Toothbrush - a device for brushing teeth and gum massage . It is usually applied using toothpaste .
Modern toothbrushes are diverse in shape. Their working surface consists of synthetic or natural fibers of various sizes and stiffnesses. Electric brushes are available.
Content
Classification
Brushes are divided into three degrees of hardness: “soft”, “medium”, “hard”. Hard brushes are designed to clean removable dentures . Toothbrushes of "medium" hardness are optimal for use by most people. Children's toothbrushes are made only “soft”.
- Optimum brush settings
- The synthetic fiber in the brush bushes should be free of burrs and have rounded ends (to prevent injury, irritation and bleeding of the gums).
- The brush handle must be held securely in your hand (to avoid injuries to the gums and teeth).
Electric brush
The first electric brush was developed in 1939 in Switzerland , but they only started selling the electric brush in the 1960s under the brand name Broxodent . In 1961, General Electric introduced a wireless electric brush with recharge and a head moving up and down .
In 1987, the first rotating brush for home use, Interplak, appeared. Currently, there are many options for this model. There are models that use vibration and ultrasound to clean.
History
Mouth hygiene has a long history, which is confirmed by archaeological excavations, during which various devices for cleaning teeth (toothpicks , etc. ) were discovered.
In Kievan Rus, teeth were brushed with oak brushes. Analogs of such brushes can be “miswak” (from tree branches “him” and “arak” ). According to Muslim beliefs, the flared edges of the branches of the arak tree were used by the Islamic prophet Muhammad to brush their teeth at the beginning of the 7th century AD
The production of toothbrushes began in 1780 by the Englishman William Addis . Once in prison in 1770 for incitement to rebellion, Addis made a brush for brushing teeth. To do this, he drilled holes in a piece of bone and passed tufts of bristles through them, fixing them with glue. Released, Addis engaged in the industrial production of toothbrushes. The firm he founded, Wisdom Toothbrushes, still exists. [one]
The first patent for a toothbrush was obtained by the American Wadsworth ( English HN Wadsworth ) in 1850 , but mass production in America began only in 1885 . At these brushes the handle was made of bone, and the brush itself was made of the bristles of the Siberian boar . This was not the best material: the brush did not dry well, in addition, there is a cavity inside the natural bristles and bacteria can multiply in it.
On February 24, 1938, Oral-B launched a brush in which animal bristles were replaced with synthetic nylon fibers.
The first electric brush, Broxodent , was proposed by Squibb Pharmaceutical in 1959 .
In January 2003, Americans called the toothbrush the number one invention on the list of inventions without which they could not have survived, leaving behind a car , personal computer , mobile phone and microwave [2] .
Application
Brushing
It is recommended to brush your teeth twice a day after eating. The main hygienic procedure is evening brushing before bedtime, since uncleaned plaque and food formed during the day contribute to the rapid growth of bacteria and, consequently, the development of caries and gum disease. When a patient visits a dental office, the dentist or nurse can show him the most appropriate way to brush his teeth.
Storage and Life
After use, the brush should be washed in warm running water [3] [4] . Store upright with the working part up. It is not recommended to constantly store the brush in closed containers [3] [4] .
It is recommended that the brush be replaced with a new one as it wears, but at least once every 3 months [3] . Brush wear is determined visually and individually. The main indicator of wear is the dispersed (tattered) fibers of the working part (reduced cleaning efficiency [3] ).
It is not recommended to use one brush for several people because of the increased risk of transmission of infections [3] [4] . You should also separately store brushes used by various people [3] [4] .
Interesting Facts
- An American student has patented a disposable toothbrush, which can help in the absence of water, toothpaste and rinses. [5] In April 2012, this invention was launched into production by several companies in the United States.
See also
- Dental floss
- Toothpaste
- Dentifrice
- Personal hygiene
Notes
- ↑ Susan Adams: “Little-known inventors who changed the world: William Addis - Toothbrush . ” Forbes.ua, 10.24.2013
- ↑ Toothbrush beats out car and computer as the invention Americans can't live without, according to Lemelson-MIT Survey
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 Council on Scientific Affairs. Toothbrush Care: Cleaning, Storing and Replacement . American Dental Association (November 2011). - “Do not share toothbrushes. "Sharing a toothbrush could result in an exchange of body fluids and / or microorganisms between the users of the toothbrush." The date of appeal is November 20, 2015.
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 The Use and Handling of Toothbrushes. Infection Control ( inaccessible link) . National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion - Division of Oral Health. - “Do not share toothbrushes. "The exchange of body fluids that such sharing would foster places toothbrush sharers at an increased risk for infections ... Do not allow children to share or borrow toothbrushes." Date of treatment November 20, 2015. Archived November 20, 2015.
- ↑ NSU Dental Student Invents New One-Time Use, On-the-Go Toothbrush & Breath Freshener Duo | NSU News Center