It’s often difficult to think that something so commonplace - like a toothbrush - must have been invented at some point in time.

People have been brushing their teeth in one form or another since a few thousand years BC. In those days they didn’t have modern technology to produce nylon (like we find in our brushes today), so relied on sticks which they sharpened and cleaned their teeth with.

The idea of using bristles in a toothbrush only came about in the 16th century in a province in China. They used hairs from a hog tied to an object like a stick.

Much later, this time in the 20th century, nylon technology was developed and introduced into toothbrushes. And so was the invention of toothpaste!

Doing some research on the topic, I have come across a toothbrush invented in Japan that does not even require toothpaste. It apparently uses the metals iron, copper, and magnesium to create a small electrical reaction that (allegedly) cleans your teeth. I’m still sceptical, but check out the Proton Toothbrush if you’re interested.