Toothpaste Trivia

Toothpaste Trivia

Ever wonder where toothpaste and mouthwash came from? Have you ever thought about what people used for toothpaste before the invention of Crest, Colgate or MacCleans? Below are some interesting, point form facts and recipes that may help satisfy your curiosity!

Back in the days of Buddha....

The activity of keeping the mouth clean dates all the way back to the religious figure Buddha. It has been recorded that he would use a "tooth-stick" from the God Sakka as part of his personal hygiene regimen.

In 23 to 79 AD the practice of oral hygiene included:

• Drinking goats milk for sweet breath.

• Ashes from burnt mice heads, rabbits heads, wolves heads, ox heels and goats feet were thought to benefit the gums.

• Picking the bones out of wolf's excrement and wearing them (maybe in the form of a necklace?) was considered to be a form of protection against toothache.

• Washing your teeth with the blood from a tortoise three times a year was said to help against toothaches.

• Mouthwashes were known to consist of pure white wine, or old urine kept especially for this purpose!

The 18th Century

The earliest record of actual toothpaste was in 1780 and included scrubbing the teeth with a formula containing burnt bread.

The 19th Century

In the 19th century, charcoal became very popular for teeth cleaning purposes. Most toothpastes at this time were in the form of a powder. The role of the tooth powder was not only to clean the teeth but also to give fresh breath.

The strawberry was considered to be a "natural" solution for preventing tartar and giving fresh breath.

In 1855, the Farmers Almanac included this recipe for an appropriate toothpaste:

1 oz. myrrh (fine powder)

2 spoonfuls of your best honey

A pinch of green sage

Mix together and use every night on wet teeth.

Another toothpaste included:

2 oz. cuttlefish bone

1 oz. cream of tartar

2 drachms drop lake

15 drops clover oil

The 20th Century

Liquid cleansers (mouth rinses) and pastes became more popular, often containing chlorophyll to give a fresh green colour. Bleeding gums became a concern as well as aching teeth. In 1915, leaves from certain trees in South East Asia (Eucalyptus) were beginning to be used in mouthwash formulas.

So what's in today's toothpastes?

• Sodium monofluorophosphate

• Colouring

• Flavouring

• Fluoride

• Foaming agents

• Detergents

• Humectants (prevent the paste from hardening)

Herbal toothpastes

Herbal toothpastes have gained popularity for people looking for "natural" toothpaste or for those who don't want fluoride in their toothpastes. Some herbal toothpastes contain:

• Peppermint oil

• Myrrh

• Plant extract (strawberry extract)

• Special oils and cleansing agents

And in the future....

Your guess is as good as ours!! If the trends of the 20th century continue, we should see more toothpastes that whiten and brighten the teeth, are ulcer sore friendly, and give you the ultimate brushing or rinsing experience.

Back to General Oral Health