when was toothbrush invented

The toothbrush in its earliest form, a "chew stick," dates back to around 3500 BC, with ancient civilizations using frayed twigs to clean their teeth. The first bristle toothbrush similar to the modern type was invented in China in 1498, using stiff hog bristles attached to a bamboo or bone handle. The modern toothbrush as we recognize it today, with nylon bristles, was invented in 1938, and the first electric toothbrush followed shortly after in 1939. The mass production of toothbrushes began around the late 18th century, with William Addis in England credited for creating the first mass-produced toothbrush circa 1780.