Origin of toothpaste How toothpaste appeared and evolved

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OUR FRIEND - TOOTHPASTE

Do you want to strengthen your teeth and always be healthy?

If there is plaque, a toothbrush will save us!

Toothpaste is the first friend, cleans everything around,

And it also contains fluorine, it will fight back on the fly!

Forget about laziness, brush your teeth every day

Early in the morning - and then clean before bed!

Introduction

Everyone wants healthy and beautiful teeth. A dazzling smile can work wonders in communicating with people. Every sane person takes care of his teeth and gums to the best of his ability and knowledge. However, this knowledge often turns out to be superficial or incorrect. Misconceptions about oral care often cause problems ranging from bad breath and unsatisfactory enamel color to serious diseases such as caries, periodontitis and others. That is why it is important to contact the dentist and only together with him choose oral hygiene products.

However, everyone should be sufficiently enlightened in matters of personal hygiene, especially since in most cases we choose the items and means of caring for our health ourselves. If in the choice of soap, shampoo, shower gel and other hygiene products we are guided solely by personal preferences, then when choosing oral care products, we must remember that we choose medicine for ourselves. This applies, first of all, to toothpaste, the wrong choice of which will create problems.

Research Goal: Influence toothpaste for teeth and gums .

Tasks:

Learn about the history of toothpaste;

To study the types of pastes;

Conduct a survey on the use of toothpaste by students;

Make toothpaste at home.

Conduct an experiment and find out how toothpaste affects the health and strength of teeth.

Theoretical part

2.1 History of toothpaste

Toothpaste is now considered an indispensable addition to a toothbrush, and many simply cannot imagine how one can do without toothpaste ... But it turns out that toothpaste is more than five thousand years old. Of course, in "prehistoric" times, toothpaste was not quite present in the form we are used to today.

Some archaeologists, historians and other scientists who study various antiquities, manuscripts and manuscripts believe that the "inventors" and founders of the use of toothpaste in everyday life are the ancient Egyptians...

In some manuscripts, which date back to 5000-3000 BC, a recipe for making "toothpaste" is described ... which would hardly have been used by anyone living today: the composition of the "ancient Egyptian toothpaste" included the main components - the ashes of the viscera bull, crushed pumice stone and wine vinegar ...

Something similar, but more "extreme", was used by the ancient Greeks. The "ancient Greek toothpaste" included ash, crushed glass, stone powder, burnt oyster shells, burnt wool ... And all this was "diluted" with salty sea water.

In many "ancient writings" of prehistoric manufacturers of toothpaste, there are references to the use of other components for their preparation. In different countries, in ancient times, charcoal, gypsum, cocoa grains, plant roots, resin, chalk, crushed marble and much more were used to clean their teeth...

The closest predecessor of toothpaste to our time is tooth powder.

In many countries of the world, it is tooth powder made on the basis of crushed chalk with the addition of mint and other aromatic oils, as well as crushed medicinal plants and their extracts, that has been used since the Middle Ages...

Toothpaste and toothpowder, almost in the same form that we are used to, began to be made in Great Britain in the 18th century; these compositions were sold in ceramic vessels, and the main "cleaning components" in them were hard abrasive materials - fine sand, brick or clay dust that did more harm than good to teeth...

In the 19th century, an aqueous solution of glycerin and starch began to be added to the composition of toothpastes, and some aromatic substances were used to achieve a "refreshing" effect ...

Toward the end of the 19th century, the company "Colgate", already known at that time, began the industrial production of toothpaste powder in glass containers, and a little later, due to low consumer demand, it switched to the production of "tooth soap", which included all the same chalk and peppermint oil. The basis of the "dental soap" was the usual neutral soap ... But this product was soon abandoned, hard pieces of "dental soap" often damaged the gums ...

And finally, in 1892, dentist Washington Sheffield came up with the original toothpaste packaging - the same tube that is in almost every home today.

Serial, industrial production of toothpaste of various formulations in tubes was started by the same company "Colgate" in 1896 ...

2.2 What is the best toothpaste

So what is the best toothpaste? You can, of course, argue for a long time, citing your arguments, no one wants to have bad teeth. Comedians often state that health is when every day it hurts in different places. However, the joke only looks funny as long as it doesn't touch their own teeth. Just imagine that every day your incisor, then a canine, then a root aches - what fun is that! Meanwhile, scientists are finding more and more evidence for a fact long known to physicians: the quality of health in general depends on the condition of the teeth. In order to answer the question about how you feel with a smile: “Excellent!”, you need to provide your teeth with thorough care.

Scientists from different countries in Germany, France, Great Britain and the USA almost simultaneously made an amazing discovery. It turns out that women, on average, live 6 years longer than men, because they care more about health, including dental health. It's just that the fair sex visits the dentist more often and takes better care of their teeth!

The fact that there is a direct relationship between the quality of oral hygiene and the risk to the cardiovascular system was a revelation not only for cardiologists, but also for dentists. Those who brush their teeth perfectly suffer much less from heart disease, which opens the list of causes that end the life of our contemporaries!

Eating particles of food left in the oral cavity after dinner, the bacteria actively grow and multiply, producing sticky substances. With their help, microorganisms attach to the enamel, and then stick to each other layer by layer, forming plaque. On top of all dental troubles, bacteria secrete acid that dissolves enamel, penetrate inside the teeth and cause caries. Triclosan toothpastes help combat this destructive action.

Triclosan, contained in the composition of toothpastes, is gradually washed out of the oral cavity: the more time has passed since the last brushing of the teeth, the more actively bacteria multiply. To prevent them from re-covering the enamel and gums with a layer of bacterial plaque, the scientists combined triclosan with a special copolymer. So the innovative formula "TriclogardTM" was invented, which allows prolonging the action of the antibacterial component by 12 hours.

Do you want to know what her secret is? Everything ingenious is simple: the antibacterial component of triclosan with a copolymer forms a kind of “protective film” at the molecular level. Thanks to this thin miracle film, triclosan is held on the surface of the gums and teeth and prevents bacteria from attaching to them, as well as the formation of plaque. Therefore, the antibacterial action of toothpaste can last for 12 hours (from one brushing of teeth to another), without disturbing the normal microflora of the entire oral cavity.

The fact that the quality of dental care has risen to a fundamentally new level, you will know by the feeling of freshness and pleasant smoothness of the teeth.

Composition of toothpaste

Toothpaste is a multicomponent mixture where each ingredient is important. The basis of toothpaste is an abrasive substance that can mechanically remove plaque and polish the surface of the enamel. Historically, the first abrasive was natural chalk, or calcium carbonate. Today it is used extremely rarely due to its high aggressiveness towards enamel. Toothpastes based on calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate are contraindicated in people with hypersensitivity and with pathological abrasion of teeth. Most modern toothpastes use silicon oxide. It has a micro-roughness that ensures the removal of dental plaque without damaging the enamel. Aluminum hydroxide is also added to many toothpastes, which, in addition to its mildly polishing effect, has adsorbing properties that allow it to be used for inflammatory gum diseases.

In Russia, only one brand of paste can "boast" of a normalized diameter and, therefore, the abrasiveness of the particles that make up its composition. This is President. This is especially important for people with sensitive teeth.

Surfactants, or tensides, are included in the paste for better foaming, uniform application to all surfaces of the teeth. In addition, they have a cleansing and antibacterial effect.

It is difficult to imagine modern toothpaste as a thick mass, which is hardly squeezed out of a tube, and has an unpleasant odor and color. But a few years ago, that's exactly what happened! Now special binders and moisturizers, flavorings and fragrances give toothpaste a pleasant smell, color and texture.

The vast majority of toothpastes today contain certain medicinal additives. Calcium and fluorine ions are included in the enamel and increase resistance to caries. Herbal extracts have an anti-inflammatory effect. Antiseptic and antibacterial components are designed to destroy pathogens. Some salts improve metabolic processes in diseased gums. Enzymes prevent the formation of plaque. This is only an incomplete list of components that provide a variety of medicinal properties of toothpastes.

Types of toothpastes

All toothpastes can be conditionally divided into hygienic and treatment-and-prophylactic. Hygienic pastes become the choice of those who do not suffer from any diseases of the oral cavity: there is no caries, inflammatory or degenerative periodontal diseases. There are no such people among the adult population of Russia. Therefore, in pharmacies (namely, where you need to buy toothpaste) there are hygienic pastes only for children. Such a paste contains practically no medicinal components and is intended only for the mechanical removal of plaque.

Treatment-and-prophylactic toothpastes include anti-inflammatory, anti-caries, saline, whitening, for sensitive teeth, with biologically active additives.

Anti-inflammatory

Such pastes usually contain extracts of medicinal plants such as sage, St. John's wort, peppermint, myrrh, green tea, conifers (fir, pine, juniper) and many others. Aluminum hydroxide is additionally used as an abrasive component. These toothpastes are recommended for people with bleeding gums. They can be effective in controlling bad breath if gum disease is the cause. Pastes from this group LacalutAktive, PresidentActive, Parodontax have proven themselves well.

Anticarious

This group includes calcium-phosphorus-containing and fluoride-containing toothpastes. These pastes allow you to effectively fight caries. The most effective and popular are fluoride-containing pastes that can be used even for children with milk teeth. However, beware! Fluoride pastes are NOT recommended for people who already have cavities. Otherwise, they will not stop the process, but only make it hidden, which is fraught with complications. It is important to remember that anti-caries toothpastes (especially those containing fluoride) are a means of prevention, not treatment. On the Russian market, this group of toothpastes is represented most extensively. These include pastes LacalutFluor, Colgate Caries Protection, Blend-a-medComplete 7.

Salt

Such toothpastes contain various mineral salts that improve blood circulation and stimulate metabolic processes in the gums. These pastes are usually very effective, but have an extremely specific taste. Salt pastes are recommended for those who suffer from periodontitis and periodontal disease. Examples of salt pastes: Pomorin (Neo-pomorin, Fito-pomorin and others from this series), Balm, Yubileinaya.

Whitening

Think carefully before buying white toothpaste. Firstly, such pastes are extremely aggressive towards tooth enamel. Secondly, you can effectively whiten your teeth only at a dental appointment. Thirdly, such whitening side effects as tooth pigmentation from coffee, smoking, wine, vegetables, appear after the use of whitening pastes in full. That is why very carefully consider the choice of toothpastes in this group. Some representatives of this group: LacalutWhite, Rembrandt series pastes.

Pastes for sensitive teeth

These pastes have a reduced abrasiveness of the particles, which reduces the discomfort during cleaning. In addition, they may contain special substances - desensitizers, which form a thin film on the surface of the teeth, which helps to reduce sensitivity. These are toothpastes like Lacalut sensitive, Sensitive Original, President Sensitive.

This group includes pastes that have strict medical indications, so they can only be prescribed by a dentist for the treatment of certain diseases, along with ointments, therapeutic applications and physiotherapy.

Reading the information on the tube

Toothpastes are distinguished by a variety of components that make up their composition. The purpose of each substance may not be known even by the most experienced dentists, however, there are components that are recommended to pay attention to when buying:

parabens (usually methylparaben) should not be included in the paste if you are allergic;

fluorides (sodium monofluorophosphate (NaMFP), sodium fluoride (NaF), a combination of NaF and NaMFP, aminofluorides (AmF) and tin fluoride (SnF)) must be contained in a concentration of no more than 2%. The optimal fluoride content is 0.1-0.6% for adults and half as much for children (the main reason is the ingestion of pasta by children);

Instead of the percentage of any element on a tube of toothpaste, you can often see the designation ppm, which is also a unit of concentration. This is expressed as a percentage as follows: 10.000 ppm = 1%. For example, 1500 ppm indicates 0.15% of the specified element in toothpaste.

Abrasiveness is measured according to the RDA standard. It should not exceed RDA 100. The optimal value is 70-80. For sensitive teeth, this figure should be even lower.

White - bleaching pastes with high abrasiveness and the content of acids and peroxides;

Sensitive - pastes for sensitive teeth;

Aktive - pastes used in periodontal diseases. They may also contain particles "parodont-" or "parodont-" in the name;

Fito - pastes based on medicinal herbs, usually for daily use.

How often should you change your toothpaste?

Like any other medicine, toothpaste should be used strictly in courses. The duration of the courses depends on the specific paste.

Usually they use a medical paste prescribed by a dentist in the morning and evening for a month, after which they brush their teeth for a month with any other paste that does not have pronounced healing properties. Then the course is repeated until the desired effect is achieved (reduction of bleeding gums, bad breath, whitening of enamel, etc.).

There is another approach to the same issue. It involves the use of two pastes at once. In the morning they use almost any paste that satisfies any considerations (price, tube color, smell, taste, etc.), and in the evening they brush their teeth with the paste recommended by the dentist.

Paste for daily use should not contain strong antibacterial substances (triclosan), strong peroxides that have a whitening effect (carbamide peroxide).

2.3 How to use the paste correctly

Indeed, oral hygiene is necessary because it removes plaque from the teeth, which can lead to cavities, and also increases the risk of tooth loss and gum disease. In addition, toothpastes help remineralize teeth due to the fluorine they contain, as a result, you can reverse the development of caries in the earliest stages of this disease.

However, do not forget that toothpaste is an abrasive, and an abrasive of both physical and chemical action, therefore, toothpaste, as it helps in combating factors that cause various dental problems, can also contribute to thinning of enamel and tooth decay when incorrect application.

How to use toothpaste correctly so that it does not become an enemy to the teeth?

Various studies suggest that brushing your teeth vigorously with regular toothpaste and brushing for more than two minutes can contribute to tooth decay. At the same time, the quality of the preventive effect of the paste does not depend on the applied force, but on the correct brushing of the teeth. Therefore, it is best to brush your teeth with vertical shaking movements on all surfaces of the teeth for no longer than two minutes at a time.

Toothbrushes should be changed at least once every two months. At the same time, you need to choose a toothbrush individually, they are produced in three types: soft, medium soft and hard. For sensitive teeth, you should not take a hard brush, because the softer the brush, the longer you can brush your teeth without fear for the condition of the enamel.

It is best to brush your teeth twice a day, morning and evening. This minimizes the chances of tartar buildup. In no case should these procedures be replaced by more rare and lengthy ones.

Toothpaste is our friend when used correctly However, brushing your teeth does not replace a visit to the dentist. You need to visit a doctor at least twice a year, and preferably three times. A specialist can always tell you which toothpaste and toothbrush is best for you to use right now, and advise you on how to brush your teeth properly. In the event of the appearance of tartar or other problems, he will be able to provide prompt assistance. It is better to prevent tooth disease than to treat it later or lose it.

2.4 How to properly brush your teeth.

Practical part

Sociological survey

I conducted a survey among the students of our class on the following questions:

There were 28 people in my survey.

Conducting a sociological survey among their classmates

I found out that:

12 people use children's paste, and 16 people use adult.

4 people brush their teeth once a day, and 24 people brush their teeth 2-3 times a day.

8 people visit the dentist 0 to 1 time per year, and 20 people go to the dentist 2 to 4 times a year.

20 people I interviewed believe that toothpaste affects dental health, and 8 people said NO.

For a more accurate answer to my questions, I decided to do a dental

pasta at home and conduct an experiment.

3.2. How to make toothpaste at home

Making your own toothpaste is pretty easy.

To make homemade toothpaste with your own hands, we need the following ingredients:

1 spoon of white clay (or any other cosmetic clay)

A pinch of ground sea salt

pinch of baking soda

5 drops lemon (mint) essential oil or lemon juice

1 tablespoon glycerin (or Aloe Vera gel)

You can use other flavors or flavors of your choice.

3.3 Experience. How does toothpaste affect the health and strength of teeth?

In order to answer this question, I decided to conduct an experiment myself. Since the shell of a chicken egg, as well as tooth enamel, consists of calcium, I decided to check how toothpaste affects the strength of tooth enamel.

I took 2 eggs, smeared one of them with toothpaste, and the second did not. Dipped both eggs in vinegar for a few days.

My observations:

Day 1 - The egg without the paste had a lot of bubbles, and the egg with the paste had a lot less bubbles.

Day 2 - On the 2nd day, I noticed that both eggs had increased in size, their shells had become transparent. On the egg without paste, the bubbles rose to the surface, but the egg with paste remained the same.

Day 3 - On the 3rd day, the egg without paste began to foam a lot, and bubbles began to rise on the egg with paste.

An egg without paste has changed color, the egg has become soft and thick foam has formed on it.

The color of the egg with toothpaste changed a little less, a film formed around the egg, the shell became thinner, but remained stronger to the touch.

I believe that with my research and experience, I have proven that toothpaste affects the health and strength of teeth.

My conclusion:

Teeth should be brushed at least 2 times a day and visit the dentist regularly.

Conclusion

So, in this work, I have considered some aspects of the effect of toothpaste on teeth and gums. I learned the history of toothpaste, types of pastes. Made toothpaste at home. Learned how to properly use toothpaste, how to properly brush your teeth. Conducted a survey among students to find out what students know about toothpaste, its impact on overall human health. And he conducted an experiment in order to find out how toothpaste affects the health and strength of teeth.

In modern conditions, the problem of maintaining health is very important. Our future is in our hands, and we must take care of our health.

Bibliography.

Meet Toothpaste. - M.: CJSC "Natusina", 2011

Where did it come from - M .: "Aquilegia-M", 2012

Encyclopedia "What is it? Who it?" - M .: "Publishing house" Modern Pedagogy ", 2009

Publication "Health" - Problems of teeth, 2013

Internet resources:

www.pravda.ru Plaque on the teeth.

www.nl-dent/anatomy-teeht.htm Structure of human teeth.

I had a toothache in my heart. This is the worst pain, and in this case, lead filling and tooth powder, invented by Berthold Schwartz, work well. The German romantic poet Heinrich Heine was by no means the only one who compared the most difficult suffering, and in this case we are talking about love with a toothache, exhausting and sometimes unbearable.

Nowadays, even young children know that their teeth need to be carefully taken care of and treated in time, and in order for them to remain healthy for as long as possible, they should be regularly cleaned using properly selected brushes and pastes. Most of the inhabitants of the Earth follow these rules and brush their teeth at least once a day. People began to use medical and cosmetic oral care products in ancient times, but the history of modern hygiene items began relatively recently.

The first mention of dental care products refers to the civilization of Ancient Egypt. In a manuscript dating from the 4th millennium BC. BC, a recipe is given, according to which ingredients such as the ashes of the insides of a bull, myrrh, pounded eggshells and pumice should be mixed. The method of application of the mixture, unfortunately, is not indicated, but scientists believe that it was applied to the teeth or rubbed into the gums with the fingers, since there is no reason to think that toothbrushes had already been invented at that time. And yet, the first similarities of this instrument appeared in Egypt, although later. They were sticks with a small fan on one side and a pointed tip on the other.

Great importance was attached to oral care by Gautama Buddha, who not only shared his religious and philosophical ideas with his followers, but also paid due attention to various practical aspects of everyday life. His daily hygienic ritual included the use of a kind of "dental stick" and he strongly recommended it to his students. In India and China, in addition to wooden sticks split at the ends like a brush, metal toothpicks, tongue scrapers, and powders from crushed shells, horns and hooves of animals, gypsum and crushed minerals were widely used as cleaning agents.

The ancient Greeks and Romans were well aware of what a toothache is. Evidence of this is found by archaeologists tools for removing teeth, as well as skulls with loose teeth, successfully strengthened with gold wire. Antique healers also thought about means of prevention, which suggested, for example, rubbing the ashes of burnt animals into the teeth and gums, rinsing the teeth with the blood of a turtle, or even wearing wolf bone necklaces. In addition, powdered stones, crushed glass, wool soaked in honey, and other exotic ingredients were used.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe put the idea of ​​dental care out of their heads for a long time, but Arab dentists picked up the baton. Following the Qur'an's prescription to brush their teeth several times a day, Muslims used sticks made from fragrant wood with a split end and toothpicks made from stems of the umbrella tree. From time to time, the Arabs also rubbed their teeth and gums with rose oil, honey, myrrh, or alum.

However, it must be said that all such products had a purpose not so much hygienic as cosmetic. It was widely believed that teeth should be white and shiny. And of course, the remnants of food stuck between the teeth did not fit into the canons of beauty in any way. Much attention was paid to the freshness of breath.

In ancient Rome, for this purpose, it was recommended to use goat's milk or white wine for rinsing. They eliminated bad breath with incense, rubbing them into the gums. In the Middle Ages, dental elixirs became widespread. The best of them, invented by the Benedictine monks in 1373, was sold until the beginning of the 20th century, and its composition was kept in the strictest confidence.

Of course, often the means used to whiten teeth also acted as hygiene products. Abrasive substances removed plaque, essential oils and other active ingredients had a certain disinfecting effect. But coarse powders, quickly whitening teeth, easily spoiled the enamel, which contributed to the development of caries, stomatitis and other dental ailments. Perhaps this explains the fact that many wealthy people had much less healthy teeth with age than peasants who did not particularly care about the whiteness of their smile. However, with a full set of teeth, very few people lived to old age.

The first to think about the need for daily hygienic brushing of teeth was the Dutch researcher-naturalist, the inventor of the microscope, Anthony van Leeuwenhoek. It is difficult to say for what purpose he once decided to put a wash from his own teeth under the glass of his device. The result unpleasantly surprised the researcher: the preparation was teeming with the smallest creatures of microbes, the honor of discovery of which also belongs to Leeuwenhoek. The scientist wiped his teeth with a cloth of salt and again prepared a flush. There were no microbes under the microscope lens. Impressed by the experience, Leeuwenhoek began to brush his teeth with salt daily and recommended this in his works. And although the taste of salt cannot be called too pleasant, the scientist could not complain about his method, because he lived for 91 years, and his teeth were preserved in excellent condition.

Gradually, the procedure for cleaning the teeth became more common, although salt as a cleaning agent did not stand up to criticism. Only at the end of the 18th century, more than a hundred years after the discovery of Leeuwenhoek, did they begin to produce tooth powder based on crushed chalk. The poor applied the powder to their teeth with a finger or cloth, while the wealthy used toothbrushes.

I. Vercollier. Portrait of A. van Leeuwenhoek. Around 1680

Toothbrush, toothpowder box and tongue scraper. 18th century

The oldest in Europe is considered to be a brush found during excavations at the site of a former hospital in the German city of Minden. The age of the find is estimated at 250 years. Pork bristles are fixed on the bone of an animal about 10 cm long. Several similar brushes were found in the vicinity, so the scientists suggested that a workshop for the production of brushes operated here.

The rapid spread of brushes and the popularization of the procedure for brushing teeth was also facilitated by the fact that by the end of the 18th century. Europeans began to eat sugar. As you know, refined sugar is one of the worst enemies of tooth enamel. Doctors sounded the alarm, and, not wanting to give up sweets, the inhabitants of Europe learned to carefully monitor the condition of their teeth.

In the dentist's office. Massachusetts, USA. 1917

Toothpastes similar to modern ones appeared almost simultaneously with tooth powder, but at first they were not widely used. The powder was easier to manufacture and more familiar. To make it more pleasant to use, and the breath after brushing your teeth became fresh, for example, strawberry extract or essential oils, as well as glycerin, were added to the powder. However, cosmetics companies have not abandoned the idea of ​​paste, as if they did not trust powders. And not in vain: in the 1920s, it was proved that chalk, being an abrasive substance, can cause stomatitis. Since that time, under the influence of dentists, powders began to be forced out of the market.

The composition of the toothpaste still included chalk, but it was crushed into powder and mixed with the base in the form of a suspension. Initially, starch paste in an aqueous solution of glycerin was used as a binder. Gradually, it was replaced by sodium salts of organic acids, which stabilized the suspension of chalk. The first toothpastes were not in great demand, and this was primarily due to inconvenient packaging. So, the Colgate company failed, in 1873, releasing a paste in a glass jar. And only more than two decades later, when the dentist Washington Sheffield suggested filling tin tubes with paste, Colgate presented its products in a compact, convenient and safe package that immediately attracted customers. In a short time, toothpaste has become an essential item.

Colgate building.

For a long time, soap was one of the main components of toothpaste, but its use in the oral cavity had numerous side effects. With the development of the chemical industry, modern synthetic ingredients appeared in the composition of pastes, such as lauryl sulfate or sodium ricinoleate. To freshen the breath, perfumes are added to the pastes, such as extracts of eucalyptus, mint or strawberries, and tannins are added to prevent bleeding gums and loosening of teeth. But a particularly important discovery of the XX century. in the field of oral hygiene, it is considered the introduction of fluorine compounds into the composition of therapeutic pastes, which strengthen the enamel. Procter & Gamble introduced the first fluoride toothpaste with anti-caries action in 1956.

Production technologies and the composition of toothpastes are constantly being improved. Currently, there are many varieties of therapeutic pastes containing calcium, antibacterial components, remineralizing and anti-inflammatory supplements. The main concern of the ancient Egyptians is “whitening” teeth. For this purpose, highly abrasive toothpastes are produced, but dentists strongly recommend not to get carried away with whitening, so as not to harm tooth enamel.

The production of toothbrushes is no less actively developing. Currently, they are made mainly from synthetic materials. Unlike many other products, a brush made from natural materials loses to a polymer one: synthetic bristles are softer and safer for teeth, and much less microbes accumulate on it. Manufacturers pay great attention to improving the design of their products, making new changes that, according to advertising, improve the quality of cleaning teeth to an incredible degree. In the early 1960s, the first electric brushes with reciprocating motion appeared, and in 1987 a rotating electric brush was put into production. However, dentists are reticent about these popular devices, as it is believed that they drive plaque under the gums and provoke the growth of tartar.

Oral hygiene in the XX century. acquired special significance. The need for daily brushing of teeth has become an axiom. A beautiful smile is an indispensable element of attractiveness as it was thousands of years ago, but now people are concerned not only with the whiteness of their teeth, but first of all with their health. And if reliable remedies for love pain have not yet been invented, then proper care and preventive measures may well save us from toothache.

Procter & Gamble company logo.

In the 1950s, Aquafresh developed an original tube that allowed you to squeeze a wonderfully beautiful three-color paste onto your brush. Colored fillers are located in separate cavities of the tube and are fed into the neck through special holes.

At the end of the 18th century, Great Britain, despite its current rigidity in innovation, showed the world a toothpowder that changed its composition every year as dentistry developed.

Prior to this, toothpaste owes its first mention of its history to 1500 BC and the mention on the ancient Egyptian papyrus, where ancient recipes for toothpastes from 3500 BC were collected. Since at that time dentistry, biology, chemistry and medicine were not developed enough, toothpastes included “improvised” means, for example, one of the recipes contained the ashes of the insides of a bull, crushed eggshell, pumice and myrrh.

Ancient China is also known for its passion for hygiene, it is a pity that of the understandable ingredients, only salt was included in their recipes. However, toothpaste owes its developed history to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who devoted a lot of time not only to mythology, but also to beauty, including a white-toothed smile. The Greeks added polishing and abrasive substances to their dental care products, such as talc with and without salt, burnt shells and corals.

All components were ground to a state of powder or were a powder mass mixed with honey. Honey was added to toothpaste because the Greeks believed in its miraculous properties, which, by the way, as we now know and also believe, is true.

The Romans, in turn, used ground oysters and pearl shells, as well as animal components - burnt stomachs and horns of cattle. To add flavor to toothpaste, the Romans used dried rose petals and myrrh.

In the Middle Ages, the development of oral care stopped. The history of the origin of toothpastes suggests that at that time superstitions were very strong, the Inquisition was rampant, so the recipes looked at least strange and sometimes sounded like a sentence. So, for example, one of the most popular recipes for tooth powder contained a cracker gnawed by a mouse.

The composition of the other is no less amazing - cuttlefish bones, small sea shells, burnt antlers of male deer and pumice. In total, the composition of the tooth powder should have included 9 components, which were carefully ground, poured into a linen bag, thus showing its owner an oral care product.

Finally, the 18th century came for the neat people, when Great Britain gave the world an analogue of the current funds.

They were sold in a ceramic vessel in the form of a powder, and later in the form of toothpaste. Wealthy people used a toothbrush to apply it, and those whose wealth was low replaced the brush with a finger.

Those products were sold by dentists and chemists who, due to the development of technologies of that time, did not know that their preparations contained an excessive amount of abrasive substances that caused irreparable damage to the teeth. They included brick dust, crushed porcelain, clay fragments, soap and chalk.

As for the development of oral hygiene in Russia, the famous pioneer Peter I distinguished himself here as well. He ordered the boyars to brush their teeth with crushed chalk and a damp cloth. At the same time, another method was also practiced among the people - it was known that coals from birch wood perfectly whitened teeth, but, of course, it was necessary to rinse your mouth especially carefully after that.

A new round in the history of the origin of toothpastes occurred in 1853 thanks to John Harris, who proposed the use of chalk as an abrasive filler for toothpastes.

To this time, the history of the development of toothpastes owes an unprecedented rise. All sorts of companies began to spring up whose specialty was oral hygiene. For a long time, pharmacists were engaged in the production of tooth powders, grinding chalk into powder.

In order to give their product a pleasant aroma, they added all kinds of finely ground leaves, as well as the fruits of medicinal plants, such as cinnamon, sage and violet. Later they were replaced by essential oils.

Tooth powders were cheap, very popular and had no competitors. What they had were flaws. High abrasive properties erased tooth enamel, which became hypersensitive, powders quickly became contaminated when used and in contact with a toothbrush.

In the middle of the 19th century, competition began to grow

Then S.S. White launched its line of hygiene products - tooth powder, toothpaste that came in a collapsible tube, as well as a hard tooth soap, which included precipitated chalk, coconut oil, as well as white sugar, soap and fragrances. Their recipe was incredibly popular for a long time and was in use until the end of the century.

At that time, dentists began to advocate for oral hygiene. The opinion of the public, listening to the opinion of experts, generated demand, developing from small-scale small-town trade an entire industry of regular production. Thus, we owe the emergence of the first companies in this area to dentists.

The world-famous Colgate brand in 1853 was the first to introduce to the American market a liquidish powder-paste, which was in a glass jar. But consumers did not immediately appreciate the novelty - the packaging seemed uncomfortable.

In 1892, Washington Sheffield, a dentist, invented the first toothpaste tube, and soon after, 2 years later, a pump-fed tube similar to the one we use today was invented.

In 1896, Colgate began to produce toothpaste in tubes using their own technology. Thanks to this, the company has received wide recognition both in America and in Europe. Its advantages are hygiene, safety and portability. Toothpaste has quickly become an indispensable personal care product.

At the beginning of the 20th century, hard soap was in use. It was very easy to use and consisted of neutral soap, chalk and peppermint oil. But it had a negative effect on the oral cavity and turned out to be unviable on the market, and the appearance of the first toothpastes predetermined its fate.

The first toothpastes were a jelly-like paste in which a chalk base was distributed evenly in a thin layer. A starch paste dissolved in an aqueous solution of glycerin was used as a binder. Subsequently, the paste was replaced with cellulose derivatives.

Since time does not stand still, breakthroughs are made daily in science and medicine, dental care products are constantly being improved. The previously used chalk and calcium carbonate showed their inefficiency and faded into the background, giving way to new organically clean and healthy materials.

Many scientists and leading developers in the field of dentistry have been trying for many years to create a unique oral care product that would be safe to use and effective from a dental point of view, until the decision was made to completely eliminate the use of surfactants and sodium sulfate.

In the manufacture of natural toothpastes, companies completely refuse to use any synthetic components, replacing them with vegetable ones grown on specially prepared biological plantations and having passed all the necessary organic control.

The active components of natural toothpastes and powders are substances that have a therapeutic, prophylactic and antibacterial effect - extracts of natural ingredients and vegetable-mineral complexes, oils, propolis and vegetable glycerin.

The action of mineral components is complemented by the properties of herbs - each of them has a unique property, for example, chamomile reduces inflammation of the mucous membrane, and sage strengthens the gums.

Already now, organically pure and tested by specialists, toothpaste is presented in our catalog. Now the questions about what natural tooth powder is, where to buy it, and what is the fundamental difference from traditional oral care products become irrelevant. Natural components give not only a good cosmetic effect, but also have a beneficial effect on the mucous membrane and enamel.

It remains to decide whether it will be tooth powder or toothpaste. The online store site is pleased to finally offer you to start the morning with good and really high-quality oral care. As before, our principle is only natural ingredients.

The history of toothpaste originates at least 5000 years ago, and it is connected with the culture of Ancient Egypt. The problems with the teeth of those times were no different from those of today - caries, unhealthy plaque, halitosis and various gum diseases. The absence of a toothbrush and paste was not a reason for a person not to take care of the hygiene of his mouth. And, if before the invention of a special brush, clean people most often used their fingers, then as a cleaning agent, what only our ancestors did not drag into their mouths!

One of the first compositions mentioned, the exact recipe of which, unfortunately, has not survived to our time, included ingredients such as ashes from burnt ox liver, crushed eggshells and pumice stone with the addition of myrrh and urea. Its authorship is attributed to the ancient Egyptians. The ancient Chinese brushed their teeth with even more complex compounds, but, unfortunately, the composition of the mixture was so tricky that the only component we knew was salt. Subsequently, various mint herbs and ginseng root appeared in the composition of the recipe.

It is known that in order to prevent problems with gums and teeth in ancient Rome, it was supposed to rinse your mouth with fresh turtle blood every few months, they also tried to relieve toothache. And to eliminate the unpleasant odor, they used tree bark, goat's milk and crushed charcoal.

Other ingredients have also come down to us - these are crushed corals and sea shells, gypsum, sand, coal, talc, as well as ashes from the burning of the heads of mice and dead wolves, hooves, horns and joints of cattle. To give all this a pleasant smell, rose petals, mint and other pleasantly smelling and not always useless substances were used.

The oldest powder found (not described) was discovered in Egypt. He is a little less than 2000 years old. In its composition, it was possible to identify salt, pepper and mint.

Middle Ages

Further in the history of the development of toothpaste came a long stagnation. There were no breakthroughs in these troubled and gloomy times in this direction. The Inquisition was rampant, ignorance flourished, all kinds of superstitions were very strong. The recipes for oral care products of those centuries sounded, to say the least, strange, and at times looked like a death sentence. For example, the composition of the most popular tooth powder at that time included ground cracker, which was gnawed by a mouse. In Europe, the situation was even worse than the "world average". Complete unsanitary conditions reigned here, slops poured out right next to the house, laundry was an extremely rare occurrence, and a bath was taken only on major holidays, and even then not always. Probably, many Europeans of the Middle Ages did not brush their teeth even once in their lives. Only toothpicks were in use, and special “cleaners” had mouth rinsing after a meal.

Means for oral hygiene in the VIII-XIX centuries

The good deed of developing and improving toothpaste began only at the end of the 8th century, although its beginning was not entirely successful. The means of that time could hardly bring anything to the teeth, except for direct harm, although in appearance and consistency they already had some resemblance to modern counterparts.

For their production, ingredients such as broken brick, crushed porcelain and clay were used, and soap was poured into the composition to bind it all into a kind of paste. It is quite expected that such funds did not find a large number of admirers.

The first good quality toothpaste appeared only in the middle of the 19th century. The basis for it was starch and glycerin, in which chalk paste was contained in a jelly-like state. And yet, powder remained the main hygienic remedy for teeth. They packed it in paper bags, which was extremely inconvenient during water procedures.

First Pasta

1873 can be considered a turning point in the history of toothpaste. A New York pharmacist named Colgate decided to do away with paper packaging and sell toothpowder thinned in glass jars. In fact, the idea turned out to be so-so, since picking up this jelly-like mass from a jar onto a brush was even more inconvenient, unhygienic and impractical than pouring powder from a bag. However, thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit of this pharmacist, his name is well known to modern man. About how he did it - a little further.

First tube

Surprisingly, the tooth tube knows exactly the day of his birth - May 22. It was on this day in 1892 that American dentist Washington Sheffield invented it. More precisely, he did not come up with the tube itself, but the idea of ​​​​using it.

Thinking about how to pack a hygienic product in a more convenient way, the doctor remembered or for the first time learned about a certain artist who, half a century ago, kept his paints to protect them from drying out in tin tubes. Having thought a little about modernizing the packaging, the dentist made an almost modern tube for dental cream, i.e. became the one who invented both toothpaste and modern packaging for it. But who created a prosperous industry on it is another question.

missed opportunity

The New York dentist managed to invent both toothpaste and a tube for it, but he didn’t think of patenting it! And, as you know, if the inventor forgets to do this, others do it for him. Here again, the cunning pharmacist Colgate appears on the scene, who understands the whole prospect of the idea and runs to the patent office, where he patents the invention as his own. Having changed only tin to aluminum, his company begins to pack many of its products in tubes - creams, soaps, shampoos and more. And in fact, we still use the idea of ​​​​a little enterprising dentist.

When did toothpaste appear in Russia?

Progress came to Russia much later. From time immemorial, birch charcoal was used to brush teeth in Rus', and mint was used to freshen breath. For the winter, it was specially dried for this purpose. By the way, they acted very far-sightedly, because, in addition to a pleasant aroma, mint also has antibacterial properties. In more northern regions and in Siberia, mint was replaced by needles of coniferous species - cedar, larch, fir. In some areas, preference was given to cedar or pine resin. In addition, in Rus', people always chewed zabrus (a wax cap cut from honeycombs with honey).

Everything changed, like many things in our country, with the coming to power of Peter I, who gave the order to brush your teeth with chalk, in a European way. It was applied to the enamel, and then rubbed with a piece of matter. And it went on for over a century.

Soap and tree resin were gradually added to the chalk powder, and then borax. At the turn of the 20th century, the flavor-enhancing glycerin appeared on the ingredient list. There was no single recipe, each pharmacist was "his own director" and took expensive work for the author's work, so they allowed themselves this product, and even brushes specially designed for cleaning, only non-poor people.

Pasta appeared in Russia 30 years later than its invention, and the Soviet product packaged in a tube was half a century late, seeing the light only in 1950 (and almost immediately fell into the category of scarce goods), and even then thanks to the space industry. There were active developments in this direction, and brushing your teeth in a state of weightlessness with powder was inconvenient not only physically, but also in front of the entire world community. The first paste was called "Pearl" and it was released specifically for future astronauts, as well as special tubes of food.

• The fact that the constant use of whitening paste makes a snow-white smile is a delusion and even a direct deception of manufacturers. It only removes plaque, but with frequent use it damages the enamel and makes the tooth more sensitive and prone to caries. The thinnest layer of fluorine is not enough to protect against it.
• The first Chinese toothbrush was a pig bristle inserted into a split bamboo stick. The device is not only uncomfortable, but for some reason very expensive, although there were plenty of pigs and bamboo in China at that time. Only wealthy citizens bought them, while the rest had to be content with a free finger.

Even the richest people cannot buy the most expensive pasta in the world at a price of 50 thousand euros per tube, because it is intended for one single person - the Queen of England. Its fabulous price is allegedly justified by a completely unique composition, which Elier Cosmetics, which is its developer, of course, keeps secret.

• Among mint, strawberry, banana and other flavors, there are pastes with completely original aromas and flavors - bacon, cucumber, chocolate, and even scotch and bourbon.
• The Doramund product, manufactured several decades ago, is recognized as the most harmful product in the history of mankind. It was radioactive, but people still knew little about the terrible consequences that radioactive substances cause. There are no statistics on the number of victims.
• For those who wanted to take apart a tube of three-color paste and see why they do not mix, but did not, we inform you that there are three chambers inside, the contents of which are found only at the neck.

Modern tools often repeat the composition of the ancient counterparts. The only difference is that the current ingredients are obtained in the laboratory.

• The paste holds its shape due to the sticky and slimy seaweed. Without them, it would simply drip off the brush.

Unconventional use

It is logical to assume that something that can clean tooth enamel can clean something else well. With this thought in mind, resourceful people have found many ways to use this oral hygiene product in an unconventional way.

• Silver, cupronickel, other metals are perfectly cleaned with paste, and even stains from carpets and clothes are reduced. Many people use it to update their shoes. This is especially cool with light-colored sneakers.
• A drop of the product will relieve itching from an insect bite, pain from a burn or scratch.
• Use for polishing nails makes them strong and shiny.
• Helium analogues are successfully used by girls as a hair styling product.
• Rubbing kitchen utensils, baby bottles, or hands with toothpaste can help rid them of bad odors.
• It perfectly cleans computer disks, as well as the keyboard that has become dirty from the hands.
• If you wipe the lenses of the goggles with paste, and then wipe them dry with a soft cloth, they will not sweat in the winter in a warm room, and swimming goggles and masks - from the inside under water.
• Expensive face products for acne can be replaced with regular toothpaste - the skin becomes cleaner, whiter, and acne scars disappear much faster due to the inclusion of formaldehyde preservative in their composition.

5 / 5 ( 1 vote)

Inventor: Colgate-Palmolive Company
A country: USA
Time of invention: 1873

With the development of civilization, the inquisitive human mind invented new ways of caring for teeth. So, in the written sources of Ancient Egypt, dating back to 5000 - 3000 years. BC, describes a recipe for a rather suspicious toothpaste. It consisted of the ashes of the insides of a bull, pumice and wine vinegar. According to scientists, the resulting mixture should have been rubbed into the teeth with your fingers.

But in ancient India, brushing your teeth was considered a religious ritual. The Buddha, it turns out, was actively promoting not only his teachings, but also ... dental hygiene. In particular, he advised to use a "stick for teeth" from the god Sakka as part of a hygienic charitable ritual.

The ancient Greek canons of beauty, along with a proportional combination of the forehead, nose and chin, assumed straight, pearly teeth. Wishing to keep their teeth in this state, the Greeks used mixtures of ash, stone powder, burnt oyster shells, pounded and wool. For rinsing, they took the salty water of the Aegean Sea, which helps strengthen the gums.

In Indian treatises on medicine as early as 300 BC, there are references to oral hygiene products that were used for mechanical cleaning and oral cavity. Basically, these were powders prepared on the basis of pumice with the addition of natural acids. Folk remedies used in different countries in antiquity are also widely known: charcoal, gypsum, plant roots, resin, cocoa grains, etc.

The era of the Middle Ages was not the best time for dental exercises. Purity of thoughts declared a top priority, significantly pushing the cleanliness of the body, including the oral cavity. It sounds terrible, but the Europeans did not brush their teeth for several hundred years, except, however, the upper class: abrasive powders and special rinses with anise were prepared for them.

In England, since the 15th century, barbers-surgeons have been involved in the treatment and extraction of teeth. To remove tartar, they used solutions based on nitric acid, which, along with the tartar, also dissolved teeth. Incredibly, this method of treatment was considered obsolete only in the 18th century!

Brushing your teeth with salt is Leeuwenhoek's invention: Anthony van Leeuwenhoek is a Dutch naturalist. In 1674 Dutch inventor Anthony van Leeuwenhoek made two outstanding discoveries at the same time. He discovered the world of microbes and a way to destroy this very world in his own mouths with the help of salt. One day, under the lens of what he invented, was a washout from his own teeth, teeming with small creatures. Wiping his teeth with a cloth with salt, he found no microbes on the new flush. After that, he made a vow to practice brushing his teeth with salt for the rest of his life. Leeuwenhoek lived for 93 years.

The Europeans, ashamed of their own untidiness, hastened to follow the example of the scientist. By this point, Russia was already watching Europe through a cut window. I must say that we always brushed our teeth. Even in the most distant corners, a habit has been established since ancient times: brushing your teeth with birch charcoal. It was not ground into powder - in the absence of toothbrushes, a piece of coal took over its functions.

After brushing your teeth, it was customary to refresh your mouth by chewing a mint leaf (fresh - in summer, dried - in winter), which, in addition to a pleasant aroma, also has an antibacterial effect. In the northern regions of mint often replaced by conifers: larch, fir, cedar. And today in Siberia, the use of home extracts from pine nuts for the prevention of periodontitis is quite popular.

As people entered the culture of oral care, people quickly realized that having healthy, clean teeth is much more pleasant than having rotten ones (or not having them at all). Medical faculties began to train specialists in the field of dentistry, and inquisitive minds zealously set about improving the system of preventing dental diseases. Pierre Fauchard, the famous Parisian dentist who treated the teeth of Louis XV and the Marquise de Pompadour, Denis Diderot and Jean Jacques Rousseau, is rightfully considered the founder of oral hygiene.

In 1723, Fauchard wrote a work on dentistry, in which he devoted an entire chapter to prevention. In it he advised to clean the teeth daily from food debris with the help of a sea sponge, considering it a much more suitable material for these purposes than the hairs of a badger's hair. The widespread brushes made from these hairs were too soft.

Tooth powder, closest to the modern one, first appeared at the end of the 18th century in Great Britain. Wealthy people used a special brush to apply it, while the poor did it with their fingers. But despite the fact that the powders were formulated by medical professionals, they often contained overly abrasive substances that could harm the teeth: brick dust, crushed porcelain and clay chips.

To make these products more palatable, glycerin has been added to tooth powders. Later the recipe for the powders was changed - they were made up of elements such as charcoal powder, crushed bark and flavorings, such as strawberry extract. Borax powder was used as a foaming agent.

In 1824, the so-called tooth soap was introduced into use. It consisted of chalk, neutral soap and peppermint oil and was quite easy to use. But the fact that it adversely affected the gum tissue required that a replacement be found for him. Having advanced in matters of hygiene, the tidy public demanded improvements. Finally, in the 1850s, John Harris suggested using chalk to make tooth powders.

To give powders a pleasant taste, pharmacists added crushed medicinal herbs, fruits or flowers (sage, violet, cinnamon, etc.). Later they were replaced by essential oils. Powders satisfied the public for a short time, but it turned out that due to the large size of the abrasive, they erase tooth enamel. In addition, over time, the consumer began to irritate the property of the powder to stick together and get dirty due to contact with.

After that, work began on the creation of toothpastes. The finest chalk powder was evenly distributed in the jelly-like mass. First, starch was used as a binder, from which a special paste was prepared on an aqueous solution of glycerin. Later, the starch was replaced with a sodium salt of an organic acid, which stabilized the chalk suspension.

In 1873, the American company Colgate-Palmolive introduced the world's first toothpaste - still in bank. But already in 1890, the company first produced toothpaste in tubes similar to those used today. This paste had not only higher hygiene and safety, but also undeniable household advantages: compactness and portability.

Not only toothpastes, but also mouthwashes became more and more popular. They often contained chlorophyll for a fresh green color. In 1915, extracts from some trees growing in Southeast Asia, such as eucalyptus, began to be introduced into the composition of the funds. They also use "natural" toothpastes containing mint, strawberries and other plant extracts.

The development of technology has significantly expanded the range of action of toothpaste. In addition to their main purpose - to clean teeth from plaque and freshen breath - they acquire therapeutic and prophylactic properties due to the inclusion of special additives in the composition. The first extended action toothpaste appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. It contained the enzyme pepsin, which, according to manufacturers, helped whiten teeth and dissolve plaque.

In the fifties, the production of toothpastes with fluorine compounds began. This was perhaps the most important discovery of the 20th century in the field of oral hygiene. The first toothpaste with anti-caries action was Crest with Fluoristat, released in 1955 by Procter & Gamble.

But the improvement of the recipe of pastes did not stop there. In the 70s and 80s, fluorinated toothpastes began to be enriched with soluble calcium salts, which strengthen tooth tissues. And in 1987, the antibacterial component triclosan began to be included in toothpastes.

The first Soviet paste in a tube was released in 1950. Prior to this, pastes were sold in tin, and later in plastic jars. Toothpaste was in short supply in Soviet times. For a long time they used tooth powder, which was used not only to clean their teeth, but also to wash windows, to give shine to metal utensils.

Currently, there are a huge number of toothpastes that do not cause discomfort to the mucosa, have a therapeutic and prophylactic effect and make daily brushing a real pleasure. The modern consumer now chooses the paste that is right for him, because each of us has his own physiological characteristics. Your dentist can help you choose both toothpaste and toothbrush.