Dentistry and Me: The Tale of Your Toothbrush

Blue Ash Dental • April 17, 2019
Just about everyone owns a toothbrush. It is, after all, a key element in maintaining your healthy smile. But what you might not know about them is that they’re the culmination of millennia of household dental tools. Exactly how important it is for your dental hygiene, or the many and varied choices you have to make when choosing which brush is right for you?

We hope that you’ll come away from this article having learned a bit more about that little thing sitting in your bathroom.

The Journey of the Toothbrush

It’s no surprise that toothbrushes haven’t always been around. But what may surprise you is how long they have been around. The desire for healthy teeth has been a part of human nature for almost all of recorded human history. Before toothbrushes, the go-to item for oral cleanliness was called chew sticks. They weren’t much more than sticks, but given that some of them have been discovered over five thousand years ago, they’re still impressive in their own way.

While there were a lot of steps between these chew sticks and the modern toothbrush (including things like quills and animal bones,) it took quite a while for the modern toothbrush to surface. It wasn’t until June 26th, 1498 in mainland China that the prototype to the modern toothbrush, made with boar bristles, began to reach the masses. The final step wasn’t taken until 1938, when a company by the name of DuPont fashioned the first toothbrush to use nylon fibers, that we reached the stage where we still stand today.

The Importance of the Toothbrush

Why Should I Brush?


Despite the very long history of the toothbrush, it’s one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve dental hygiene.


In general, we suggest that you brush at least twice a day at the very minimum. Once in the morning, and once before bed. But, ideally, you want to also brush after every meal you have during the day. Certain kinds of food can have negative effects on your dental hygiene if left alone in your mouth for too long. Each of these sessions of brushing should last at least two and a half minutes.


Which Brush Should I Use?


As long as it’s new and not defective, any brush is better than no brush. Don’t let the quality of your brush dictate whether or not you use it at all. But some brushes will be better for your particular needs. You have a lot of possible choices; electric brush; more typical toothbrush; different heads, bristles, and handles.


We suggest that you go with softer bristles, as they’re a better fit for a normal household toothbrush. Beyond that, your choice of brush is going to be up to you. Because the truth is that every person’s teeth are different, and each of them will need a different brush for ideal maintenance. A smaller head on a brush can be good for one person, but make brushing more awkward for another. If you’re still having trouble deciding, then we suggest that you ask your dentist directly during your next visit.


At Blue Ash Dental Group, we value the education of our clients almost as much as we value their dental hygiene. If you’re interested in more information like this, or in scheduling an appointment, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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