Dental facts you probably don't know. Part 9

• Today less than 10% of adults over age 65 have lost all of their teeth.

• In the middle ages, people believed that dogs teeth boiled in wine made an excellent mouth rinse for tooth decay prevention.

• Ancient cultures chewed on twigs or roots to clean their teeth.

• The first nylon bristled toothbrush with a plastic handle was invented in 1938.

• The first American to get a patent for a toothbrush was H.N. Wadsworth.

• The earliest example of an electric toothbrush was first produced by Tomlinson Moseley. Sold as the Motodent, a patent was filed by his company, Motodent Inc. on December 13, 1937.

• Egyptians used a form of toothpaste over 5000 years ago.

• Colgate introduced aromatic toothpaste in a jar in 1873.

• Colgate dental cream was packaged in collapsible tubes in 1896.

• Approximately $2 billion a year is spent on dental products in the United States. (toothpaste, mouthwash, floss and toothbrushes).