History of Tooth Paste

Ever wonder where tooth paste and mouthwash came from? Have you ever thought about what people used for toothpaste before the invention of Colgate or Pepsodent? Below are some interesting point from facts and recipes that may help satisfy your curiosity – or spur it on!!

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.

Oldest known usage of Toothpaste

The earliest record of actual toothpaste was in 1780 and included scrubbing the teeth with a formula containing burnt bread. (A common North American breakfast)

19th Century Tooth Paste

In the 19th century, charcoal became very popular for teeth cleaning purposes. Most toothpaste at this time were in the form of a powder. The purpose of the tooth powder was not only to clean the teeth, but to give fresh breath. The succulent strawberry (still available today was considered to be a “natural” solution for preventing tartar and giving fresh breath. In 1855, the Farmer’s Almanac included 1oz myrrh (fine powder), 2 spoonfuls of your best honey, A pinch of green sage – Mix together and use every night on wet teeth in his recipe for an appropriate toothpaste:

The 20th century

Liquid cleansers (mouth rinses) and pastes became more popular, often containing chlorophyll to give a fresh green color. • 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.

Now…

We have tooth paste addressing various oral problems… some claim to kill bacterias, some guarantee no cavity, few speak of fresh breath & others talk of stronger teeth.

Well most of these toothpaste use the following items in different proportions:

Sodium monofluorophosphate
Color
Flavoring
Fluoride
Foaming agents
Detergents
Humectants (helps prevent the paste from hardening)

Herbal toothpastes have gained popularity for people looking for a “natural” toothpaste or for those who don’t fluoride in their dental cleansers. Some herbal tooth pastes contain: