World | Other World Stories
Toothbrush is now 510 years old
The lowly toothbrush celebrated its 510th or 4,000th birthday on Thursday, depending on which historian you talk to.
- By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:07 June 27, 2008
Dubai: The lowly toothbrush celebrated its 510th or 4,000th birthday on Thursday, depending on which historian you talk to.
Although the common toothbrush has existed for 70 years, its precursor with a bamboo handle and boar-hair bristles was invented in China on June 26, 1498, according to the US Library of Congress.
But millennia before, a form of toothbrush has been cleaning the people's teeth and is still in use in some parts of the world: the chew stick, commonly known in the Arab world as the miswak or siwak.
Dr Carsten Froelich, orthodontist at Mahboubi Poly Dental Clinic, told Gulf News the stick could be better because it showed a lower rate of tooth decay.
More from Other World Stories
More from World
News Editor's choice
-
6,000 cups and counting: Addicted to that tea
This cafeteria in Al Mamzar attracts thousands of customers daily, including the rich and not so rich
-
Swimming pool horror: Twins hospitalised
Twins rushed to hospital after collapsing from chlorine inhalation at swimming pool in their villa
-
Play your cards right with credit card interest
UAE Central Bank plans to cap interest rates, but are you paying thirty-five per cent now?
