Syracuse dentist tells history of toothbrushes and paste

You pick them up twice a day, everyday, 365 days a year. They have a prominent, but modest place in your home. You, and millions of Americans like you, purchase billions of dollars worth of these items yearly. We’re talking about toothbrushes and toothpaste, mainstays of oral hygiene for young and old. Your Syracuse dentists–Drs. Craybas, Crumb and Giarrusso, at Creative Dental Concepts– explored the history of toothbrushes and toothpaste and thought you would enjoy knowing it.

The history of toothbrushes goes ‘way back

As with many modern tools and conveniences, the history of toothbrushes goes back to some inventive ancient peoples. Babylonians, Chinese and Egyptians all left evidences of their toothbrushes. Their versions, with wood handles and natural bristles, date back to the days before Christ. Over the centuries, other peoples, including Europeans, added their modifications, all aimed at keeping teeth and gums clean and breath fresh.

The modern manual toothbrush came onto the scene in England in 1780. Synthetic bristles and handles did not materialize until the 1930s as DuPont invented and patented the revolutionary material called nylon.

The handheld toothbrush morphed into an electric model in 1939 and became so popular that a 1960’s version was included in the time capsule buried at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. According to the New York Times, sale of electric toothbrushes is the fastest growing segment of the oral health care industry today.

So does the history of toothpaste

Surprise, surprise–toothpaste originated with Egyptians and Romans, too, as people wanted to add something to their brushes to keep their mouths healthy and their breath fresh. Some millennia BC, innovative Egyptians formulated rudimentary toothpaste.

As time went on, people explored ingredients that added abrasiveness and flavor to their dental preparations, including:

• Ginseng
• Pulverized ox hooves
• Egg shells
• Pumice
• Mint
• Powdered bones, bark and oyster shells

In the 1800s, soap, chalk and charcoal were added to the mix, and finally, in 1873, the Colgate company formulated and marketed jarred toothpaste. During World War II, soap was replaced as a main ingredient, and over the years, things such as sodium lauryl sulfate and fluoride (introduced back in 1914 as a cavity preventive) became important to the many varieties of toothpastes available today.

In fact, to say that there are many modern brands and types of toothpaste is understating the current oral health care market. Seek out a product recommended by your Syracuse dentist and approved by the American Dental Association as a mark of its quality and effectiveness.

Modern toothpastes contain ingredients that:

• Whiten teeth
• Combat bad breath, tooth sensitivity and gingivitis
• Protect against tooth decay

Dentistry really is interesting, isn’t it?

The professional staff at Creative Dental Concepts conveys that enthusiasm to all its patients. When you come in for your 6-month check-up and cleaning, your Syracuse dentist will tell you more about your personalized dental care and the tried and true reasons for it. Contact the office today for your appointment.