·
Toothbrushes
were not common, so people had to find other ways of keeping their mouth
clean. Some people brushed their teeth
with frayed twigs and gunpowder and mouthwashes were made out of everything
from lemon juice to wine. Rubbing gums
with wool that had been coated with honey helped to get rid of bad breath, but
it was not a great way to fight cavities.
·
The first toothbrush was patented in 1857.
·
By later in
the 19th century, toothbrushes looked the same in shape as they do
today but had handles of bone or wood and bristles generally of horse or pony
hair.
·
The usual
word for toothpaste was “dentifrice” and many such pastes were made at home
with the simplest being no more than a little soot or salt. Commercial forms could be bought over the
counter, and most, whether home-made or bought were simply flavoured and often
coloured abrasives—in effect, polishes.
·
One recipe
for such a polish was: coral, cuttlefish bone, dragons blood, burnt alum and
red sanders, orris root, cloves and cinnamon, and rose pink, all to be powdered
and mixed- was called American tooth powder.
The cuttlefish provided polish, gently abrading the teeth, burnt alum
gave recipe a “medicated” taste and may have also had a small antibacterial
effect. The coral, dragon’s blood and
rose pink were used for colouring and spices were added to give flavor and
scent to breath.
Toothbrush patent drawing.
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