Right up there with a pair of fresh socks and clean bed sheets, there’s something very satisfying about a new toothbrush. But what’s going on at the microscopic level with those knackered toothbrushes that just don't give you that squeaky clean feeling like they used to?
Using an array of microscopes, the guys at Applied Science show how toothpaste, an abrasive substance, strips down and smooths the bristles of your brush – making it pretty useless for removing plaque.
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Then again, if you're wanting that fresh feeling, the 10 billion microbes on the toothbrush probably don’t help too much either.
Check out the bizarrely fascinating video below.
