The Distasteful History of Toothpaste: Ancient Remedies for Modern Smiles

 Ever wondered what brushing your teeth was like centuries ago? Spoiler alert: it wasn't minty fresh! In this video, we take you on a bizarre journey through the history of toothpaste, from the gritty concoctions of Ancient Egypt to the spicy mixtures of medieval Europe. Discover the shocking ingredients that our ancestors used to keep their smiles (sort of) clean, including everything from crushed bones and oyster shells to burnt toast and even—brace yourself—urine. If you think modern toothpaste is weird, wait until you hear what people used to brush with in the past. You’ll never look at your toothbrush the same way again!

References:
1. [Medievalists.net - Five Medieval Toothpaste Recipes](https://www.medievalists.net/2016/01/five-medieval-toothpaste-recipes/)
2. [Little Smiles of Delaware - The History of Toothpaste](https://littlesmilesofdelaware.com/blog/history-toothpaste#:~:text=It%20has%20been%20observed%20that,their%20teeth%20and%20gums%20with)
3. [A Tooth - How Toothpaste Has Evolved](https://atooth.com/how-toothpaste-has-evolved-from-ancient-greece-to-modern-times%EF%BF%BC/)
4. [Local Food Connect - Making Your Own Charcoal Toothpaste](https://localfoodconnect.org.au/community-gardening/making-your-own-charcoal-toothpaste/) 

Transcript

You are listening to An Ounce, Season 6, episode 37, The Distasteful History of Toothpaste: Ancient Remedies for Modern Smiles 

 "Ever wondered what ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and medieval peasants did to keep their pearly whites…well, white-ish? What if I told you that the quest for a perfect smile involved some downright bizarre ingredients? From crushed bones to burnt toast, ancient oral hygiene was a whole different ballgame. Let’s take a wild trip back in time to explore the distasteful history of toothpaste!" 

"In the land of the pharaohs, cleanliness was next to godliness—and that included dental care. The ancient Egyptians were among the first to concoct toothpaste, and their recipe? A delightful blend of powdered ox hooves, burnt eggshells, and pumice. Yep, that’s right—your toothpaste was gritty enough to make sandpaper look smooth by comparison." 

"But it wasn’t just the Egyptians getting creative. The Greeks and Romans took things to another level, adding crushed bones and oyster shells to the mix. Talk about brushing with the power of the sea!" 

"And let’s not forget the Romans, who decided urine was the secret to a dazzling smile. Yes, you heard that right. Urine." 

"As we march into the medieval period, things didn’t get much better. Dental care was more about preventing the unbearable stench of rotting teeth than was about keeping your teeth and achieving a Hollywood smile. Recipes from the time suggested mixtures of honey, burnt bread, and herbs. One medieval toothpaste recipe called for a mix of powdered mint, rock salt, dried iris flower, and—get this—pepper. Nothing like a spicy smile to wake you up in the morning!" 

"The mint is a nice touch, but rock salt, dried iris flowers, and – pepper? - Imagine brushing your teeth with something that tasted like it belonged on your dinner plate rather than in your mouth. Well, at least they tried!" 

"And speaking of the questionable choices to clean ones teeth during the medieval times - Here’s a technic for cleaning your teeth that was a very popular method during that era, and it is gaining popularity again today. Believe it or not, some folks have turned to a somewhat distastefully dark DIY project—charcoal. Yep, this now modern trend of brushing with activated charcoal came from, now you know—medieval times!" 

"By the Renaissance, toothpaste recipes started to get a little more refined…if you can call them that. Chalk, brick dust, and burnt bread were popular choices. People believed that if it was gritty enough to polish a wall, it ought to polish your teeth!" 

"Of course, it wasn’t until the 19th century that toothpaste began to resemble what we use today. Thanks to advancements in chemistry and a better understanding of hygiene, soap-based tooth powders were all the rage. Eventually, the soap was swapped out for more pleasant ingredients, and toothpaste as we know it was born." 

 "But before you get too comfortable, did you know that some modern toothpastes still contain surprising ingredients like seaweed? Keep smiling—just be glad you’re not brushing with crushed bones and  burnt toast!" 

 "So, the next time you reach for your toothpaste, take a moment to appreciate how far we’ve come—from ox hooves and urine to fluoride and minty freshness. Oral hygiene has been on quite the journey, and your smile is all the better for it!" 

 There is at least An Ounce of wisdom that might be picked out from between the teeth of this little look-back at dental hygiene. But for now, let just focus on this one. 

Can you even imagine yourself applying some of the things that were used in the past to keep your teeth clean. Well, at least folks were trying. We’ve definitely progressed over the centuries. We have moved from barbers – yep, the same one that cut your hair - pulling bad teeth as a sideline. To highly trained dentists. From using soft wooden sticks and course animal hair brushes that were shared. To your own hygienic brush or pressurized water appliance. Gritty and disgusting concoctions to polish your teeth, and unfortunately wear the enamel off in the process.  To refreshing and effective tooth products, mouth rinses, and even lasers – to keep your choppers healthy and white. 

The steady march of progress moves forward in just about everything. 

The state of the art for the Egyptians, romans, those in the medieval times, the renaissance, and even our modern day keep advancing. And not just in how we take care of our smile. 

So, here’s An Ounce. 

Things Change – learn better – and then do better. 

And, that’s it, An Ounce, submitted for your consideration.