Have you ever wondered how ancient people brushed their teeth? Surprisingly (or not), they used pretty much the same methods we use today. From simple brushes to rather extravagant toothpaste formulas, the ancients were pretty good at taking care of their teeth.
1. Ancient Egyptian Extravagant Toothpaste
In ancient Egypt, people commonly used toothpicks to clean their teeth. These toothpicks have been found buried along with mummies and were often made of wood. It was believed that the dead would need to clean their teeth in the afterlife.
The ancient Egyptians also created crude toothbrushes out of twigs and leaves, and they experimented with the first known toothpaste. Their concoctions often contained pepper and mint (for fresher breath), dried iris flowers, rock salt. These ingredients were crushed into a fine powder and made into a paste by adding water.
2. Ancient Greece and Rome Bones and Shells
The ancient Greeks used toothpaste mixtures similar to the ancient Egyptians. They would also add finely ground shells and bones to make their toothpaste more abrasive.
Later, the ancient Romans added charcoal to their toothpaste to rid themselves of bad breath.
3. Ancient India’s Tooth Wood
In ancient India, people used a twig, or tooth wood, to keep their teeth and tongues clean. The end of the twig was chewed, and the frays were used to clean their teeth.
3. Ancient China Hog Bristle Toothbrushes
In ancient China, people would chew on twigs, fraying the ends of the wood to brush their teeth. Eventually, the Chinese invented the first toothbrush made of hog bristles. They also made toothpaste out of finely ground mints, ginseng, and salt.
4. Viking Toothpicks and Teeth Filing
Among the Vikings, toothpicks were used to clean between their teeth. No evidence has yet been found of toothbrushes. However, some Vikings did file their teeth to intimidate the victims of their raids.
4. Beginning of the Modern Toothbrush
The hog bristle toothbrush eventually made its way to Europe.
In the 1770s, William Addis figured out how to glue the bristles into bored bone, creating a handheld toothbrush. These toothbrushes were then mass-produced.
As for toothpaste, people began using finely ground stale toast as an abrasive in their toothpaste.
5. First Toothbrush Patent
In 1824 soap was ground up and added to toothpaste mixtures. Eventually, ground chalk was also added to make the toothpaste more creamy.
In 1857, H.N. Wadsworth received the first toothbrush patent in the United States. His toothbrushes were also made from bristles.
Nylon was developed in 1938 and was used to replace the bacteria-ridden hog bristles in toothbrushes.
