The first known tooth cleaning formula was originally created by the Egyptians as long ago as 4 AD. The powder was made up of crushed rock salt, pepper, mint and dried iris flowers. The Egyptians used the powder to treat many of the same dental concerns we have today, such as cleaning and whitening teeth, gum health and maintaining all-round oral hygiene. However, this original formula was quite harsh and could cause bleeding of the gums, yet research into the cleaning agent proved it to be quite effective compared to other toothpastes and powders used as recently as a century ago.
There have been some weird and wonderful solutions throughout the ages for oral hygiene. Perhaps one of the most bizarre was a powder formed from ground ox hooves, ashes, burnt eggshells and pumice.
The Greeks had a preference for extremely abrasive cleaning agents and would add powdered bones and oysters to their recipes. By 1780, people were scrubbing their teeth with a cleaning powder made initially from burnt bread! Other strange ingredients in toothpastes have included bark, charcoal, chalk and betel nuts.
In 1824, a dentist named Peabody invented a formula that contained soap, as he believed this would add extra cleaning power to the paste. The soap obviously tasted extremely unpleasant and was later replaced.
It wasn’t until 1873 that the first commercially-produced toothpaste was released onto the market. It was manufactured by Colgate and sold in little glass jars. In 1892, Dr. Washington Sheffield placed the pastes into collapsible tubes, and other manufacturers soon followed suit.
The addition of fluoride happened in 1914, when it was believed that fluoride significantly decreased the number of cavities and halted tooth decay. In 1975, a range of natural herbal toothpastes became available as an alternative for people who did not agree with the addition of fluoride. These pastes were made up of plant extracts, essential oils such as peppermint, rosemary and myrrh, and are still being produced from many of the original ingredients.
Toothpaste today is an essential daily commodity for people throughout the world and has been an extremely successful and important invention to mankind.
Due to its mild abrasives and antibacterial agents, it is a powerful scrub for removing stains and dirt. Use only regular formulas in household cleaning, as gels, tartar control and whitening solutions may contain unwanted chemicals and harsh abrasives that will damage fragile surfaces such as silver. Toothpaste is mildly abrasive and the addition of antibacterial agents render it a potent stain fighter. It is particularly effective at polishing chrome taps and fixtures.
Note: Use standard herbal toothpaste and not gel formulas.