1. The Toothbrush
Ellen Coates

2. Preview Evolution of the toothbrush Timeline Changes in design
Effects on our society and the environment

3. Timeline 3500 B.C. Concern of teeth 1498 First bristles 1780
First toothbrush
1920’s
Bristles
1963
Electric
1600 B.C.
Chewing sticks
1600’s
Toothpaste
1918
Celluloid handles
1938
Nylon Filament

4. 3500 B.C. Babylonians chewed on sticks Helped to clean teeth and mouth
Mentioned in Greek and Roman literature (

5. 1600 B.C. “Chewing sticks” were used
Chewing sticks had two sides--one was chewed on and the other was pointy to pick at teeth
Sticks were about the size of a pencil
Twigs could freshen the mouth
Found in Chinese literature (

6. 1498 First bristles were invented in China
Coarse hairs were taken from the back of a hog’s neck
Bristles were attached to bone or bamboo (

7. 1600
Europe
Rags and sponges were dipped in sulfur oil or salt solution
Sticks were attached to help reach (

8. 1780 First toothbrush William Addis of Clerkenwall, England
Hairs of a cow tail were attached to the same cow’s thighbone (

9. 1918
World War 1
Soup industries called for cow parts being used in toothbrushes
Celluloid handles were created by pouring plastic into mold (

10. 1920’s New method of attaching bristles Easier to manufacture
Drill hole in brush head
Force in many bristles
Secure with staple
Easier to manufacture (

11. 1938 Nylon filament developed in 1938
Chinese boar hair was favored bristle material
World War 2 stopped export of hair into the United States
Nylon replaced boar hair (

12. 1963 First electric toothbrush German engineer Max Braun
Copied movements of manual toothbrush
Not common until the 1970’s (

13. Effects on Society/Environment
Cleaner teeth
Healthier mouth
Less pain and aches
Affordable
Everyone has chance to brush teeth
Replaceable
Nylon hair and celluloid handle
Less cow slaughtering
Reduction in production costs, making it affordable (

14. Summary Evolution of the toothbrush Timeline Changes in design
Effects on our society and the environment

15. References
The Library of Congress (2004). Electronic Reference: The Library of Congress. Retrieved Aug. 31, 2005 from
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2001). Electronic Reference: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Retrieved Aug. 31, 2005 from brush.html
ToothbrushExpress.com (2005). Electronic Reference: ToothbrushExpress.com. Retrieved Aug. 31, from tml
Oral-B (2004). Electronic Reference: Oral-B. Retrieved Aug. 31, 2005 from