- Toothbrushes were seen in history as early as the 1900s and were usually made out of hog's hair or some other type of coarse animal fur. The first toothbrush with soft, synthetic bristles was the Miracle Tuft toothbrush, invented in 1938 by a man named Dr. West. The Miracle Tuft toothbrush stayed in production for almost 20 years. The first electric toothbrush was invented by Bristol-Meyers and was called the Broxoden. In recent history toothbrushes have been made with different-sized bristles and flexible necks to reach the back teeth easily.
- Nowadays toothbrushes are manufactured in factories. First, small beads of plastic are placed into a molding machine that melts the plastic. The melted plastic is then placed into a mold that forces the melted plastic all the way inside. The molds include small indentations where the bristles will be inserted. While the plastic cools, the mold is clamped down to ensure no air bubbles form. When the plastic has cooled, small pins push the plastic handles out of the molds.
- The nylon bristles are placed into the toothbrush and stapled deep inside using a punching machine. When the bristles are attached to the toothbrush, they are somewhat longer and more uneven than they will appear in the final product. To ensure the bristles are even and of the right side, the bristles are cut after they are attached to the toothbrush. Depending on the design of the toothbrush, the bristles may be cut straight across, in a zigzag pattern, or on a slope. Each bristle shape is designed to brush teeth in a different way, but as long as you are brushing your teeth thoroughly and regularly, you should have no problems with cavities and plaque buildup.
- After the toothbrush production is completed, the toothbrushes are packaged into plastic containers or cardboard containers with cellophane windows for consumers to see the finished product. If the American Dental Association approves of the toothbrush, the seal of approval is then stuck on the front of the toothbrush packaging. Next, any additional labels are affixed to the toothbrush packaging and each individual toothbrush is bundled into bulk shipments of many toothbrushes before being sent to distributors and other store locations.
- Most toothbrushes include either hard, medium or soft bristles. Soft bristles are best to use on children or the elderly that may have sensitive gums and teeth that need very delicate care. If you have recently had surgery on your mouth or teeth, you may want to use a toothbrush with soft bristles until your mouth has completely healed. Medium bristles can be used for all ages as long as children who use medium-bristled toothbrushes brush their teeth carefully and gently. Hard-bristled toothbrushes are designed for adults with large teeth who have experienced plaque buildup that requires a more rigorous brushing.
