How would the modern man survive without his cell phone, e-mail and fax machine? Just fine, if he had his toothbrush close at hand.

A recent survey conducted by the Lemelson-MIT Index at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an organization that attempts to raise awareness about inventions and innovation, found Americans can’t live without their toothbrushes.

The survey asked 1,000 adults and 400 teenagers to choose between the toothbrush, automobile, personal computer, cell phone or microwave as the invention most vital to their lives.

Forty-two percent of adults chose the toothbrush, compared with 37 percent picking the automobile. The computer, cell phone, and microwave tied for third with six percent each.

The toothbrush was the oldest invention on the list, dating back to a late 15th century Chinese emperor who used hog hair embedded into bone. There are several thousand patents related to the modern toothbrush, but the invention has remained relatively unchanged over the centuries.

When the toothbrush came out on top as the invention Americans can not live without, even toothbrush experts were surprised.

“I’m not certain why they picked it,” said Ames dentist Greg Hawthorne. “But I’d sure like them to use it more often.”

Toothbrush manufacturers didn’t expect the news either.

“I’m very surprised. Surprised, but pleased,” said Michelle Szynal, director of corporate communications at the Gillette Company. “Apparently, dental health is very important to Americans.”

Gillette owns Oral-B, the largest toothbrush manufacturer in the United States.

Dr. Merton Flemings, director of the Lemelson-MIT Index, said the simple tool was included in the survey to see how it compared against high-tech items. Before conducting the survey, he didn’t know which invention would win.

“I kind of hoped the toothbrush would win,” Flemings said. “People, in spite of all the fervor we have for high-tech things, still appreciate the simple things.”

Cody Johnson, captain of the ISU Mini-Baja Team and junior in mechanical engineering, estimated he spends 20 to 30 hours a week working on cars. Because of his interest in cars, Johnson said he would have initially picked the automobile as the most important invention, but changed his mind after a second thought.

“Seeing as how I’m in college, I’d rather go without my car than my toothbrush, since I can go two weeks without seeing my car,” he said.

Ames dentist Art Staniforth said he was not surprised the toothbrush was Americans’ most popular choice. “People don’t just brush their teeth for their presentability,” he said. “They do it because it feels right. And it feels right to have a healthy mouth.”

Staniforth said most people can live without their car for a week, but in that time, an unbrushed mouth could develop gingivitis, the tendency for gums to bleed.

“That quickly deteriorates to [gum] disease and it quickly becomes a health issue,” he said.

Although the toothbrush is important, Ames dentist John Kearney said it isn’t the only dental invention people should be aware of. “I think [floss] should be ranked equally with the toothbrush,” he said. “It’s that important.”