The History of the toothbrush and toothpaste
Oral hygiene — brushing, flossing, cleaning teeth — has existed for centuries. The first toothbrushes emerged in the late 1400’s and early 1500’s. Toothpaste was introduced only in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
Despite this long history, in many parts of the world today, proper oral care remains a luxury. In Kenya, for example, traditional practices—like using natural chewing sticks (Mswaki), cloth, salt, or vinegar—are still common. Still, these often fail to prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and lifelong dental problems.
A recent study revealed that 7 out of 10 children in Kenya are not brushing their teeth regularly. Many mothers report cleaning their children’s teeth with pieces of cloth. Others rely on salt, vinegar, or traditional methods. These methods don’t provide adequate protection.
The impact is alarming:
- Over 40% of school-going children have dental caries
- More than 90% of the population has gum disease
These are preventable conditions — yet they affect families across generations.
Why Prevention and Education Matter — Not Just Treatment
The real challenge in oral health lies in prevention. It involves helping children and families build strong hygiene habits early. They need to understand why brushing and flossing matter. Ensuring they have consistent access to basic tools like toothbrushes and toothpaste is also essential. Without this foundation, communities inevitably face rising rates of tooth decay, chronic infections, gum disease, and preventable pain. These issues affect nutrition, self-esteem, school performance, and long-term well-being.
This is exactly the foundation being built at the Dylan Jones Academy (DJA). In Grade 3, students start learning how to brush their teeth. They learn through hands-on, in-class demonstrations as part of Kenya’s new competency-based curriculum. By teaching oral hygiene early and consistently, DJA is shaping lifelong habits. DJA empowers students to take these lessons back home. They influence their families, siblings, and neighbors.
History teaches us that behavior change can spread through communities. After the Second World War, U.S. soldiers were required to brush twice a day. They brought those habits home. This transformed national oral hygiene within a single generation. DJA is using the same principle: teach the children, strengthen the families, and transform the community.
This model doesn’t stop at oral hygiene. DJA aims for holistic growth and community-wide behavior change, including health, education, and spiritual development. The impact is already visible. Our health fair attendance has grown dramatically. It went from just 150 participants in 2019 to over 500 attendees in 2025. This shows that the community is not only engaged but also hungry for knowledge, care, and long-term solutions.
Our Approach: Combine Outreach With Education and Prevention
At EquiHealth Global, we believe in a holistic model:
- Medical outreach — Provide screenings, cleanings, extractions, hygiene kits, and fluoride treatments (as outlined in our 2025 Kambirwa Fair plan).
- Behavior-change education — Teach proper brushing, flossing, nutrition, and hygiene practices.
- Sustainable access — Ensure hygiene kits, toothbrushes, and supplies reach families.
- Community empowerment — Work with mothers, caregivers, schools to integrate oral hygiene into daily routines.
- Long-term monitoring — Track outcomes, prevent relapse, build generational change.
Why Now Matters
Dental disease is not just painful — it derails lives. By the time a child or adult seeks treatment, the damage is already done. Preventing that damage through education and access is far more cost-effective and life-changing.
Outreach fairs serve an important role — but toothbrushes, education, and good habits must follow if we want lasting impact.
How You Can Help Build Oral Health Equity
- Support outreach events — donate or volunteer when we host fairs like the upcoming one at Dylan Jones Academy.
- Advocate for prevention — help spread awareness that oral health is part of overall health.
- Sponsor hygiene tools — toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss are inexpensive but lifesaving.
- Partner with the DJA — Support the mission of the DJA in transforming lives through education.
Every $20 received provides dental care for a family of 3. You can make a huge difference to the least of these. Click the link below to donate.