Historically what is the first evidence of toothbrushing? Was there actually an individual who invented the toothbrush?
Using google.com to do a search I came up with the following site http://www.signalhilldental.com/info.html with dental information.
Taken from that site
So who invented the toothbrush?<p>
The earliest record are of primitive
chewsticks which date back to 1600 BC. They were made from various types
of tasty woods by crushing one end and spreading the fibers to make a brush
of sorts. They are still used today by some Asiatic and African people.
The first toothbrush with hog bristles
is in early Chinese literature. Closer to the style of our current toothbrushes
were produced in England by William Addis in the 1780’s. The first patent
for a toothbrush in North American was in USA issued to H. N. Wadsworth
in the 1850’s. Nylon came to be used by 1930’s and this is still what we
recommend today. It is less abrasive, more hygienic, softer for sensitive
gums and therefore less traumatic and yet more effective for cleaning the
gumline.
I believe it was Leeuwenhoek who used a block of salt to brush his teeth.