An improved tooth brush.

  • Judson, Adoniram Brown, 1837-1916.
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: An improved tooth brush. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    of doing what is required. A scrubbing brush with bristles of the same length pro- portionally would not be approved. Short and stiff bristles are needed for cleaning- surfaces and exploring crevices. In the mouth there is hardl) room between the teeth and the cheek for the free use of the up and down stroke. It is well known that if a brush is too soft it may be made stj/Fer, and even too stiff, by cutting down the bristles. If this were done with an ordi- nary tooth brush it would gain the stiffness required to reach the deep crevices, and the brush, being thus made considerably smaller, could be more conveniently applied in the narrow quarters behind and around the molars. The bristles may be shortened by using a pair of good scissors, and making many small cuts or clippings. It takes con- siderable time, and the final result is seen in figs, i and 2. I have used this kind of brush for five years or more and desire to recommend it in your instructive pages. The experiment should be tried with a soft brush, as shortening bristles is apt to make them too stiff. Yours respectfully, Adoniram B. Judson, M.D.