A BRIEF HISTORY OF TOOTHPASTE

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Have you ever given a thought to how the humble toothpaste came to be?
For the sake of weekend unwinding, I will make today's Blogpost a history lesson for you to mull over.




Toothpaste, floss and toothbrushes have been a staple in most people's hygiene routine since the 1950's. But that's only 60 years ago.
Then what did people do to keep their teeth clean thousands of years ago? The answer will make you greatful that you use mint-flavoured toothpaste.

Around 5000BC, Egyptians started using a paste to clean their teeth. This was before tooth brushes were even invented.
Ancient toothpastes were used to treat some of the same concerns that we have today – keeping teeth and gums clean, whitening teeth and freshening breath. The ingredients of ancient toothpastes were however very different and varied. Ingredients used included a powder of ox hooves' ashes and burnt eggshells, that was combined with pumice. The Greeks and Romans favored more abrasiveness and their toothpaste ingredients included crushed bones and oyster shells. The Romans added more flavoring to help with bad breath, as well as powdered charcoal and bark. The Chinese used a wide variety of substances in toothpastes over time that have included ginseng, herbal mints and salt.

 In 1824, a dentist named Peabody was the first person to add soap to toothpaste, followed by John Harris in the 1850s who added chalk as an ingredient. Colgate mass-produced the first toothpaste in a jar. Dr. Washington Sheffield, an American dentist, thought it was unsanitary for multiple people to dip their toothbrushes into one jar of toothpaste. So in 1892, he developed the first toothpaste in a collapsible tube getting his inspiration from paint tubes used by artists. Four years later, Colgate developed a dental cream that was packaged in collapsible tubes. After World War II, advancements in synthetic detergents allowed manufacturers to replace the soap used in toothpaste with emulsifying agents that worked better. One of these agents is a chemical compound named, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate. SLS is a foaming agent that can also be found in products like hair shampoo. And remains of SLS are still found in many types of toothpaste today. By the 1960s, fluoride became standard in toothpaste.
During much of the middle and later decades of the 20th century, the most significant change in toothpaste was the development of medicated products intended to remedy diseases and/or conditions of the teeth and/or gums. A relatively new ingredient called Triclosan provides another level of protection against cavities, plaque, gum disease and bad breath.
The current trend, which started to emerge at the start of the 21st century, is the demand for toothpastes that whiten the teeth and give them an iridescent shine. And by 1987, the first whitening toothpaste was invented.
 No matter what type of toothpaste you use today, it’s important to be consistent in brushing your teeth.

What does toothpaste actually do?

Most toothpaste contain abrasive ingredients that help scrub away stains and plaque on your teeth. The abrasives have to be harsh on plaque but gentle on your teeth so it does not damage your enamel. This ingredient also helps to polish your teeth so they look fresh and clean after you brush your teeth.


Does brushing without toothpaste work?

Some dentists recommend the practice of "dry brushing" to their patients.
This is how it's done:

• Brush your teeth for two minutes, using a toothbrush without toothpaste.
• Use the brushing technique your oral hygienist recommends (circular or up & down along the gumline).
• Make sure to hit the tough spots where plaque builds up, such as behind the bottom teeth.
• Use a dab of toothpaste at the end to get the fresh breath and the benefit from fluoride. The trick here is to simply put the pea-sized amount on your tongue and swish.

And American dental researcher, Thomas C. Abrahamsen, advocated the "dry brushing" technique. His rationale behind this, is that the friction from brushing rids the teeth of plaque; and not necessarily the toothpaste.

A lot of dental professionals have tried it out first, before prescribing the method to their patients.
I have done it myself a few times and it does work.
So I would recommend it to my Oral Hygiene patients, provided they don't stop using toothpaste altogether.

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