The mass-produced toothbrush was invented in prison.

1770 · 1780 · apart: 10 years

Jailed in Newgate in 1770, William Addis set bristles in a bone from his dinner; once free, by 1780 he was mass-producing toothbrushes.

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The event

• A toothbrush born in prison1780 · Newgate Prison, London. Jailed in Newgate in 1770 for rioting, William Addis drilled holes in a bone saved from dinner and tied in bristles. Once free he started making toothbrushes, and by 1780 they were mass-produced.

18th century

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