Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Making Toothbrushes

Forms of toothbrushes have been found dating back several millennia. Throughout history, toothbrushes have been made out of tree twigs, bones and even porcupine quills. In modern times, the toothbrush has evolved into a scientific work of art, allowing people to achieve cleaner and healthier teeth and gums. The core process of making toothbrushes has remained the same, but with advancements in technology, these oral hygiene mechanisms have progressed into modern tools.


History


Since the beginning of recorded history, humans have used objects for oral hygiene. The modern toothbrush can be traced back to the 1400s, where people in China used the hairs from the neck of a hog tied to a bamboo stick. It wasn't until 1780 when William Addis created the first mass-produced toothbrush. However, in 1857, the first toothbrush was patented by the U.S. Patent Office, and named H.N. Wadsworth as its creator. In 1955, the first electric toothbrush was invented by Dr. Philippe-Guy Woog.


Significance


The modern toothbrush has practically ceased major oral complications among many societies. Healthier teeth and gums have been shown by the Academy of General Dentistry to prevent other health issues from arising. The major toothbrush manufacturers are making toothbrushes that have specially designed bristles. The Crest Oral-B Pulsonic toothbrush was designed to eliminate plaque build-up by utilizing specialized bristles with vibrations. With softer, finer bristles, modern toothbrushes are able to clean away stains without damaging the integrity of your teeth.


Types








There are three main types of toothbrushes available to the mass public. These include manual toothbrushes, electric toothbrushes and sonic care toothbrushes. Manual toothbrushes are the standard in oral hygiene and this design has been used for centuries to clean teeth. There are different basic designs within this toothbrush, but the main function remains the same. Electric toothbrushes remove plaque and bacteria more efficiently than manual models. These models can rotate the bristles several thousand times per minute, which gives your teeth a thorough cleaning. The brush rotation can be in a circular, side-to-side and counter-oscillation manner. Sonic care toothbrushes utilize advanced tooth-cleaning technology that relies mainly on your saliva. By activating your saliva, the toothbrush is using your saliva's natural ability to clean your teeth. The use of sonic waves and proper brush rotation makes this toothbrush the most effective way to clean your mouth.


Features


You can identify a standard toothbrush by its long plastic handle. The bristles are manufactured out of soft nylon or other similar synthetic materials. Rubber can be added to the sides of the brush to provide extra cleaning to your gums. For sensitive teeth, toothbrushes can be made with extra-soft bristles, which keep your teeth clean without irritating them.


Benefits


The advancements of oral hygiene through toothbrushes have helped keep gum disease and other oral conditions from forming or worsening. Since the American Dental Association has named gum disease as a potentially greater cause of heart disease than smoking and even high-blood-pressure. Toothbrushes have needle-shaped bristles, which are then tapered through a chemical process. This allows the bristles to be precisely cut and shaped for ideal cleaning prior to being placed in the plastic body, or handle.

Tags: oral hygiene, your teeth, have been, toothbrushes have, your saliva