Believe it or not, the fundamentals of toothbrush design haven’t changed much since ancient Egypt. That’s not quite as old as dirt, but it’s in the same civilization ballpark as when the Pharaoh Ramses spearheaded Egypt’s first national dental campaign to fight plaque.
What? Ramses wasn’t fighting “plaque,” but “plagues?” Well, either way I’ll bet he was fighting that nasty fly and locust aftertaste.
Welcome to the second installment of our July series, “The Power of the Brush.” Last week Felicia shared some great do’s, don’ts and probably shouldn’t’s on getting the most from your toothbrush. Today we’re looking at a revolutionary toothbrush from PeriClean® that is gentle on tooth enamel and gums.
But first, walk with me a moment through the thistles of toothbrush bristles history. The bristle toothbrush was invented in China in 1498, or six years after C. Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. The Chinese toothbrush was made from the coarse hairs of the back of a hog’s neck and was attached to bone or bamboo handles, presumably without the optional whole hog attachment.
Well before slow boat to China became famous, the toothbrushes made their way from China to Europe, where the stiffer boar head bristles were swapped for softer horsehair bristles. Some Europeans preferred feathered bristles.
In 1938 Dupont de Nemours introduced Doctor West's Miracle Toothbrush, the world’s first nylon toothbrush. The use of nylon bristle toothbrushes by American soldiers in World War II led to their rapid adoption in the States. Softer nylon bristles were introduced in the 1950’s which brings us to today. (If you thought “I like Ike” referred to nylon toothbrushes you may want to consider a remedial history course.)
As a 36-year veteran of the oral wars, New York periodontist Dr. Jack Gruber knows that nearly 24 million Americans suffer from gum recession, including many that have literally brushed away tooth enamel, gums and the bones beneath their gums with traditional toothbrushes.
For years Dr. Gruber advised patients that tooth enamel and gums are eggshell-thin. It was because many of his patients complained that tooth brushing had become too painful that Dr. Gruber began rethinking the toothbrush... READ MORE