Brushing for Britain

The First World War revealed the bad state of Britain’s teeth. Intervention was required to keep the nation biting fit.

A military dental surgery, pen drawing by H. Bury, early 20th century. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain.

Toothbrushing has been a regular part of most people’s daily routines since the mid-20th century, but it was only a few decades earlier that the British state first began to impress upon the public the importance of maintaining good dental hygiene.

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