toothbrush

American  

[tooth-bruhsh] / ˈtuθˌbrʌʃ /

noun

1. a small brush with a long handle, for cleaning the teeth.

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toothbrush British  

/ ˈtuːθˌbrʌʃ /

noun

1. a small brush, usually with a long handle, for cleaning the teeth

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Etymology

Origin of toothbrush

First recorded in 1645–55; tooth + brush ¹

Explanation

When you clean your teeth, you use a toothbrush. Most toothbrushes are made of plastic, with soft bristles at one end for scrubbing your teeth. Before the modern toothbrush was invented, people used things like sticks, feathers, bones, and porcupine quills to clean their teeth. Twigs with frayed ends, called "chew sticks," were the toothbrush's precursor, and they are still used in various parts of the world. The earliest toothbrushes were invented in China, and the first patent was awarded in 1857 in the U.S. for a toothbrush with a bone handle and boar's hair bristles.

Example Sentences

To address this, researchers reporting in ACS Nano have created an experimental whitening powder that is activated by the vibrations of an electric toothbrush.

From Science Daily • Mar. 23, 2026

They also get a toothbrush, soap and towels.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

Along with snacks and electrolytes, Nguyen always brings a business-class-worthy toiletries bag that includes a toothbrush and face wipes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

Under the floorboards of her closet, Smith conceals “glittering refuse I had scavenged from trash bins, fragments of costume jewelry, rosary beads,” along with a blue toothbrush she’s invested with magical powers.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 31, 2025

And a toothbrush and her last flight’s two-ounce bar of chocolate.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

• broom