### id228292739 the army is responsible for toothbrush popularity in the USA > The invention of nylon bristles allowed for simpler, cheaper mass-production of a toothbrush less likely to harbor and grow harmful bacteria than the traditional animal bristle brush. Yet the use of the toothbrush was not popularized in the United States until soldiers returning from WWII brought this habit home, adopting the daily dental hygiene regimen that had been required in the army. - [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01ffv5xs7hkfx40ejrfe79yz2k) - [[the sordid history of the toothbrush via the museum of everyday life#id228292739 the army is responsible for toothbrush popularity in the USA|View in Vault]]