Toothbrushes

Various excavation sites over the world have uncovered chew sticks, tree twigs, bird feathers, animal bones and porcupine quills used to clean teeth.

A recent archaeological dig has found that the earliest use of toothbrushes may have occurred in India and Africa. It was discovered that a bristle toothbrush had been used there as early as 1600 B.C

The first bristle toothbrush found was in China and used hog bristle.  The bristle toothbrush spread to Europe by travelers. Many mass-produced toothbrushes, made with horse or boar bristle, were imported to England from China until the mid-20th century.

A photo from 1899 showing the use of a toothbrush.

By 1840 toothbrushes were being mass-produced in England, France, Germany, and Japan. Pig bristle was used for cheaper toothbrushes, and badger hair for the more expensive ones.

Mass production in the United States only started in 1885. The rather advanced design had a bone handle with holes bored into it for boar hair bristles.

Animal bristles were replaced by synthetic fibers, usually nylon, in 1938.

The first electric toothbrush was invented in Switzerland in 1954.