall the Russian baths, so loved by the people and categorically rejected by strangers.

For this reason, the first toothbrushes were widely used in Russia almost a hundred years earlier than in Europe. It happened in the middle of the XVI century, during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. By the way, despite the outward resemblance to Chinese samples, they were developed by domestic craftsmen and were thin wooden sticks, at the ends of which bunches of the same pig bristles were attached. These designs were called dental brooms.

They operated in the mouths of our ancestors until the middle of the 19th century and lost their positions only after the educated Russian public was imbued with the ideas of Louis Pasteur that the moisture remaining on the brush is a favorable environment for the development of pathogenic microbes. It was decided that it was not safe to brush your teeth, and for some time the Russians abandoned this activity.

The first attempts at industrial production of toothbrushes

In the meantime, Europe in matters of hygiene has successfully made up for what it missed earlier. In 1840, the first industrial toothbrushes appeared on the shelves of Western stores. Their manufacturer was the British company Addis. The enterprising British bought bristles in Russia and China.

Continuing the conversation about how toothbrushes conquered the world, we should name a few more dates that have become epochal in this process. So, in 1938, the same British tried to replace natural pig bristles with synthetic fibers, but failed. At that time, there was no artificial material with the necessary elasticity, and the one that was available injured the gums.

Before the first use, the toothbrush had to be softened for a long time in boiling water, but then the fibers hardened again, and everything was repeated anew. As a result, the novelty was abandoned, and its release was resumed only in 1950, after the chemical industry began to produce the necessary material.

Further improvement of brush design

In the same year, 1938, another curious event took place. One obscure Swedish company tried to produce the world's first electric toothbrushes, but, like the British, failed. Potential users were curious about the new invention, but they were in no hurry to take the mains-powered mechanism into their mouths. It wasn't until the early 1960s that battery-powered reciprocating electric toothbrushes took over the market. A little later, they were improved and received the well-known today rotating heads.

Scientific and technological progress, which is moving at an ever-increasing speed these days, has also affected the developments related to the production of more and more new models of toothbrushes. Their designs sometimes exceed the wildest fantasies. For example, the Japanese company Panasonic once again surprised the world by releasing a toothbrush with a video camera built into it. This innovation allows the user to visually inspect the most inaccessible areas of the oral cavity and clean them thoroughly.

Baby brushes

Today, the production of toothbrushes has become a powerful global industry, which has its own leaders and outsiders. This is not surprising, since washing and brushing your teeth is a mandatory procedure that every self-respecting person performs every day. He must instill the same skills in his children. To this end, brush manufacturers produce a wide range of products designed for the smallest consumers.

An example of such care for children is the Lubby toothbrush, which is put on the finger - the first of those that a little man who has come to this world will meet. It is designed for a baby at the age of about four months, whose teeth are just beginning to cut. This simple device, in which the mother's finger is the main component, can be replaced by another toothbrush - “Aquafresh. My first tooth." It is equipped with a handle and is very similar to those used by parents themselves, but, unlike them, is equipped with an unusually soft bristle, which excludes the possibility of damage to delicate children's gums.

Brushing your teeth turned into a fun game

In general, manufacturers approach the manufacture of this type of goods with special responsibility, since the impression the first toothbrush makes on the baby largely determines his further attitude to washing and all other hygiene procedures. It is understandable. The first use of a toothbrush should in no case be associated with pain or any other kind of discomfort.

It is best if brushing your teeth is perceived by the child as a fun game with mom. That is why toothbrushes for the first teeth are often produced in the form of little animals, birds, insects, etc. They are presented in stores in a fairly wide range.

Types of first toothbrushes for children: sizes

As a rule, all manufacturers of this product label their products, indicating on it what age it is intended for. If there are no such marks, or their objectivity is in doubt, parents can use the recommendations below.

So, for babies under one year old, it is recommended to purchase brushes equipped with soft silicone bristles. These can be the fingertips mentioned above or the special dental wipes available in most stores. For older children, brushes are designed, the size of which varies as follows: from one year to 2 years, the length of the head is one and a half centimeters, from 2 to 5 years - 2 cm and from 5 to 7 years - 2.5 cm.

Which brush to choose - hard or soft?

In addition to the size of the brush, the degree of its rigidity is of great importance. It must also be indicated on the packaging of the product. For children over 1 year old, with healthy gums and strong tooth enamel, doctors recommend buying harder brushes, as they not only perform their main function during operation, but also massage the child’s gums well. However, care must be taken when using them.

If the gums are weak and prone to bleeding, then the best option would be to purchase a soft brush. In case of doubts that have arisen among parents about the condition of the enamel and gums of the child, you should opt for brushes of medium hardness. It will be, so to speak, a win-win option.

Do you prefer natural or artificial brushes?

And finally, many parents attach great importance to what material the first toothbrush is made of - natural or synthetic. Oddly enough, but most dentists prefer the latter.

• Firstly (and most importantly), harmful bacteria do not multiply in such brushes.
• Secondly, plastic bristles, unlike natural ones, do not break or crumble, leaving small solid particles in the child's mouth.
• And thirdly, brushes made of artificial materials are much more durable than their natural counterparts.

Toothbrushes with natural and artificial bristles

Almost everyone starts every morning with a visit to the bathroom and brushing their teeth. Dental services are very expensive, so you need to take care of your teeth. Probably, each of us thought at least once in our lives what way the toothbrush went before coming to us in such a classic form in which we know it now. And what did people brush their teeth with in ancient times, in the Middle Ages, for example?

A toothbrush is designed not only for brushing your teeth, but also for massaging and removing plaque from your gums with a special toothpaste. By hardness, toothbrushes are soft and medium. Soft ones are bought for children, adults often use medium hard brushes. Rigid brushes are designed for cleaning dentures.

Let's take a little look at the history of appearance, or rather, the creation and development of a toothbrush from antiquity to our times.

The history of the toothbrush

The history of the appearance and development of the toothbrush very interesting and one might even say somewhat unusual. Let's try to tell it as briefly as possible.

In ancient times, people rubbed their teeth with a bunch of grass. Over time, the first toothpicks also appeared.

Scientists say that in Kievan Rus they brushed their teeth with oak brushes. They rubbed their teeth with a brush from plaque, and the other end of the stick, unbroken, could be used as a toothpick. By the way, everyone knows that oak bark perfectly strengthens the gums and is used to relieve inflammation in the oral cavity.

In 1498, primitive toothbrushes were improved in China. The handle was made of bamboo, and the hardest and most durable bristles of the Siberian boar were attached to it perpendicularly. True, it was still far from the invention of toothpaste, so they were used dry.

During the time of Peter I, and this is the end of the 17th - the beginning of the 18th century, toothbrushes were replaced with a rag with crushed chalk.

In the middle of the 17th century, a French dentist published a book on dental diseases. Pierre Fauchard invented false teeth, caps for teeth coated with porcelain enamel, pin teeth. In his work, he even used primitive braces. The doctor insisted on the obligatory daily brushing of the teeth, suggesting to wipe the teeth and gums with a natural sea sponge, since the animal bristles either injured the teeth or were too soft.

First toothbrushes

Mass production of toothbrushes was started in 1780 by the Englishman William Addis.

The production of toothbrushes began in 1780 by the Englishman William Addis (eng. William addis). Ten years earlier, Addis had gone to jail for sedition, where he made his first toothbrush. The design was very simple: William drilled holes in a piece of bone and passed tufts of bristles through these holes, which he then secured with glue. After 10 years, already at large, Addis founds a company for the industrial production of toothbrushes Wisdom Toothbrushes. By the way, his company still exists today.

But the first patent for a toothbrush was received by the American Wadsworth in 1850, however, the mass production of such a toothbrush, useful and necessary for oral hygiene, was started only 35 years after this significant event. The first brushes were made of bone (handle) and natural bristles of the Siberian boar. It is worth noting the disadvantages of this device for cleaning teeth: the boar bristles did not dry well, besides, natural bristles have a cavity in which bacteria very readily multiply, as a result, they were of relatively poor quality and ineffective.

At the end of the 19th century, Louis Pasteur argued that the causes of dental diseases are bacteria and viruses in the oral cavity and which multiply perfectly in long-drying natural bristles. It was proposed to boil toothbrushes, because of which they quickly became unusable.

The advent of modern toothbrushes

But a toothbrush useful for human health appeared later. In 1937, specialists from the American chemical company Du Pont invented the synthetic material nylon, which had a lot of advantages:

• ease,
• strength,
• elasticity,
• moisture resistance,
• high resistance to many chemicals,
• fast drying bristles
• soon invented "soft" nylon did not scratch the teeth.

And so, in the 20th century, namely on February 24, 1938, Oral-B released the first brush with synthetic fibers instead of natural ones. Nylon fibers were used, which dried quickly and did not absorb moisture.

Also worth noting is the first appearance of an electric toothbrush. It was called Broxodent and was introduced by Squibb Pharmaceutical back in 1959.

Here is such a history of the emergence and development of the toothbrush has been for centuries, from antiquity to the present day.

Archaeologists have proven that Neanderthals looked after their teeth. After examining the remains of teeth, which are more than 1.8 million years old, archaeologists have established that the small curved dimples on them are nothing more than the result of the impact of a primitive brush. True, she represented only a bunch of grass with which ancient people rubbed their teeth. Also, ash, powdered stones, crushed glass, wool soaked in honey, charcoal, gypsum, plant roots, resin, cocoa grains, salt and many natural components were used for oral hygiene.

In the written sources of Ancient Egypt there were mentions of dental care and related products. According to the testimony of ancient chroniclers, about five thousand years ago, the Egyptians achieved pearl whiteness of teeth using powder from dry incense, myrrh, kau, mastic tree branches, ram's horn and raisins.
In Egypt, the first prototype of a toothbrush appeared, a toothbrush was a stick with a chewed "broom" on one end and a pointed tip on the other. The sharp end was used to remove food fibers, the other was chewed with teeth and used to remove plaque from the teeth. They made such “brushes” from special types of wood containing essential oils and known for their disinfectant properties.
Such "tooth sticks" about five thousand years old are found in Egyptian tombs. In some parts of the Earth, such “primitive brushes” are still used - for example, in Africa they are made from twigs of trees of the Salvador genus, and in some American states, the indigenous population uses twigs of white elm. The first specially made gold toothpick was discovered in Sumer and dated to 3000 BC. e. An ancient Assyrian medical text described the procedure for brushing teeth with a cloth-wrapped forefinger. Already in the second millennium BC. e. used tooth powder made from pumice stone with the addition of natural acids - wine vinegar or tartaric acid.
The merit of further improvement of toothpaste itself belongs to the two great civilizations in the history of mankind - the ancient Greeks and Romans, because it was the states of the Mediterranean that became the cradle of medicine.
Over time, toothpicks became not just a hygiene item, but also an indicator of the status of their owner - in ancient India, China, and Japan they were made of gold and bronze.
The relatively regular practice of oral hygiene has been known since ancient Greece. A student of Aristotle, Theophrastus (died 287 BC), testified that the Greeks considered it a virtue to have white teeth and brush them often. In the letters of the Greek philosopher Altsifron, who lived in the II century BC. e., there is a mention of a common at that time means of hygiene - a toothpick.
The first recipes for toothpaste date back to 1500 BC. The famous healer Hippocrates (460-377 BC) made the first description of dental diseases and recommended the use of toothpastes. In the second millennium BC. e. already used tooth powder made from pumice with the addition of natural acids - wine vinegar or tartaric acid.
Yet regular oral care did not become widespread until Greece became a province of Rome. Under Roman influence, the Greeks learned to use materials such as talc, pumice, gypsum, coral and corundum powder, and iron rust to clean their teeth. Diocles of Carist, an Athenian physician and contemporary of Aristotle, warned: “Every morning you should wipe your gums and teeth with bare fingers, then rub mint inside and out on your teeth to remove, thus, the remaining pieces of food.”
Body hygiene and oral hygiene in particular occupied a significant place in the life of the Romans. Its necessity was defended by the Roman physician Celsius. A recipe has been preserved to remove and prevent the formation of "black spots on the teeth": brush your teeth with a mixture of crushed rose petals, tannin and myrrh, and then rinse your mouth with young wine.
Dentifrice powders with a large number of components have been widely used. The bones, eggshells, and oyster shells included in their composition were burned, carefully crushed, and sometimes mixed with honey. The astringent components were myrrh, saltpeter, which simultaneously had a strengthening effect on the gums and teeth. The substance "nitrum" was mentioned - probably sodium or potassium carbonate.
Guests invited to dinner were given not only spoons and knives, but also richly decorated metal toothpicks, often made of gold, which guests could even take home with them. A toothpick was to be used at every meal change. The ancient Greeks and Romans made toothpicks from wood, bronze, silver, gold, ivory and goose feather in the form of thin sticks.
The era of the early Middle Ages brought the first evidence of professional cleaning of the oral cavity: the Greek Paul of Aegina (605-690) proposed removing tartar with a chisel or other tools. He also wrote about the need to observe oral hygiene, in particular brushing your teeth, after eating, emphasizing that different foods, sticking to the teeth, leave plaque.

In the Arab world, the concept of oral hygiene was introduced by the prophet Mohammed (born in Mecca in 570 BC), introducing it into the Muslim religion. Among other requirements, the Qur'an requires rinsing the mouth before prayer three times (that is, 15 times a day). The Arabs brushed their teeth according to the established ritual with the help of miswak - a fragrant wood stick with a split end like a brush and a chital toothpick - from the stem of an umbrella plant, and from time to time they rubbed their teeth and gums with rose oil, myrrh, alum, honey. The twig was soaked in clean water for about 24 hours until the fibers began to separate. The bark was peeled off, revealing a hard fiber that was quite flexible and split easily.

The history of the development of oral care products after the fall of the Roman Empire is almost unknown until 1000 AD, and it is from this period that oral care instructions found during excavations in Persia date back. These guidelines warned against the use of too hard tooth powders and recommended the use of antler powder, crushed snail and shellfish shells, and fired plaster. Other Persian recipes included formulations of various dried animal parts, herbs, honey, minerals, aromatic oils, and more.
In the Middle Ages in Europe, dental elixirs came into fashion, which were made by healers and monks, and the recipe was kept secret.

In 1363, the work of Guy de Chauliac (1300-1368) "The Beginnings of the Art of Surgical Medicine" appeared, which in 1592 was translated into French and widely used by practicing physicians, becoming the main work on surgery of that time. The author divided dental treatment into two types: universal and individual.
The biggest success fell to the share of dental elixir. It was invented in 1373, but it was still sold in pharmacies at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Choliac's successor Giovanni do Vigo (1460-1525), author of the treatise "Complete practice in the art of surgery", recognized that healthy teeth have a beneficial effect on the mental and physical health of a person. To prevent tooth decay, he prescribed mixtures of pomegranate, wild olive and other plants for rinsing, recommended regular removal of tartar. The Italian physician Chigovani Arcoli (d. 1484) widely promoted the 10 rules he described for caring for teeth, including after meals. In the 15th century in England, barbers, who also worked in surgery, used various metal instruments and solutions based on nitric acid to remove tartar (it is worth noting that the use of nitric acid for this purpose was stopped only in the 18th century).
The first toothbrush similar to modern ones, made of pig bristles, appeared in China on June 28, 1497. What exactly did the Chinese invent? A composite brush, where pig bristles were attached to a bamboo stick.
At times, however, other materials came into fashion, such as badger hair.
Gradually, the Asian “novelty” began to be “exported” to other countries of the world, and the fashion for brushing your teeth reached Russia.
In Russia in the 16th century, similar “dental brooms” were known, consisting of a wooden stick and a panicle of pig bristles - already under Ivan the Terrible boyars, at the end of a stormy feast, a “tooth broom” was taken out of a caftan pocket - a wooden stick with a bundle of bristles. These inventions were brought to Russia from Europe, where horsehair panicles, badger bristles, etc. were used with pig panicles.
Under Peter I, the royal decree ordered to replace the brush with a rag and a pinch of crushed chalk. In the villages, as before, the teeth were rubbed with birch charcoal, which perfectly whitened the teeth.
The inhabitants of the Japanese islands were introduced to the toothbrush and twig for cleaning the tongue by Buddhist priests, whose religion requires cleaning their teeth and tongue every morning before prayer.
The Japanese "Samurai Code" ordered all warriors to brush their teeth after eating with soaked branches of bushes. During the Tokugawa (Edo) period (1603-1867), toothbrushes were made from willow twigs, divided into fine fibers and specially processed. The brushes had a certain length and flat shape, so that they could be used as a tongue scraper.
Toothbrushes for women were smaller and softer in order to preserve the black coloration of their teeth (staining black teeth by women was an ancient tradition). A polishing paste made from a mixture of earth and salt, scented with musk, was applied to the tip of a twig moistened with water.
Toothpicks like today's were hand-crafted in Japan and sold alongside brushes and powders that had been on the market as early as 1634. Colorful display cases beckoned shoppers to specialty shops selling all kinds of dental care items. By the beginning of the 19th century, the number of such stores increased dramatically. Only on the street leading to the main temple of Edo, there were more than two hundred of them.


In 1530, the first book entirely devoted to dentistry was published in Leipzig. It was written in German, not Latin, and was addressed to barbers and surgeons.
The famous 16th-century surgeon Ambroise Pare recommended meticulous oral hygiene: remove any food debris from the teeth immediately after eating; it is necessary to remove tartar, as it acts on the teeth, like rust on iron; after removing stones from the teeth, the mouth should be rinsed with alcohol or a weak solution of nitric acid. To whiten teeth, weak solutions of nitric acid were most often used.
In English sources of the 16th century, various oral care products are described, rubbing the teeth with fingers and cloth, and the use of toothpicks were widely recommended. Toothpicks were imported from France, Spain, Portugal, were considered very fashionable and were included in the list of items needed for the queen. The reverence for these hygiene items is evidenced by the reverent report that in 1570 Queen Elizabeth of England received six golden toothpicks as a gift.
Professional removal of dental deposits remained the work of barbers. Cinthio d'Amato, in his 1632 book New and Useful Methods for All Diligent Barbers, noted: when you wake up in the morning. Thus, one should scrape and brush the teeth every morning, because if one does not know about it or does not consider it important, and the teeth become discolored and covered with a thick layer of calculus, this will cause them to decay and fall out. Therefore, it is necessary that the diligent barber should remove the stones in question with a special tool designed for this purpose.
In the 17th century, Europeans enthusiastically brushed their teeth with salt, which was later replaced by chalk. The unspeakable surprise of the Dutchman A. Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723), who designed the microscope, is known to have discovered microorganisms in plaque on his own teeth, “despite the fact that they were regularly cleaned with salt.”
The first scientifically substantiated presentation of the material on oral hygiene belongs to Pierre Fauchard, who criticized the then prevailing opinion that some mysterious “toothworms” were the cause of dental diseases. He identified 102 types of dental diseases. Fauchard argued that teeth must be brushed every day.
The first mention of toothbrushes in European literature dates back to 1675. It is believed that the Addis firm (1780) in London was the first manufacturer of toothbrushes. She used natural bristles for these purposes. In 1840, brushes began to be made in France and Germany.
Tooth powder, and then toothpaste, most similar to modern ones, first appeared at the end of the 18th century in Great Britain.

In the 19th century, most dentifrices remained in powder form, sold in special small paper bags. Now his goal was not only to remove plaque, but at the same time to give freshness to the breath, for which various natural additives, such as strawberry extract, were mainly used. To make these products more palatable, glycerin has been added to tooth powders.
In Western Europe and Russia, chalk-based toothpowders were widely used. The first tooth powders were made in pharmacies according to special recipes, then their industrial production was established. The basis of these powders was chalk and magnesium carbonate. Finely ground leaves or fruits of medicinal plants (cinnamon, sage, violets, etc.) were added to the powders. Later, these additives were replaced by various essential oils.

Since the second half of the 19th century, work began on the creation of toothpastes. The finest chalk powder was evenly distributed in the jelly-like mass. First, starch was used as a binder, from which a special paste was prepared on an aqueous solution of glycerin. Later, the starch was replaced with a sodium salt of an organic acid, which stabilized the chalk suspension.
In 1873, Colgate introduced a flavored "thinned" powder-paste in a glass jar to the American market, but the novelty was not immediately accepted by consumers due to the inconvenience of packaging.
At the end of the 19th century, it became clear that a revolutionary new material was needed for tooth bristles, when the eminent French microbiologist Louis Pasteur hypothesized that microbes and viruses were the cause of many dental diseases. And where is it most comfortable for them to breed, if not in the humid environment of natural toothbrush bristles? Alternatively, dentists suggested boiling toothbrushes daily, thereby disinfecting them, but this procedure quickly wore out the bristles and the brush became unusable.
In 1892, dentist Washington Sheffield invented the toothpaste tube. In 1894, a pump-fed tube was developed, very similar to those we use today. In 1896, Mr. Colgate began to produce toothpastes in tubes according to his own technology, thanks to which both the tube and this paste gained universal recognition in America and Europe. With the introduction of packaging in a tube, toothpaste has become an essential item for a person.
Since the end of the 19th century, the world began to switch to toothpastes in tubes. In most countries of the world, they came into use in the 30s of the XX century and gradually began to replace toothpowders, since they had indisputable advantages - compactness, portability, plasticity, better taste properties.
In 1915, extracts from some trees growing in Southeast Asia, such as eucalyptus, began to be introduced into the composition of the funds. Also, "natural" toothpastes containing mint, strawberries and other plant extracts are used.
In 1937, the American chemical company Du Pont invented nylon - a synthetic material, the appearance of which marked the beginning of a new era in the development of toothbrushes. The advantages of nylon over bristles or horsehair are obvious: it is light, strong enough, elastic, moisture resistant, and highly resistant to many chemicals.
The nylon bristles dried much faster, so the bacteria in it did not multiply as quickly. True, nylon scratched the gums and teeth quite badly, but after some time, Du Pont managed to fix this by synthesizing “soft” nylon, which dentists vied with each other to praise to their patients.
The end of the 30s of the XX century was marked by another important event in the world of oral hygiene - the first electric toothbrush appeared. So, at the end of the 19th century, a certain Dr. Scott (George A. Scott) invented an electric brush and even patented it in the American Patent Office. However, unlike modern devices, that brush “beat” a person with a current during use. According to the inventor, electricity could have a “beneficial” effect on dental health.
A more humane electric toothbrush was created in 1939 in Switzerland, but it was not until 1960 that the American pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb launched a toothbrush called Broxodent to start production and sales. It was planned that it would be used by people who have problems with fine motor skills, or those whose teeth have non-removable structures (bracket systems).

In 1987, the antibacterial component triclosan began to be included in toothpastes.

For nearly three quarters of a century, the USSR lingered in the era of tooth powder, the first Soviet paste in a tube was released only in 1950. Prior to this, pastes were sold in tin, and later in plastic jars. True, even in this package, toothpaste rarely appeared on store shelves, the undisputed leader in sales was toothpowder, which entered the life of a Soviet person so firmly that it penetrated into areas unusual for its intended purpose. In home economics books of the time, you'll find advice on using toothpaste to clean windows, clean canvas shoes, or polish metal utensils. The powder departed following the fashion for canvas. Consumers enthusiastically accepted the novelty - foamy and fragrant toothpaste.
In 1961, General Electrics introduced its version of the electric toothbrush, designed for use by all people without exception. Unlike older models, this safer toothbrush did not run on the mains, but was powered by a built-in battery.

Healthy teeth are a beautiful smile, a beautiful smile is always a pleasant communication.
A smile costs nothing, but is highly valued ... D. Carnegie

Olga thank you
Synopsis of GCD in the senior group “History of the toothbrush. Dental Care»

Material Description: I suggest you abstract direct educational activities for children senior group(5-6 years old) on this topic " History of the toothbrush. Dental care". The abstract useful to educators senior group.

Summary of GCD in the senior group on the topic: « History of the toothbrush. Dental care».

Integration of educational regions: "Knowledge", "Health-Saving Technologies", "Communication and socialization", "Reading Fiction".

Target: Continue to acquaint with the rules of personal hygiene, consolidate the rules dental and oral care. Tell about toothbrush history. To form a cognitive interest in a person.

Tasks:

Educational: To introduce children to the function and structure of teeth.

Educational: Develop thinking, general and fine motor skills, communication skills.

Educational: To educate the observance of the rules of personal hygiene. Raise the desire to have beautiful and healthy teeth.

Demo Material: Poster "Human Hygiene", presentation « History of the toothbrush» .

GCD progress:

caregiver: Hello guys! Listen to the riddle and tell me what it is about?

red doors

In my cave

white beasts

At the door.

And meat, and bread - all my booty -

I gladly give to white animals!

caregiver: Here in the big pink cave that people call "oral cavity" 2 rows of teeth white as pearls are located. Tell me, what kind of teeth do little children have? (children answer).

caregiver: Little children have small teeth, they are called milk teeth. They have a more bluish color than the permanent ones. Called milk teeth baby teeth "father of medicine" Hippocrates, because they erupt at a time when the baby is fed only breast milk and cannot eat solid food. In ancient times, people believed that teeth were formed from milk. The permanent teeth are larger. They have a white-cream color, uniform luster and are arranged in two even rows.

All kids have teeth:

At obedient rascals,

Toddlers and big ones

What do you know about them?

What are the

In a white hard coat,

Our best friends

White teeth.

caregiver: Guys, let's take a look at how the tooth works. See what tooth? (children answer)

caregiver: Outside, he is white shiny, dressed in a beautiful "shirt" from enamel. Enamel is a thin layer that covers the top tooth- crown. Between the crown and the root is the neck tooth. Root - part tooth, which is located in the jaw. The plant is nourished by the root, so the tooth is nourished by the root.

caregiver: Why do you think a tooth can hurt? (children's answers)

caregiver: A hole in the tooth is always painful. What should be done to avoid a hole in the tooth? (children answer)

caregiver: Tell me, why does a person need teeth? (children's answers)

caregiver: That's right, they are needed so that we bite and chew food, but also so that a person can smile dazzlingly and for a beautiful speech. Our teeth can be compared to plants in flower pots, where each tooth is fixed in its own bone structure. "pot".

Fizkultminutka.

Our children are tired

And everyone started from their chairs,

Pulled up, pulled up

We smiled at the sun

Right, left leaning

We quickly went down to the river,

Pure water flows

We know how to wash ourselves

We take toothpaste

Strongly three brush teeth

Wash my neck, wash my ears

Let's dry ourselves.

caregiver: Per teeth take care of like flowers. How do you guys take care of your teeth? (children's answers)

caregiver dental care? (children's answers)

caregiver: Who knows what every person needs to have for dental care? (children's answers).

caregiver: Have you ever wondered toothbrush story? Who came up with its use?

snuet Toothbrush,

Like a boat on the sea

Like a steamboat on a river

By she goes to the teeth,

Up and down, back and forth.

We will clean the plaque and stains,

To keep your teeth from hurting

So that they turn white like winter snow.

Likeness toothbrush ancient people had a bunch of grass with which they rubbed their teeth.

In ancient Egypt, they used a wooden stick with chewed "broom" one side.

In the 14th century in China, they came up with the idea of ​​​​attaching a small amount of boar bristles to a bamboo handle. The bristles were chosen the hardest and most durable - from the neck of the animal.

Gradually, the fashion for brushing your teeth came to Russia. During Ivan the Terrible, there were dental"brooms"- sticks with a bundle of bristles at the end, they were used after a meal.

See what royals used to be brushes.

Now in our time, nylon is made brushes.

Toothbrush man's best friend. Toothbrush cleans plaque. Brushes are different: hard, medium hard, soft, very soft.

Per toothbrush needs to be taken care of. Best to keep toothbrush in a dry and open place, which the bathroom, unfortunately, is not. Recommends to lower twice a week toothbrush into a mouthwash for 10-15 minutes.

Buy a new one every three months brush to replace the old one.

Learn how to properly brush your teeth toothbrush

Every tooth must be brushed

Upper tooth, lower tooth,

Even the farthest tooth, -

A very important tooth.

Inside, outside three,

Three outside, inside.

Slide #10

To strengthen the teeth, you need to eat dairy products, fish, gnaw carrots, apples, turnips.

Slide #11

Now I will introduce you to the rules that you all must know.

Brush your teeth twice a day

Use only your toothbrush

After eating, always rinse your mouth with boiled water.

Don't poke in teeth with sharp objects

Don't gnaw teeth nuts, sugar, hard candy

Visit the dentist at least twice a year.

caregiver: And now I suggest you play a game “What is good and what is bad for teeth”. (Children stand in a circle) If I call what is good for the teeth - we clap, then what is harmful - we stomp.

Washing and brushing your teeth is a mandatory hygienic procedure that every civilized and self-respecting person must perform in the mornings and evenings. We instill these skills in our children from an early age. It's no secret that teeth play an important role in the health of our body. Our ancestors knew about this, which means that we owe the appearance of the first toothbrush to them.

The history of the toothbrush dates back to ancient times. In the process of excavation, archaeologists many times found the devices of mankind used to clean their teeth. This is only a confirmation that people have always taken care of oral hygiene. At the very beginning, people used simple sticks to brush their teeth, one end of which was pointed and the other was soaked. The sharp tip was needed in order to clean the mouth of food debris (toothpick principle), and plaque from the teeth helped to remove the second edge (coarse wood fibers) that had to be chewed.

The first such toothpicks became known after they were found in the tombs of Egypt. Some peoples still brush their teeth in this way to this day. Basically, these are tribes whose territory of residence is modern Africa. These sticks are most often made from the bark of salvadora, which has the ability to kill germs and strengthen the gums. Also, the population of Ancient China, India, Iran used toothpicks. For their manufacture, mastic wood, bronze and gold were used.

For the first time, mention of a modern brush can be found in the annals of the 4th-3rd centuries BC. e. At that time, these were dental brooms made from split twigs. The appearance of the first toothbrush falls on June 1498. China is considered its homeland. Brush handles were made from bamboo or bone, and bristles were made from pig hair, which became tougher in cold climates. Therefore, when the brush "arrived" in Europe, its material was not particularly liked by the inhabitants of these countries. Europeans gave preference to horse hair, which they began to use in the manufacture of their brushes.

Under Tsar Ivan the Terrible, sticks were used, on the tips of which bundles of bristles were attached, they were called dental brooms. After the suggestion made by Louis Pasteur that the cause of many diseases can be pathogenic microbes, for which the moisture remaining on the brush is a favorable environment for development, it was decided that it was rather unsafe to use them for dental health.

And now, the English company Addis becomes the manufacturer of the first toothbrushes in history. Already in 1840, the production of brushes begins in Germany and France. Russia and China become suppliers of bristles for their manufacture.

In 1938, synthetic fibers replaced natural bristles. Too hard at first, they hurt the gums and were therefore improved (1950). DuPont became the new manufacturer. In 1938, the first brush powered by electricity was produced in Switzerland, but it could only appear on sale in the 60s. The appearance of a device powered not by a network, but by energy from a built-in battery falls on 1961. A toothbrush with a spinning head appears a little later.

Speaking about the technology for the production of toothbrushes, one can say that one development is ahead of the other. We are especially pleased with Japanese manufacturers. So Panasonic came up with the idea of ​​creating a brush with a video camera to enable the user to see all the hard-to-reach areas and clean them thoroughly. Having singled out the toothbrush from all the scientific inventions made by man, the Americans put it on a pedestal (January 2003), believing that today's life is impossible without it.