- Before toothbrushes were invented, people would use twigs, bones, feathers or porcupine quills to clean their teeth. From there, the chew stick was developed. A chew stick was a twig which was frayed at one end for brushing while the other end could be used as a toothpick. In some rural areas of the world, people still use them today.
- The first toothbrushes as we know them were made in China during the Tang Dynasty. The bristles came from hogs living in cold climates because their bristles were firmer. The handles were made from Bamboo or bone.
- By the 17th century, the idea had spread to Europe. The first written mention of a toothbrush in the English language dates to 1690, when Anthony Wood wrote about buying one from J. Barret.
- The Wisdom toothbrush brand began with William Addis who served some time in prison for causing a riot in 1770. In prison, the only way to clean one's teeth was to use a rag with soot or Salt, which Addis decided was far from adequate. He saved a bone from a meal, drilled holes in it and glued tufts of bristles onto it. When he got out of prison, he found a way to mass produce them, using Pig bristles for the cheaper toothbrushes and Badger hair for the more expensive ones.
- In the US, mass production of toothbrushes didn't start until 1885. People there didn't clean their teeth as a matter of routine until after the second world war, when soldiers were required to clean their teeth every day. Today, however, it's very different. In 2003 the toothbrush was voted the number one invention that Americans couldn't live without.
- The first electric toothbrushes were produced in 1956 by the Squibb Company in Europe. A good electric toothbrush will remove 11% more plaque than manual brushing.
- How often should you change them? Every 2-3 months, or when the bristles start to bend or fray. People with gum diseases should change more often - every 3-4 weeks.
- But, I hear some people protest, toothbrushes are made of plastic, aren't they, so changing them often is contributing to the world's plastic problem, surely? It's possible now to get toothbrushes made from biodegradable materials such as bamboo and pig bristles. Some also have replaceable heads.
- Experts recommend keeping toothbrushes at least six feet away from the Toilet to help prevent toilet germs from getting onto the toothbrush. If that isn't possible, flush with the lid down, put a cap on the toothbrush when not in use and rinse in an antibacterial solution now and again.
- The most popular colour for toothbrushes is blue. The second most popular colour is red.
NEW!
Obsidian's Ark
Trish wonders how to get science whizz Tom to notice her; how to persuade him that the best way to stand up to the school bully is to fight back. She doesn't want her friends, especially not Tom, to know she is a genetic variant with superpowers. Little does she know that Tom has secrets of his own.
Suki struggles to make friends at school when she cannot understand everyday cultural references, and they all suspect her of being a terrorist. She, too, has a secret, but is it what her classmates assume?
When Daniel stumbles upon a plot by an alliance of supervillains to plunge the world into war, he tries to alert the established superheroes, but none of them believe him. When the Prime Minister's only daughter, Yasmin Miller, is abducted, Daniel knows the villains' plan is underway. It seems humanity's only hope may be Daniel and the ragtag bunch of teenage superheroes he recruits. Can he pull together, not only his own team, but the older heroes as well, in a bid to save the Earth from a devastating war?
Themes:
Superheroes; Coming of age; Leadership; Kidnap and rescue; Aliens; Friendship and rivalry; Terrorism; Secrets.
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