Medicine: The Old Family Toothbrush

The old oaken toothbrush,

The moss-covered toothbrush,

The old family toothbrush That hangs by the sink.

First it was father’s . . .

Almost as bad as the toothbrush of this parody, say Dentists Allen O. Gruebbel and J. M. Wisan, is the actual toothbrush used by the average U.S. family. Staff members of the American Dental Association, they examined 8,176 toothbrushes sent in* by 1,929 families all over the U.S., reported their findings last week in the A.D.A.’s Journal. Four out of five (80.7%) of the brushes were useless or actually “dangerous” (because they might irritate the gums); three-fourths of these had bent, broken or matted bristles; one-fourth were regarded as unsanitary.

The examiners recommended “frequent use and renewal of the toothbrush.” They expressed no preference between natural bristles and nylon bristles (80% of all toothbrushes are now nylon). The argument of natural v. nylon bristles is still raging among dentists; other researchers are busy with tests to find out which bristles cause least damage to enamel.

* In response to an offer of free toothbrushes made by the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency, acting for Weco Products Co.; the new brushes, offered in a well-bristled combination of scientific research and sales promotion, were Weco’s Dr. West.