Toothbrush toy WARNING!!! w/ pics

[Michelle & Fids]

I have read several articles over the years with warnings not to give our birds toothbrushes as a toy because some toothbrushes have bristles that are anchored by pieces of metal. There is also an article in Bird Talk, February 2009, pg 79 on it. I have to admit I never gave it much thought one way or another because I never gave my birds toothbrushes for toys and I have seen toys for sale and have seen where quite a few people offer them as foot toys. Well that was until what happened with Jess and Ruby. So then I had to see for myself, I went and got my toothbrush and cut it open with a pair of bolt cutters. Sure enough each clump of bristles is held in with a tiny little piece of metal. Here's a couple pics I took,and to give you and idea of how small the pieces really are the hand the one is on is my 4 yr old nieces.

[Christy]

Thanks for doing that Michelle, geeze, who would have thought?!

[WingedVictory]

Thank you for posting the warning about tooth brushes and pictures showing the metal pieces and size.

Gary

[Jessalyn Eaton]

You are the best of eggs! That is exactly what is inside my Ruby girl! Now I am going to go kick myself and then faint!

[Michelle & Fids]

The other day I was looking online for a perch for one of my birds and saw some toothbrush toys for sale, so it got my mind rolling on them again. I went through the list of most of the name brand toothbrush companies and emailed them asking how their bristles are anchored. I will post all the replies I get back. I'm also going to order some of the toys I saw for sale and cut them open to see if there is metal in the heads of them.

[Michelle & Fids]

Here is the reply from Colgate on their toothbrushes:

Dear Michelle:

Thank you for contacting us with your question. Your interest in our company and our products is greatly appreciated.

Toothbrushes have been defined as instruments whose purpose is to remove or scrub away debris from the tooth and gingivial surfaces.

The manufacturing process of toothbrushes is a simple one. We first produce the toothbrush handles by pouring plastic into molds. Afterwards a machine pushes a needle with nylon bristles into the handle where the bristles are bent in half. Next, a stainless steel staple is then driven into the plastic handle to hold each tuft of bristles.

Lastly, cutting and polishing operations take place to end-round the bristles.

We hope you will continue to rely on our company for quality products and services and that you will contact us again if you need additional information or have any further questions.

[Jessalyn Eaton]

RUN AWAY!!! IT'S A TOOTHBRUSH!

Thanks Michelle! Guess the stainless steel wouldn't hurt them but Miss Ruby would swallow them anyway.