Dental Care in the Past

For most of us, brushing our teeth is part of our early morning routine. We brush our teeth with a soft bristled brush using fluoride toothpaste, floss, gargle mouthwash, and then head off to work or school. However, it has not always been like this, and for thousands of years, humans did not understand the right way to look after their teeth.

One Place that is teeth cleaning Pennington is a key to keep going back to the dentist for regular teeth cleanings to prevent oral problems altogether.

Toothbrushes

Although dental care was not always up to the standards that we think of today, even the first humans were interested in how to look after their teeth. The first toothbrush was invented in around 3000 BC by the Egyptians and was madeout of twigs. After this, toothbrushes were made from boar bristles and attached to bone or bamboo to make a handle. These type of toothbrushes were used right up until 1938,when the first nylon toothbrush was patented by Dupont de Nemours. However, there is no evidence to suggest that these were used every day or had much of an effect. Luckily, people in the past ate less sugary substances and did more exercise on average, leading to less chance of bacteria building up on their teeth and cause plaque and cavities.

Toothpaste

The first substance used to wash people’s mouths was simplywater. Water is beneficial to remove debris and wash down acids after eating. However, it does not have the strengthening or lasting effects of toothpaste.

The earliest toothpastes were unregulated powders that were made from peppermint, spices and salt. However, they could also contain ox hooves and eggshells, and the Romans even preferred crushed bones. In England during the 1800s, toothpaste was sometimes made from chalk, soap and even, famously, charcoal. Fluoride toothpastes were not invented until 1914, which eventually lead to the smooth and high–quality pastes that we use today.

Visiting the Dentist

People in the past did not visit their dentist regularly. Instead, people would only visit a dentist when they were in pain, and these people were likely to be whoever could do the job, including blacksmiths. Implements were often blunt and not specially adapted to dentistry. People would often have teeth extracted without anaesthetic, with the first anaesthetic, Novocaine, only being invented in 1905.

Compared to dentists in the past, modern dentists have painless anaesthetic, modern implements and extensiveknowledge of dentistry. Unlike past dental supplies, Kent Express can provide your practice with high–qualityequipment to match your everyday dental needs from products such as filling material to ultrasonic baths. Follow this link to find out more about the services that Kent Express can offer your business.

From blunt instruments to toothpaste made out of animal products, the dental care that you would have had in the past was primitive and frightening. Next time you put off going to the dentist, you should think about the dental care that you would have had in the past and be thankful for our modern equipment and utensils, knowledgeable practitioners and clean, disinfected practices.