You might think that toothbrushes are a relatively recent invention. Think again! The Chinese invented a bristle toothbrush (very similar to what we still use today) in 1498. At the time, they used boar hairs attached to bone or bamboo handles. Boar bristles were the standard for almost 500 years, until nylon bristles were introduced in 1938. Mass production in America began around 1885. It's rather fascinating to think that parents have been telling their kids to brush their teeth for more than 500 years!