Tooth brushing

A photo from 1899 showing the use of a toothbrush.

As long ago as 3000 B.C., the ancient Egyptians constructed crude toothbrushes from twigs and leaves to clean their teeth. Similarly, other cultures such as the Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Indians cleaned their teeth with twigs. Some would fray one end of the twig so that it could penetrate between the teeth more effectively.

Modern day toothbrushing as a regular habit became prevalent in Europe from the end of the 17th century. The first mass-produced toothbrush was developed in England in 1780. In the United States, although toothbrushes were available at the end of the 19th century, the practice did not become widespread until after the Second World War, when US soldiers continued the toothbrushing that had been required during their military service.[2]. The first toothbrush mass produced was actually made in England in 1780. While languishing in jail, William Addis decided to drill holes into a sheep's tibia, and pulled through the bristles of boar hair. Which he made into a toothbrush which gave him the idea to mass produce it on the outside under the name Wisdom Toothbrushes. They stayed family owned until 1996.

Brushing teeth properly helps prevent cavities, and periodontal, or gum disease, which causes at least one-third of adult tooth loss.[3] If teeth are not brushed correctly and frequently, it could lead to the calcification of saliva minerals, forming tartar. Tartar hardens (then referred to as 'calculus') if not removed every 48 hours.[4] Poor dental health has been associated with heart disease and shortened life expectancy.[5][6][7]

Many serious problems result from not maintaining proper oral hygiene. Not brushing your teeth causes harmful bacteria to build upon your teeth and gums.[8] Bacteria growing in your mouth can infect your gums and then can travel into your blood vessels. When gingivitis and periodontitis bacteria move into your blood vessels, it can cause inflation and damaged vessels. It clogs blood vessels, making it hard for blood to flow and can lead to blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes. Although the study at Harvard Medical School has observed “remnants of oral bacteria within atherosclerotic blood vessels far from the mouth,” there are other factors including gender, alcohol consumption, diabetes, exercise, smoking, and family history of heart problems that could increase the risk of coronary artery disease as well. These factors make it hard to judge how much not brushing your teeth elevates your risk of coronary heart disease, but there is a proven correlation between poor oral health and coronary heart disease.[9][8]

Another negative side effect of not brushing your teeth is halitosis or bad breath. According to The American Dental Association, not brushing properly allows remnants of food to collect on the teeth, gum line, and the surface of the tongue. Tooth plaque leads to gingivitis and periodontitis bacteria build-up, which produces bad smelling odors. Having bad breath is very common, and most people experience it, but not brushing your teeth makes you especially prone to bad odors. The ADA states that properly brushing your teeth to remove bacteria that contribute to oral odors will improve your oral hygiene and keep your breath smelling as fresh as possible.[10][11]

Head of a toothbrush

A toothbrush is an instrument used to clean teeth, consisting of a small brush on a handle. Toothpaste, often containing fluoride, is commonly added to a toothbrush to aid in cleaning. Toothbrushes come in manual and electric varieties. Although there is conflicting evidence as to which is more effective, most evidence points to electric toothbrushes with an oscillatory motion being more effective than manual toothbrushes, with toothbrushes lacking an oscillatory motion being equivalent.[31] A 2014 Cochrane review found moderate evidence that electric toothbrushing reduce plaque and gingivitis more than the manual one.[31] Overall, both manual and electric toothbrushes are effective, however, and it is often recommended that people use whichever one they feel comfortable with, determine what is affordable for them and will be more likely to regularly brush with.[32]

Toothbrushes are offered with varying textures of bristles, and come in many different forms and sizes. Most dentists recommend using a toothbrush labelled "soft", since firmer bristled toothbrushes can damage tooth enamel and irritate gums as indicated by the American Dental Association. Toothbrushes are often made from synthetic fibers, although natural toothbrushes are also known in many parts of the world. Those with dentures may also brush their teeth with traditional tooth brushes, specially made denture brushes or denture cleaners. The first mass produced toothbrush was made in England in 1780. While languishing in jail, William Addis decided to drill holes into a sheep's tibia, and pulled through the bristles of boar hair. Which he made into a toothbrush which gave him the idea to mass produce it on the outside under the name Wisdom Toothbrushes. They stayed family owned until 1996.

Modern toothpaste gel

Toothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice used to clean and improve the aesthetic appearance and health of teeth. It is almost always used in conjunction with a toothbrush. Toothpaste use can promote good oral hygiene: it can aid in the removal of dental plaque and food from the teeth, it can aid in the elimination and/or masking of halitosis when tonsil stones are not the cause, and it can deliver active ingredients such as fluoride to prevent tooth and gum (gingiva) disease.

There is evidence that the addition of xylitol to fluoride-containing toothpastes reduces incidence of tooth decay by about 13%.[33]

Tooth powder (or 'toothpaste powder') is an alternative to toothpaste. It may be recommended for people with sensitive teeth. Tooth powder typically does not contain the chemical sodium lauryl sulphate which can be a skin irritant.[34] The function of sodium lauryl sulphate is to form suds when teeth are brushed. It is a common chemical in toothpaste. Those with dentures may also use denture cleaner which can also come in powder format.

• Teeth cleaning