Have you ever wondered if Adam and Eve ever cracked a smile while sashaying around in the Garden of Eden? Smiles could date back until the days of Adam and Eve, but we will never have to wonder how they kept their teeth clean, because they didn’t. One doesn’t have to spend one day or night in the Garden of Eden to know that there is no conceivable way they could have brushed their teeth.
During those days, people had no way possible of keeping their teeth as clean as we see them today. However, according to history, there were attempts being made at keeping teeth clean. And some of these would definitely be frowned upon today, yet people in ancient times made use of what they had to keep their teeth clean.
According to some research, toothbrushes have been around since 3000 BC. These were probably more like a cleaning mechanism because what we know as toothbrushes today could not have been around that early. The archaeologists have properly termed the devices that were used during the early days as, “chew sticks,” which were miniature size branches with a frayed end. Apparently, they would take these sticks and rub them across their teeth to clean particles and residue from their teeth.
We may frown upon this method but, believe it or not, there are still some underdeveloped areas in the world that still use the chew stick method. Would you believe that Shreveport, Louisiana was considered one of those underdeveloped places? According to the findings of some dentists, there’s an old man who lives near Shreveport, LA who actually cleans his teeth with a piece of white elm stick and reportedly has healthy gums and no signs of plaque buildup.
The first toothbrush with bristles that resembles the one we use today was reported to have first been used in China. They were said to have been made from the tough hair taken from the backs of Siberian hogs’ necks, and were fixed inside handles constructed from bamboo or cane. History tells us that the Europeans who visited China for trading purposes brought a model back to Europe with them, but only received opposition and resistance from other refined Europeans.
The reason for this was because at that present time, Europeans weren’t very fond of keeping their teeth clean. However, the upperclassmen were brushing their teeth with toothbrushes made from soft horsehair. Although the soft horsehair toothbrushes were being used, experiments were still being conducted with other animals, like badgers, in search of better hair for toothbrushes.
It is stated that when the French bacteriologist by the name of Louis Pasteur introduced the importance of containing germs, it was only then that people began to take notice of what was going in and out of their mouths. Pasteur caused people to think about the germs that could be on the bristles of the toothbrushes that were being used and how the gums could be infected with continuous use of bacteria-laden brushes. It wasn’t until then that replacement and alternative methods were being considered. Many years passed before a method was put into use.
That new method came by way of DuPont, who introduced the first nylon-bristled toothbrush in 1938. When DuPont introduced the nylon-bristled toothbrush, nylon became a household item to be used for various things because it was tough, resilient, stiff and resistant to wear and tear. It was also moisture-proof, making it perfect for tooth brushing because bacteria couldn’t collect inside or upon the bristles.
So, Dr. West’s Miracle Tuft Toothbrush was introduced and the campaigning began all over the United States. The uncovered history of teeth cleaning had begun and today, all types, styles and devices of toothbrushes for teeth cleaning can be found on shelves everywhere. Today people are still finding new ways to keep their teeth beautiful and white. New whitening products are gaining attention each day as people still want a beautiful smile. If you want to take care of your teeth and have the most beautiful smile possible, consider using a teeth whitening system in combination with good oral hygiene.