The First Toothpaste - Jenna 02/03/2012
It
is believed that the first toothpaste was used by the Ancient Egyptians
at approximately 5000 years BCE. It however did not have the minty
fresh smell or taste that toothpaste has nowadays, due to its unusual
ingredients. These included powdered ashes of ox hooves, myrrh, burnt
eggshells, and pumice. They would make them into a paste and use their
finger to rub onto the teeth. The Greeks and Romans also adopted the use
of toothpaste to conquer bad breathe and tooth decay by using oyster
shells, crushed bones and charcoal around 500BCE.
Toothpaste was first introduced into British society during the 18th Century with ingredients such as chalk, soap and betel nut. Although the components of toothpaste differ the purpose and thinking behind this successful invention remains the same, to improve dental hygiene and it was at this stage when abrasives were introduced into the paste in order to prevent plaque build-up.
I could not find an exact recipe for toothpaste used in Ancient times however a natural way of making it today is listed below;
- 2/3 cup baking soda
- 4 tsp fine sea salt (optional – gives paste extra scrubbing power, but is okay to leave out if
Toothpaste was first introduced into British society during the 18th Century with ingredients such as chalk, soap and betel nut. Although the components of toothpaste differ the purpose and thinking behind this successful invention remains the same, to improve dental hygiene and it was at this stage when abrasives were introduced into the paste in order to prevent plaque build-up.
I could not find an exact recipe for toothpaste used in Ancient times however a natural way of making it today is listed below;
- 2/3 cup baking soda
- 4 tsp fine sea salt (optional – gives paste extra scrubbing power, but is okay to leave out if
the taste is too salty)
- 1 – 2 tsp peppermint extract or 10-15 drops peppermint essential oil (or add your favorite
- 1 – 2 tsp peppermint extract or 10-15 drops peppermint essential oil (or add your favorite
flavor – spearmint, orange, etc.)
- water (add to desired consistency)
Websites used:
http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-toothpaste-recipe-easy-and-frugal/
http://www.colgate.com/app/CP/US/EN/OC/Information/Articles/Oral-and-Dental-Health-Basics/Oral-Hygiene/Brushing-and-Flossing/article/History-of-Toothbrushes-and-Toothpastes.cvsp
http://h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/A2818686
- water (add to desired consistency)
Websites used:
http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-toothpaste-recipe-easy-and-frugal/
http://www.colgate.com/app/CP/US/EN/OC/Information/Articles/Oral-and-Dental-Health-Basics/Oral-Hygiene/Brushing-and-Flossing/article/History-of-Toothbrushes-and-Toothpastes.cvsp
http://h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/A2818686
What % of fluoride is acceptable to be used in toothpaste...I've heard that too much coluld be dangerous!
ReplyDeleteGillian
Jenna, your account of the history of toothpaste is all new to me - interesting, especially the British reference. But it uses something from the south pacific!: Betel Nut? Somebody wrote "A betel nut, also called the areca nut, is a seed that comes from the betel palm (Areca catechu, of the Palmaceae family)." So how come British toothpaste used a pacific palm seed? Was/is there no British alternative?
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a student in Sudan, we used chewing sticks instead of toothbrushes (see http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2000/A/200000237.html for something similar). I wonder if there is an equivalent in Britain???