Many Christians believe that the Bible is the divine word of God and that it contains the answers to all of life’s questions. However, on certain vital issues—such as choosing a toothbrush—there is little consensus amongst clergy and scholars about which one the Bible recommends.
“None of the most popular brands of toothbrush, such as Reach, Oral-B, or Sonicare, are specifically mentioned in the Bible.” said Kirsten Cassiday, 41, a professor of theology at Harvard. “The closest we get is Genesis 49:12: ‘His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.’ But this is really more about using milk-based toothpaste.”
Some contend that the Bible can at least be used to rule out certain toothbrushes. “The book of Lamentations says ‘He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones...’” said Fr. Walter McKean, 54, a priest at Our Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Scranton, Pennsylvania. “So whichever toothbrush you choose, it should not be made of stones.”
Others think that scripture’s vagueness on the subject of toothbrushes means man is empowered to make this decision for himself. “Proverbs 25:19 says, ‘Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth...,” said Rev. Gregory Townley, 60, a pastor at St. Luke’s United Church in Dallas. “Since a ‘broken tooth’ is a bad thing, this suggests to me that God definitely values good oral hygiene. So I’d say just get the best toothbrush you can afford.”
A few even argue that the Bible’s omission of toothbrushes constitutes an interdiction against them. “'And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.’ Amos 4:6,” said Harold Rundell, 38, an evangelical minister at the Brockville Chuch of God in Atlanta. “God inflicted ‘cleanness of teeth’ as a punishment on the unfaithful. The Bible is clear on this: we should not be brushing our teeth at all!”
“We should, however, be actively excoriating gays, ruling over our women, and owning slaves," added Rundell. "That much goes without saying, I think.”
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