牙刷和牙膏的前世今生.docVIP

牙刷和牙膏的前世今生 　　History of Toothbrushes 牙刷的历史 　　Toothbrushing tools date back to 3500～3000 BC when the Babylonians and the Egyptians made a brush by fraying1） the end of a twig. Tombs of the ancient Egyptians have been found containing tooth sticks alongside their owners. Around 1600 BC， the Chinese developed chewing sticks to freshen breath which were made from aromatic2） tree twigs. 　　The Chinese are believed to have invented the first natural bristle3） toothbrush in the 15th century， made from the bristles from pigs necks attached to a bone or bamboo handle. When it was brought from China to Europe， this design was adapted and often used softer horsehairs， which many Europeans preferred. Other designs in Europe used feathers. 　　The first toothbrush of a more modern design was made by William Addis in England around 1780―the handle was carved from cattle bone and the brush portion was still made from swine4） bristles. In 1844， the first 3-row bristle brush was designed. 　　Natural bristles were the only source of bristles until DuPont5） invented nylon. The invention of nylon started the development of the truly modern toothbrush in 1938， and by the 1950s softer nylon bristles were being made， as people preferred these. The first electric toothbrush was made in 1939 and the first electric toothbrush in the US was the Broxodent in 1960. 　　Today， both manual and electric toothbrushes come in many shapes and sizes and are typically made of plastic molded handles and nylon bristles. The most recent toothbrush models include handles that are straight， angled， curved， and contoured6） with grips and soft rubber areas to make them easier to hold and use. Toothbrush bristles are usually synthetic7） and range from very soft to soft in texture8）， although harder bristle versions are available. Toothbrush heads range from very small for young children to larger sizes for older children and adults and come in a variety of shapes such as rectangular， oblong9）， oval and alm