Have you ever gone a day without brushing your teeth? “Dentists advise people to clean their teeth by brushing after every meal.” (Cleaning). Imagine what it would have been like if you didn’t have a toothbrush. As a typical household item that we use everyday, or should use everyday, we seldom think about. It can easily be found in any individual’s own personal bathroom, and is a necessity if you intend to maintain personal hygiene. The history, the many different uses, and the manufacturing of the toothbrush are beyond overlooked. The first set of toothbrush based tools can be dated back to 3500-3000 BC. Ancient Babylonians and Egyptians modified their own toothbrushes by fraying the end of a twig. These toothbrushes (toothsticks) were sometimes found alongside their ancient Egyptian owners inside their tombs. The Chinese developed “chewing sticks” around 1600 BC. They were made from aromatic tree twigs and their purpose was to freshen your breath. It wasn’t until the 15th century when the Chinese invented the first natural bristled toothbrush. It was made from the bristles of pigs’ necks that were attached to a bone or a bamboo handle. China then took this design to Europe where Europeans adapted it and used either softer horse hairs or feathers as the bristles (History). In 1780 a man by the name of William Addis, from England, developed the first more modern toothbrush. The handle was formed from cattle bone while the brush part was still constructed from the bristles of swine. These natural substances were the only source available for bristles until Dupont invented nylon. This invention of nylon began the construction of the truly modern toothbrush in 1938. By the 1950s, softer nylon bristles were being made because people prefered these. It wasn’t until 1939 that the first electric toothbrush was made, and in 1960, the United States’ first electric toothbrush was called the Broxodent (History). Today, we are able to purchase both manual and electric toothbrushes. These toothbrushes are available in many shapes, styles, and sizes. Most toothbrushes today are found to be made out of plastic handles, in many different shapes and sizes, with nylon bristles, in many different textures. A toothbrush head can be found in many different sizes and shapes depending on the intended consumer (History). The toothbrush is more widely known for what its intended use is. To keep your oral hygiene up to par. However when it comes to reduce reuse recycle have you ever thought to add your toothbrush to your reuse list? Did you know that there are several other things you can do with your toothbrushes? Before you throw away your old toothbrush think about some other things it can be used for. For cleaning purposes, before reusing your old toothbrush for alternative uses, you may want to clean it in a solution of bleach or white vinegar and water (15). Surely you are no stranger to getting a spot of mud or dirt on your brand new shoes. You don’t want to just leave it there because it depreciates the value of your (new shoes “fix to be more dramatic”). Well, the bristles of a toothbrush are perfect for scrubbing away at those pesky spots (15). Opposed to using a large household scrub brush that is nearly the size of the shoe itself and not as efficient as a small easier to control toothbrush. To continue along the advanced cleaning capabilities a toothbrush obtains, it is very handy in need of scrubbing away stains and spills on clothing or items within your house (15). Let’s face it, we’ve all cried over spilled milk once or twice in our lifetime. Just think about how helpful that old toothbrush you threw away would have been to help clean that awful, fresh “milk” stain from your carpet.
There are a couple of random but interesting uses for a toothbrush as well. One of them being a good tool in your makeup kit. When applying mascara it can bunch up at the end of your eyelashes and leave little balls of mascara. A toothbrush is helpful by safely remove these tiny clumps while still leaving the rest of the fresh mascara on your eyelashes. Another interesting cosmetic advantage by using an old toothbrush is to help clear away dead skin (15). By lightly yet thoroughly buffing the skin you brush rough or dead patches away leaving your skin soft and smooth. One last handy tip for your old toothbrush is to use it for splinter removal. Begin by softening the bristles under hot water and soap, then gently massage the splintered area. This should slowly rise the splinter to the surface making it easier to extract.