What's the first thing you put in your mouth every day? For a lot of people the answer to that question would be "My toothbrush.
" Toothbrushes are a huge part of our dental care and hygiene and with out them gum disease and tooth decay would be rampant.
Do you know how this vital tool is made? No? Then you're in luck, this article takes a look at the making of a toothbrush.
The Handle First, little pellets of plastic are melted together to form a smooth batch of liquid plastic of the desired grade and color.
The plastic is then poured into molds shaped like the handles of a toothbrush.
Each mold is very detailed and even forms the holes in the head that the bristles fit into.
These little holes are called cores.
The handles are kept clamped in the molds for a long time after they are cool and solid to make absolutely sure that they are ready.
After all, any defect in even a single core will render the handle unable to hold all the bristles, thereby producing a defective toothbrush.
The Bristles When the handles are absolutely solid and ready to be removed from the molds they are moved to the bristle attachment area.
Individual bunches of bristles are made by gathering a few long nylon strands together into a little tuft.
The center of each of these is aligned with each core, then they are stapled snugly into place with special staples that look like tiny bits of metal.
Trimming the Bristles Next the brushes must be trimmed.
There is no guarantee that the bristles will be level after they have been attached so each brush is trimmed just in case.
This trimming is done by passing the brushes through a machine that snips them all to the same length.
Depending on the brand of toothbrush there may be a signature shape of the bristles, if so, this shape is cut out at this point.
Final steps Then toothbrushes are packed, boxed, and shipped.
They are sent to stores where we go and buy them without a second thought as to where they came from or how they got there.
Toothbrushes are possibly the most necessary tool we use daily that we simultaneously think nothing of.
So tomorrow morning, when you are brushing your teeth, think back to the busy factory where the very toothbrush in your mouth started as some lumps of plastic.
" Toothbrushes are a huge part of our dental care and hygiene and with out them gum disease and tooth decay would be rampant.
Do you know how this vital tool is made? No? Then you're in luck, this article takes a look at the making of a toothbrush.
The Handle First, little pellets of plastic are melted together to form a smooth batch of liquid plastic of the desired grade and color.
The plastic is then poured into molds shaped like the handles of a toothbrush.
Each mold is very detailed and even forms the holes in the head that the bristles fit into.
These little holes are called cores.
The handles are kept clamped in the molds for a long time after they are cool and solid to make absolutely sure that they are ready.
After all, any defect in even a single core will render the handle unable to hold all the bristles, thereby producing a defective toothbrush.
The Bristles When the handles are absolutely solid and ready to be removed from the molds they are moved to the bristle attachment area.
Individual bunches of bristles are made by gathering a few long nylon strands together into a little tuft.
The center of each of these is aligned with each core, then they are stapled snugly into place with special staples that look like tiny bits of metal.
Trimming the Bristles Next the brushes must be trimmed.
There is no guarantee that the bristles will be level after they have been attached so each brush is trimmed just in case.
This trimming is done by passing the brushes through a machine that snips them all to the same length.
Depending on the brand of toothbrush there may be a signature shape of the bristles, if so, this shape is cut out at this point.
Final steps Then toothbrushes are packed, boxed, and shipped.
They are sent to stores where we go and buy them without a second thought as to where they came from or how they got there.
Toothbrushes are possibly the most necessary tool we use daily that we simultaneously think nothing of.
So tomorrow morning, when you are brushing your teeth, think back to the busy factory where the very toothbrush in your mouth started as some lumps of plastic.