More than two thousand years ago, people in China knew the importance of protecting teeth. The ancients used fingers and willow branches to clean their mouths and teeth. In the Dunhuang fresco "Icon of Old Du Fork Head", there is a monk squatting on the ground, holding a mouthwash bottle in his left hand and wiping his front teeth with his middle finger in his right hand.
According to ancient records, by the time China arrived in the Southern Song Dynasty, there were already shops specializing in the production and sale of toothbrushes in the city. At that time, toothbrushes were made of bone, horn, bamboo and wood. Several rows of small holes were drilled in the head and ponytails were tied. It is very close to the modern toothbrush.
1498, Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty invented a toothbrush made of bristles embedded in bones.
Extended data:
Development history of toothbrush
1, ancient civilizations in the world used twigs or chips to wipe their teeth. Another common method is to wipe their teeth with baking soda or chalk. Around BC 1600, toothbrushes with brown hair appeared in India and Africa.
2. The traditional method of tooth cleaning in the west is to wipe and brush teeth with a rag. This method has existed at least in ancient Rome. Toothbrushes did not appear until17th century, and did not become popular until19th century.
3. 1938, DuPont Chemical introduced a toothbrush with synthetic fibers (mostly nylon) instead of animal hair, and the first toothbrush with nylon filaments as bristles went on sale on February 24th of that year.
4. The first electric toothbrush named "the Broxodent" was developed by (Philippe-G.Woog, Ph.D., University of Toulouse) in 1954, and was introduced by Squibb Pharmaceutical Company at the centennial celebration of American Dental Association in 1959.
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