Toothbrush -
A toothbrush is an oral hygiene tool used to clean the teeth , gums , and tongue. It consists of a head of tightly clustered bristles , atop of which toothpaste can be applied, mounted on a handle which facilitates the cleaning of hard-to-reach areas of the mouth.
They should be used in conjunction with something to clean between the teeth where the bristles of the toothbrush cannot reach - for example floss , tape or interdental brushes. They are available with different bristle textures, sizes, and forms.
Most dentists recommend using a soft toothbrush since hard-bristled toothbrushes can damage tooth enamel and irritate the gums. Because many common and effective ingredients in toothpaste are harmful if swallowed in large doses and instead should be spat out, the act of brushing teeth is most often done at a sink within the kitchen or bathroom, where the brush may be rinsed off afterwards to remove any debris remaining and then dried to reduce conditions ideal for germ growth and, if it is a wooden toothbrush, mold as well.
Some toothbrushes have plant-based handles, often bamboo. However, numerous others are made of cheap plastic ; such brushes constitute a significant source of pollution. Before the invention of the toothbrush, a variety of oral hygiene measures had been used. The predecessor of the toothbrush is the chew stick.
Chew sticks were twigs with frayed ends used to brush the teeth [7] while the other end was used as a toothpick. The Indian way of using tooth wood for brushing is presented by the Chinese Monk Yijing — CE when he describes the rules for monks in his book: [9] "Every day in the morning, a monk must chew a piece of tooth wood to brush his teeth and scrape his tongue, and this must be done in the proper way.
Only after one has washed one's hands and mouth may one make salutations. Otherwise both the saluter and the saluted are at fault. In Sanskrit, the tooth wood is known as the dantakastha—danta meaning tooth, and kastha, a piece of wood. It is twelve finger-widths in length.
The shortest is not less than eight finger-widths long, resembling the little finger in size. Chew one end of the wood well for a long while and then brush the teeth with it.
The Greeks and Romans used toothpicks to clean their teeth, and toothpick-like twigs have been excavated in Qin dynasty tombs. In fact, even today, Neem twigs called datun are used for brushing teeth in India, although not hugely common.
The first bristle toothbrush resembling the modern one was found in China. They were attached to a handle manufactured from bamboo or bone, forming a toothbrush. The bristle toothbrush spread to Europe, brought from China to Europe by travellers.
In the UK, William Addis is believed to have produced the first mass-produced toothbrush in While in prison he decided that using a rag with soot and salt on the teeth was ineffective and could be improved. After saving a small bone from a meal, he drilled small holes into the bone and tied into the bone tufts of bristles that he had obtained from one of the guards, passed the tufts of bristle through the holes in the bone and sealed the holes with glue.
After his release, he became wealthy after starting a business manufacturing toothbrushes. He died in , bequeathing the business to his eldest son. It remained within family ownership until Hertford Museum in Hertford, UK, holds approximately brushes that make up part of the Addis Collection.
The Addis factory on Ware Road was a major employer in the town until Since the closure of the factory, Hertford Museum has received photographs and documents relating to the archive, and collected oral histories from former employees.
The first patent for a toothbrush was granted to H. Wadsworth in U. Patent No. The improved design had a bone handle with holes bored into it for the Siberian boar hair bristles. Unfortunately, animal bristle was not an ideal material as it retained bacteria , did not dry efficiently and the bristles often fell out.
In addition to bone, handles were made of wood or ivory. During the s, celluloid gradually replaced bone handles. The first nylon bristle toothbrush made with nylon yarn went on sale on February 24, The first electric toothbrush , the Broxodent, was invented in Switzerland in Other manufacturers soon followed with other designs aimed at improving effectiveness.
In Dr. George C. Collis developed the Collis Curve toothbrush which was the first toothbrush to have curved bristles. The curved bristles follow the curvature of the teeth and safely reach in between the teeth and into the sulcular areas.
In January , the toothbrush was selected as the number one invention Americans could not live without according to the Lemelson - MIT Invention Index.
It has been discovered that compared to a manual brush, the multi-directional power brush might reduce the incidence of gingivitis and plaque, when compared to regular side-to-side brushing. These brushes tend to be more costly and damaging to the environment when compared to manual toothbrushes. Any electric toothbrush is technically a powered toothbrush.
If the motion of the toothbrush is sufficiently rapid to produce a hum in the audible frequency range 20 Hz to 20, Hz , it can be classified as a sonic toothbrush. Any electric toothbrush with movement faster than this limit can be classified as an ultrasonic toothbrush.
Certain ultrasonic toothbrushes, such as the Megasonex and the Ultreo, have both sonic and ultrasonic movements. There are different electric toothbrush heads designed for sensitive teeth and gums, increased stain removal, or different-sized bristles for tight or gapped teeth.
The hand motion with an electric toothbrush is different from a manual toothbrush. They are meant to have the bristles do the work by just placing and moving the toothbrush. Fewer back and forth strokes are needed. An interdental or interproximal "proxy" brush is a small brush, typically disposable, either supplied with a reusable angled plastic handle or an integral handle, used for cleaning between teeth and between the wires of dental braces and the teeth.
The use of interdental brushes in conjunction with tooth brushing has been shown to reduce both the amount of plaque and the incidence of gingivitis when compared to tooth brushing alone.
The size of interdental brushes is standardized in ISO This corresponds to the space between two teeth that is just sufficient for the brush to go through without bending the wire. The color of the brushes differs between producers. The same is the case with respect to the wire diameter.
The small round brush head comprises seven tufts of tightly packed soft nylon bristles, trimmed so the bristles in the center can reach deeper into small spaces. The brush handle is ergonomically designed for a firm grip, giving the control and precision necessary to clean where most other cleaning aids cannot reach.
It can also be used to clean areas around implants, bridges, dentures and other appliances. A chewable toothbrush is a miniature plastic moulded toothbrush which can be placed inside the mouth.
While not commonly used, they are useful to travelers and are sometimes available from bathroom vending machines. They are available in different flavors such as mint or bubblegum and should be disposed of after use.
Other types of disposable toothbrushes include those that contain a small breakable plastic ball of toothpaste on the bristles, which can be used without water.
A musical toothbrush is a type of manual or powered toothbrush designed to make tooth brushing habit more interesting. It is more commonly introduced to children to gain their attention and positively influence their tooth brushing behavior. The music starts while child starts brushing, it continuously plays during the brushing and it ends when the child stops brushing.
It is not recommended to share toothbrushes with others, since besides general hygienic concerns, there is a risk of transmitting diseases that are typically transmittable by blood, such as Hepatitis C. After use, it is advisable to rinse the toothbrush with water, shake it off and let the toothbrush dry.
Studies have shown that brushing to remove dental plaque more often than every 48 hours is enough to maintain gum and tooth health. Tooth brushing can remove plaque up to one millimeter below the gum line, and each person has a habitual brushing method, so more frequent brushing does not cover additional parts of the teeth or mouth.
Videos show that even when asked to brush their best, they do not know how to clean effectively. Teeth can be damaged by several factors including poor oral hygiene, but also by wrong oral hygiene. Especially for sensitive teeth, damage to dentin and gums can be prevented by several measures [52] including a correct brushing technique.
It is beneficial, when using a straight bristled brush, not to scrub horizontally over the necks of teeth, not to press the brush too hard against the teeth, to choose a toothpaste that is not too abrasive, [53] and to wait at least 30 minutes after consumption of acidic food or drinks before brushing.
A study by University College London found that advice on brushing technique and frequency given by 10 national dental associations, toothpaste and toothbrush companies, and in dental textbooks was inconsistent. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools.
What links here Related changes Upload file Special pages Permanent link Page information Cite this page Get shortened URL Download QR code Wikidata item. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons. Oral hygiene tool. For other uses, see Toothbrush disambiguation. Main article: Electric toothbrush.
See also: Interdental cleaning § Interdental brush. Main article: Tooth brushing. Archived from the original on Archived from the original on June 14, Retrieved Wellcome Collection. And furthermore, the tech works just as well.
Before the Hum, we found the concept of a smart toothbrush contemptible. Now that it exists, it seems like a no-brainer choice for dental health. Original Sonic Toothbrush. If you value simplicity and do not want a toothbrush that even suggests you download an app, consider the Burst toothbrush.
The Burst is the rare product clogging up the promoted posts and stories of your Instagram feed that is actually good. We could use it without spraying spit and toothpaste all over our bathroom mirror.
The battery life should last for a few weeks of normal use between chargers. You could also plug it into your computer, assuming it still has USB-A ports. The Burst is a bit pricier than some of the other subscription-based toothbrushes we considered.
Burst and many companies that make charcoal infused toothpaste claim that charcoal gives the toothbrush additional whitening capabilities. The few studies conducted mostly conclude that more studies need to be done. Sonicare DiamondClean Electric Toothbrush. Frankly, the high-end Philips Sonicare DiamondClean toothbrush is a bit ridiculous.
When considered altogether, this feels like the exact kind of product that nobody needs. This brush uses the same kind of back and forth motor motion as the Burst, Quip, and other Sonicare models, but the bristles on the DiamondClean appear to move a lot faster.
We noticed this immediately the first time we used it. It feels kind of like applying a Theragun directly to your teeth, pounding out plaque, massaging away gingivitis. Your teeth might vibrate for a solid 30 seconds after taking the brush out of your mouth just kidding.
Among the additional features, the one we're most enamored with is the charging cup. Most electric toothbrushes are either powered with a replaceable battery or have a charging base.
The DiamondClean is among the latter group, except its charging stand is actually a glass cup. To charge the DiamondClean, instead of having to line up the hole on the bottom of the toothbrush with the end of a stand, as you do with the Burst, Oral-B, and other Sonicare models, you just have to toss it in the cup.
It works a lot like wireless charging on newer cell phones. Interestingly, the DiamondClean nixes the quadrant timer for one that buzzes every 20 seconds so that you focus on more portions of your teeth, giving that neglected section of your mouth the scrub it's been desperately needing.
Do you need a toothbrush with five different cleaning modes, four different brush heads, and an app that uses your cleaning data to nudge you to buy more brush heads the brush itself gives you a reminder when it's time to change the head and teeth cleaning products?
Absolutely not. But there is something genuinely satisfying about putting the Rolls Royce of electric toothbrushes into your mouth.
Electric Toothbrush. As with the Burst, the Quip includes a two-minute timer and pulses every 30 seconds, so that you know exactly how long to spend in each quadrant of your mouth.
Both brush heads also vibrate back and forth, rather than rotate, but the Quip features a tongue scraper on the back of its brush head.
The most obvious factor that sets the Quip apart from other brushes is its striking design. The company can achieve this because the Quip uses a removable battery, which is meant to be replaced every three months rather than recharged.
For travel, we prefer a non-rechargeable electric toothbrush. You can leave a battery-powered brush, like the Quip, in your go-to travel bag without having to worry about, one, packing a toothbrush, and two, having to charge said toothbrush before your trip.
Another great feature is that the brand utilizes a multi-use cover, which fits over the brush head for cleanliness, and inverting it allows you to stick it to any flat, glossy surface to use as a toothbrush holder, freeing up counter space.
We did feel that the silhouette of the removable head, which slides on at an angle, is less of a perk in practice. Unlike other models that have a brush head with a long neck which keeps the typically horizontal base of the head out of your mouth, this one seems to collect toothpaste and gunk underneath more readily as stuff slides into the groove.
The neck of Quip's toothbrush head is also squatter than most, so that area is closer to your mouth. Just something to keep in mind if you're icked-out by germs and bacteria, though all of that could be remedied with more regular cleanings of your toothbrush!
After the two-minute Quip cycle, we always felt ourselves furrowing our brows, wondering whether we should just brush again. The weaker vibrations might be good for someone who is a chronic over-brusher or hard-brusher both real problems , but we think most people will feel like our other picks clean their teeth more thoroughly.
VarioSonic Electric Toothbrush. Like the majority of the brushes we tested for this guide, the Pro-Sys toothbrushes have a head that vibrates up and down, rather than oscillating back and forth. The biggest comparative advantage of the Pro-Sys brush is that it comes with five different kinds of brush heads, something we generally only see in more expensive brushes like the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean.
Those five bristles get increasingly softer, which allows you to have a bit more control over how aggressively the brush cleans your teeth. Regardless of which bristles we used or which of the five cleaning modes we tried , we found the toothbrush's motor struck a good balance between being powerful enough to scrape off gunk and plaque, without being so powerful that it induced headaches.
And it did all of the above without emitting a level of noise that would wake up a sleeping roommate. The Oral-B Pro uses a different brush head motion than any other option on this list. Instead of vibrating back and forth, the Oral-B bristles quickly rotate clockwise and counterclockwise.
For our tester, the rotating bristle motions were not the most forgiving on his sensitive teeth. But among the few brushes with this kind of motion we tested, we found the Oral-B brush to be the least unpleasant to use. Plus, the Oral-B has all the basic functionality you need, and is so ubiquitous that replacement brush heads genuine ones and cheap knockoffs are easy to come by.
Sonicare The brush is quite powerful, which makes it a little loud. The big advantage of using a brush from a long-standing manufacturer is that you can easily find cheap replacement brush heads for it. The Philips Sonicare brushes also come with a two year warranty. One by Sonicare Rechargeable Toothbrush.
Copping a Philips One instead of a standard Sonicare model is like shopping at a factory version instead of a full-line retail store—you're getting the brand name at a cheaper price with slightly downgraded quality.
The Philips One offers an excellent clean, but it's nowhere near as powerful as the power wash you'd get from the Sonicare DiamondClean. It's hard to discern much of a difference between the Philips One and the Sonicare in terms of brushing power, though the Philips lacks the 's intensity settings so power this thing on and go to town on your teeth.
If you're going from a manual brush to an electric brush, and want to test the waters before splurging on something else, go for the One. Kids Electric Toothbrush. We have yet to subject any GQ kiddos to the extensive testing procedures for trying out toothbrushes, but a general survey of the internet says that Oral-B's Kids toothbrush is the pick to get for the little ones.
Any parent knows that it's a challenge to their young children to brush their teeth, but getting an electric toothbrush in their hands might be the thing that gets them to actually take their oral hygiene seriously.
Part of the struggle of getting kids to brush their teeth is reminding them they have to actually scrub those pearly whites. At least with an electric brush, an idle hand still results in some sort of cleaning. The Oral-B's handle is thick, which we think will help kids get a better grip on the brush without dropping it, and it has a sensitive mode to get kids acclimated to a vibrating toothbrush.
These brushes are available in various designs, which are meant to help kids want to brush their teeth, including motifs from some kid-friendly franchises like Disney and Marvel. iO Series 10 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush. It's scary how good the Oral-B iO series of toothbrushes is, and the latest, the Series 10, feels spectacularly glorious to use, especially if you give even the slightest damn about your smile and overall dental hygiene.
Its brush head offers some of the most through cleaning we could find, utilizing the brand's oscillating movements in combination with micro-vibrations to better reach the contours of your mouth, teeth, and gums.
Its smart pressure sensor does more than just tell you when you're brushing too hard—it tells you when you're not applying enough pressure. In many ways, the brush offers a friendly-user experience.
All products featured on GQ are independently selected Toothbruwh our editors. Tlothbrush, when you buy something Herbal extract for skincare our retail links, we Enhance website performance Toofhbrush an Toothbrush commission. Enhance website performance it's officially Toohtbrush intervention, because Toothbbrush also arrived on the Enhance website performance to Toothbruh you: You really need an electric toothbrush, pal. We have it on good authority i. peer-reviewed evidence that electric toothbrushes are way more effective at reducing plaque, lowering the change of gingivitis, and generally cleaning your teeth better than a manual toothbrush. It's sorta like comparing a hand whisk to a stand mixer: Sure, you could beat those eggs by hand, but you're not really going to get the same results, no matter how good your reflexes are. Dental Toothbrksh Enhance website performance electric toothbrushes Enhance website performance give your Toothbrksh a better clean than Tootgbrush manual counterparts. Here Toothbrush our top picks. Updated Jan. Read how we test products and services. Brushing your teeth is a simple practice that helps to maintain great mouth health and will keep your smile vibrant. According to the American Dental Associationyou should do it twice a day for two minutes each time.
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