A History of Toothbrushes and Toothpastes

Oral health supplies have a long history, dating as far back as 3500-3000 BC when Babylonians and Egyptians made brushes by fraying the ends of twigs—tombs of ancient Egyptians have even been found to contain tooth-sticks for owners. Around 1600 BC, aromatic twigs were used as “chewing sticks” to freshen breath.

The first natural bristle toothbrush was made in China around the 15th century. Originally, toothbrushes were made using bristles from pigs’ necks and were attached to bones or bamboo handles. Later, Europe adapted the design and used horse hairs or feathers for softer bristles. William Addis made a more modern design around 1780, carved from cattle bone instead of bamboo, but he still used swine bristles. It wasn’t until 1844 that the first three row bristle brush came into fruition.

Natural brushes were used until the invention of nylon around 1938. By the 1950s, softer nylon bristles were made, which started the design of the modern toothbrushes we are familiar with today. Surprisingly, the first electric toothbrush was made in 1939, and Broxodent made the first electronic brush in the U.S. in 1960. Today, both manual and electronic brushes come in a variety of shapes and sizes—still using nylon bristles.

Toothpaste also originates with the Egyptians, dating back to 5000 BC, and ancient Greeks and Romans are also known to have used toothpaste. Ancient toothpastes were used to treat some of the same problems we face today—keeping teeth and gums clean, whitening teeth, and freshening breath. The only difference were the ingredients used. Originally, toothpaste was made using a powder from ox hooves’ ashes and burnt eggshells combined with pumice. To make it a little more abrasive, the Greeks and Romans added bones and oyster shells. The Romans added more flavoring as well as powdered charcoal and bark to help with bad breath. The Chinese used a wider variety of substances including ginseng, herbal mints, and salt.

Throughout the 1800s, toothpaste continued to evolve. Early versions contained soap, and chalk was added in the 1850s. In England, betel nut was used, and by the late 1860s, there were some versions that used grounded charcoal. Prior to mid-1800s, powder was the primary substance. During the 1850s, a paste in a jar emerged called Creme Dentifrice, and by 1873, Colgate began mass production.

The brand would continue to use soap as an ingredient until 1945 when it began to replace soap with sodium lauryl sulfate to make a smoother paste. In 1914, fluoride was introduced to help prevent tooth decay, and less abrasive pastes were being developed to help avoid problems caused from brushing too hard. Today, oral health supplies are continuing to advance, from brushes to water picks. Toothpastes are continuing to advance regarding whitening agents and disease prevention, making healthy, brighter smiles a more common occurrence.

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