Once upon a time, there was a little toothbrush. She lived in a special cup in the bathroom, next to the big brushes. Every morning and evening, the big brushes would take turns going to brush teeth, then return wet and clean, smelling of toothpaste. But the little brush sometimes stood in the cup all day long, completely dry. And then the big brushes would start laughing at her:
Look, nobody needs her, nobody uses her to brush teeth! Maybe your bristles are messy? Or your handle is crooked and uncomfortable? Or maybe you're just ugly, and nobody wants to be friends with you? Then we won't be friends with you either!
The little toothbrush stood there and couldn't even cry, because she was so dry. And she thought:
But I'm good, I'm pretty, my bristles are straight, and my handle is comfortable. Why won't anyone use me to brush teeth?
But sometimes they did take her. They'd wet her with water and put her back, but they wouldn't brush teeth. Probably just to fool the grown-ups. And then the big brushes would laugh again:
Look, she doesn't smell like toothpaste! You must be too scary to brush teeth with. We don't want to be friends with you!
And sometimes it happened that someone would brush teeth with the little brush, but very quickly. And when the little brush returned to the cup, she was wet and smelled of toothpaste. But the big brushes laughed again:
Why did you come back so fast? You must be disgusting to brush teeth with! Yuck, we won't be friends with you if you're disgusting.
The little brush stood all night feeling very sad. All the people were sleeping, the toys were having plush dreams, and various objects in the house were quietly dozing. And only the little toothbrush gathered all the droplets she had and quietly cried into the sink: "Drip... Drip... Drip..."
But one day, someone took her, wet her under the faucet, put toothpaste on her, and brushed teeth for a long time! The little brush got to meet every single tooth, even the very back ones she'd never seen before. And one of those back teeth told her what had happened. It turned out that a tiny piece of candy had stuck to him and sat there for several days. The brush and paste hadn't come to visit, so the piece of candy had made a real cavity in the tooth!
The tooth hurt very, very badly—he couldn't even sleep. Then a dentist came, treated him, and explained that if they didn't use the brush, he would get sick again. So now, every morning and every evening, the little brush came to visit and cleaned every tooth with fragrant toothpaste.
The big brushes saw how well and thoroughly she worked, and they started praising her:
You're doing such a great job! You look at every tooth, you don't forget anyone. We're so proud of you! Let's be friends!
And everyone felt very, very good. The teeth didn't hurt anymore, and the brushes didn't quarrel or pick on those who didn't work well. The little brush no longer felt lonely, because every morning and evening she met with all her tooth friends, who told her many interesting stories.
What do you think—does your toothbrush know all your teeth? And does she get along with the other brushes, or does she cry at night while everyone sleeps?
The brushes will be happy,
The teeth will be glad,
If we don't forget
To brush twice a day!
