WHO CAME UP WITH the idea of brushing twice a day? We hear it all the time from the dentist, but when did that idea really take off? 🤔People have been brushing their teeth for a long time, but the big game-changer came before World War II! In order to join the army, young recruits had to undergo thorough health evaluations from head to toe, including their teeth. The US Army’s standard for dental health was that you had to have at least twelve teeth to serve. Even then, many recruits couldn’t meet that standard and were rejected. It was the 8th most common reason to be turned away in World War I. Can you imagine that many young men having less than a third of the teeth they should? 😮 Poor dental health being such a widespread problem, the US Army decided to change things. Starting in 1908, they began introducing regular toothbrushing, complete with toothbrushing drills in schools. Even Uncle Sam got in on that action, encouraging schoolchildren to get a toothbrush, toothpaste, and ...