Have you ever wondered how our ancestors brushed their teeth?
You brush your teeth every day and when the brush wears out, you go to the store and buy a new one. Harder, softer, red, blue, electric or one with a flexible head, it doesn’t matter. It’s a great choice of brushes and toothpaste as well.
How toothpaste is made?
Do you know what a mixture of ox hoof ash, myrtle, burnt shells and eggs and volcanic rocks is for? If you mix these ingredients and turn them into a powder, you will get a “tooth powder” that was used by the ancient Egyptians 4000 years ago. There were no toothbrushes at that time, it is assumed that they put this mixture on the finger and thus rubbed the teeth.
Maybe you prefer a paste recipe that includes ingredients like burnt deer antlers, ground snail shells, and burnt oyster shells? This is a recipe of the ancient Persians who, in addition to these additives, often mixed lead powder, honey and quartz powder into the paste.
In 1890 toothpaste was introduced in a tube similar to modern-day toothpaste tubes, so we don’t have to go hunting to brush our teeth, but we can enjoy countless flavors that refresh and make our smile shine brighter.
How toothbrush is made?
At the very beginning of history, the first toothbrush was almost certainly a human index finger dipped in “tooth powder” by the ancient Egyptians.
Ancient civilizations used a “chew stick,” which was a thin twig with a frayed end. These ‘chew sticks’ were rubbed against the teeth.
The stick was actually a tree branch with a thinner end.
Over time, these sticks were modernized and almost resembled today’s real “product”.
The first real toothbrush was made in prison: in 1780
During his time in prison, William Addis came to the conclusion that there was certainly a better method of cleaning his teeth than rags soaked in soot.
Pig hair and holders made of precious metals were not even close to the prison, so the prisoners brushed their teeth in a much more primitive way.
Since Addis no longer wanted to brush his teeth that way, he took the little animal bone in which he made small holes. He tied the pig hair he had received from the prison guard through holes and glued it further.
And so the first toothbrush as we know today was created.
After Addis was released from prison, he began mass production of brushes, and his company still operates today.
Healthy teeth have been a symbol of health, youth, beauty, power and dignity throughout human history.
Teeth were often a mark of stock. They were also in the function of fashion. Because of their strength, they sent different messages. Accordingly, the loss of teeth often meant a loss of power and strength, aging, and therefore was a sufficient motivation for oral hygiene to be present from the earliest times of human existence.
There are many interesting historical records about it, and they prove to us importants of human teeth during the time!