Before Tooth Paste

What is the first thing you think about when you brush your teeth?  TOOTHPASTE!  It’s one of those modern inventions that we don't really think about.  It just exists. For all we know, it has forever.

Egyptians are believed to have used a toothpaste to clean teeth as early as 5000 B.C. and the chinese as early as 500 B.C.  This was way before the first toothbrush.  Modern toothpaste became a thing in the early 1800’s.  And it is almost unchanged as we know it today, except for slight changes to the chemical composition.  Early versions contained soap and in the 1850s chalk was included. Betel nut was added into toothpaste in the UK in the 1800s, and in the 1860s a home encyclopedia described a toothpaste that used ground charcoal.  Now how much do you hate that orange flavor the dentist uses?  And Soap?  Either the entire world was naughty or soap was all they had.

During the second half of the 20th century the chemical compositions changed towards more of what we have today.  Tooth sensitivity formulas were created and other specializations were released for purchase.Fluoride based toothpaste was introduced in 1914. Toothpastes with very low abrasiveness were also developed and helped prevent the problems caused by overzealous brushing by kids with very strict parents!  GO BRUSH YOUR TEETH!

Today toothpastes typically contains fluoride and even sweeteners as well as other ingredients to keep it a flowing smooth consistency.  Today toothpaste in tubes is seen as a very successful invention and not much change has happened since.

For more fun fact about toothpaste, visit Dr. Brady at Little Rockies Pediatric Dentistry.  Don't forget to call us at 720-638-6114 to schedule your routine check ups.