It’s a simple routine: brush, floss, and maybe add a touch of mouthwash. How did all that get started in the first place? As you look for dentists in Fairbanks, Alaska, that are right for you, let’s take a look at where toothbrushes and toothpaste come from. Evolution of the Toothbrush It’s thought that small twigs were the first toothbrushes used by humans, ones that were mashed at one end for the bristly texture for cleaning tooth surfaces. The Chinese consider themselves the originators of the first bristle toothbrush, and Europe adopted the bristle toothbrush concept in the 17th century, which leaked over into the new America. Far ahead of its time, the electric toothbrush was actually first developed in 1880, but it was only after World War II that the electric toothbrush was successfully marketed and sold. The wireless model was later developed, first with battery power and now with rechargeable capabilities. Toothpaste Over Time As with the toothbrush, toothpaste took on a base form in early civilization. Ingredients originally included burnt or ground shells, talc, powdered fruit, honey, and dried flowers. It may also have included mice, rabbit heads, lizard livers, and urine. These mixed recipes exited throughout the Middle Ages, and unfortunately most of these toothpaste options actually contributed to the decay of tooth enamel over time. It was in the 1800s that the modern idea of toothpaste was developed, initially with ingredients like soap and chalk. 1892 saw the first tube of toothpaste sold on the market, and 1956 is when the first toothpaste to include fluoride was marketed and sold. Just like the techniques that dentists have used, tooth care equipment has changed and developed over time. As you look for worthy dentists in Fairbanks, Alaska, consider how fortunate it is that the methods of early civilization are no longer practiced today.
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