The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN COLORED FOLKS IN THE
SOUTH WERE TOO POOR TO BUY TOOTHBRUSHES. WELL
WELL THEY WERE DETERMINED NOT TO LET A LITTLE
OLE THING LIKE THAT STOP THEM FROM BRUSHING THEIR
TEETH. SO INSTEAD OF GOING WITHOUT BRUSHING THEIR
TEETH THEY WOULD MAKE THEIR OWN TOOTHBRUSHES OUT
OF BRANCHES FROM WHAT WE USE TO CALL A TOOTHBRUSH
TREE. ANYWAY, THEY WOULD BREAK OFF A SMALL BRANCH,
REMOVE ALL THE LEAVES AND LET IT DRY OUT FOR A FEW
DAYS. WHEN THEM BRANCHES DRIED OUT THEY WOULD CLEAN
YOUR TEETH BETTER THAN ANY TOOTHBRUSH COULD.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT REMEMBERS USING ONE OF THESE TOOTHBRUSHES
AS A CHILD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1985