The Great Toothbrush Timeline

3000 B.C. Ancient Egyptians end their meals by gnawing on "chew sticks," which are twigs with one end frayed into soft fibers for brushing teeth. Archaeologists studying tombs from this era have found many examples of these chew sticks.

500 B.C. Wealthy Roman men employ slaves to clean their teeth. Teeth cleaning is part of their religious ceremonies.

1498 The Chinese invent the true ancestor of the toothbrush. Hairs from the neck of Siberian wild boar are attached to bamboo or bone handles.

1600s Travelers from China bring toothbrushes to Europe. Though the toothbrushes enjoy some popularity, most Westerners still clean their teeth using toothpicks made of silver, copper or goose feathers.

1780 William Addis of Clerkenwald, England, makes the first mass-produced toothbrush. He attaches hairs from the tail of a cow to the end of a whittled thighbone of a cow.

1880 "Dr. Scott's Electric Toothbrush" is marketed. Its manufacturer claims the brush is "permanently charged with electromagnetic current." However, the first real electric toothbrush isn't produced until 1939. An electric toothbrush is first marketed in the United States in 1960.

1885 Companies begin mass-producing toothbrushes in America.

1937 DuPont scientist Wallace H. Carothers invents nylon, and a year later, "Dr. West's Miracle Tuft Toothbrush" is introduced with nylon bristles. Unfortunately, the "miracle tuft" nylon is so stiff that is sometimes damages gums.

1941-1945 Dental hygiene takes a giant leap forward during World War II when the Army orders soldiers to brush their teeth regularly. This marks the first time most Americans brush their teeth.

1950 A safe, soft nylon bristle finally becomes the standard for toothbrushes.

2001 A manufacturer in California comes up with a unique idea in response to the rolling blackouts plaguing the state a toothbrush that doubles as a flashlight. It's one of more than 3,000 types of toothbrushes that have been patented to date worldwide.

2002 Today . . . Can you complete this section?