Posted on 5/15/2024 by Singing River Dentistry Madison
You may not have given much thought to how your toothpaste was invented, but the story of the development of toothpaste is interesting. Humans have been looking for ways to polish their teeth and keep them clean for millennia. We have come a long way from brushing our teeth with oyster shells! Here is some information on the history of toothpaste.
Early Tooth Cleaning Pastes
Ancient Egyptians were at the forefront of many hygiene inventions. They were one of the first civilizations to begin cleaning their teeth with twigs from trees. The Egyptians wanted their teeth to be as clean as possible, so they developed a paste to rub on their teeth and grind the gunk off. Their toothpaste was made of eggshells, hooves of oxen, myrrh for taste, pumice, and water. This type of toothpaste does not sound tasty at all, but all these years later, dental hygienists use paste with pumice in it to polish your teeth after a cleaning.
Other civilizations used shells, sand, salt, and crushed fish bones to clean their teeth. In fact, the Chinese used toothpowder made of fish bones for hundreds of years!
Modern Toothpastes
]In the 19th century, a dentist began adding soap as a cleaner to his toothpaste, which he created in a jar for people to dip their toothbrushes into. Later adaptations added chalk as well. A dentist in America in the 1800s decided that everyone dipping their toothbrushes into a single pot of toothpaste was unsanitary, and using the tubes of paint artists worked with as inspiration, he created the first tube of toothpaste.
However, many Americans continued to use salt, charcoal, or baking soda to clean their teeth until after World War II. Soldiers returning home from war carried both toothpaste and toothpowder back with them, and the idea of brushing with toothpaste crept into the mainstream. Once fluoride was added to toothpaste in the 1950s, toothpaste was elevated to a necessary daily tool for holding on to dental health.
Do you need help picking a great toothpaste or have questions about your brushing technique? We can help. Why not contact our dental office today so we can schedule you for an appointment?
About Us - Madison, AL | Singing River Dentistry Singing River Dentistry is a patient-centered dental practice, devoted to helping patients of all ages improve their oral and overall health. Call us! Singing River Dentistry Madison, 7559 Hwy 72 W, Suite 105, Madison, AL 35758 | 256 - 562 - 4001 | madison.singingriverdentistry.com | 11/28/2024 | Page Keywords: dentist Madison AL |
You may not have given much thought to how your toothpaste was invented, but the story of the development of toothpaste is interesting. Humans have been looking for ways to polish their teeth and keep them clean for millennia. We have come a long way from brushing our teeth with oyster shells! Here is some information on the history of toothpaste.