Written by Dr. Lisa Hilpl, DMD, Owner of Comfort Care Dental in Mansfield, MA
Welcome to the strange—and sometimes slightly horrifying—history of toothpaste.
Every morning, most of us squeeze a little toothpaste onto a toothbrush without giving it much thought. Mint flavor. A little foam. Brush for two minutes. Rinse. Feels great!
But have you ever wondered who looked at their teeth thousands of years ago and thought:
“You know what these need? Crushed shells.”
Toothpaste Is Older Than You Think
Humans have been trying to clean their teeth for thousands of years. In fact, toothpaste-like preparations appear to be older than the modern toothbrush itself.
Ancient Egyptian medical writings contain recipes for cleaning the teeth, and evidence of early dentifrices goes back thousands of years. (ADA) Of course, ancient toothpaste looked nothing like the smooth minty paste sitting on your bathroom counter today.
Early Egyptian preparations have been described as containing ingredients such as:
- Powdered ashes
- Pumice
- Eggshells
- Myrrh
- Salt
- Herbs
Some historical recipes even included powdered ox hooves. (History) Ox hooves! Suddenly your tube of mint toothpaste seems much more appealing.
The Original Idea Was Actually Pretty Smart
As strange as these ingredients sound today, the basic concept wasn’t entirely wrong. Many early tooth-cleaning mixtures contained abrasive particles. The idea was to physically scrub deposits and stains from the teeth. Modern toothpaste still uses mild abrasives for essentially the same reason.
The big difference? Today we understand that enamel needs to be protected. Some historical tooth powders were extremely abrasive. Over time, harsh ingredients could wear away tooth structure rather than simply cleaning it. So while our ancestors had the right idea—scrub the teeth clean—they didn’t always have the gentlest recipe.
Then Things Got Even Stranger
As different civilizations developed their own versions of tooth-cleaning powders and pastes, people experimented with all kinds of ingredients. By the 1800s, tooth powders could contain ingredients such as chalk, baking soda, charcoal, powdered cuttlebone and various herbs. Cinnamon, clove, rose and peppermint oils were sometimes added to make the concoctions taste and smell better. (Smithsonian Institution)
And here’s one of my favorite toothpaste-history facts: Some red-colored tooth powders got their color from carmine—a pigment traditionally made from cochineal insects. (Smithsonian Institution) So imagine brushing with chalk, soap and a little insect-derived coloring. I’ll take mint, please.
Toothpaste Didn’t Always Come in a Tube
For much of history, tooth-cleaning products were powders, liquids or pastes kept in jars, bottles, paper boxes or ceramic pots. And yes, people sometimes dipped their toothbrush directly into the communal container. Not exactly what we would call excellent infection control today.
That began to change in the late 1800s. Connecticut dentist Dr. Washington Wentworth Sheffield is credited with helping popularize toothpaste sold in a collapsible tube in the United States. His product, Sheffield’s Creme Dentifrice, was sold around the turn of the 20th century. (ADA)
The idea caught on quickly. The tube made toothpaste easier to manufacture, distribute and use—and helped transform it into the everyday product we recognize today.
Toothpaste Marketing Had a Wild West Period
Before modern regulations and scientific testing became established, manufacturers made some pretty impressive claims about their products. Whiter teeth! Perfect breath! Beautiful smiles! Miracle cleaning! Unfortunately, some products weren’t particularly friendly to teeth.
The Smithsonian notes that certain historical dentifrices contained highly abrasive or acidic ingredients. One tooth-stain remover marketed in the 1920s was reported to actually dissolve some enamel during use. (Smithsonian Institution)
Which brings us to an important dental lesson that is still relevant today:
Just because something makes your teeth look whiter doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good for your teeth. Enamel doesn’t grow back.
World War II Helped America Start Brushing Here’s another fascinating piece of dental history. Regular toothbrushing wasn’t always the universal American habit we think of today. During World War II, American soldiers were required to brush their teeth as part of their hygiene routines. When millions of servicemen returned home, they brought those habits back with them. The Smithsonian credits this period with helping dramatically change America’s toothbrushing habits. (Smithsonian Institution) So in a strange way, the modern American morning brushing routine was influenced by military hygiene.
Then Came the Game Changer: Fluoride
The biggest transformation in toothpaste wasn’t a better flavor or a better tube. It was fluoride.
Fluoride toothpastes began appearing commercially around the middle of the 20th century. Crest launched a fluoride toothpaste in 1955, and fluoride ultimately became the standard cavity-fighting ingredient in toothpaste. (ADA)
And this changed toothpaste from something that primarily cleaned and polished teeth into something that could actively help prevent tooth decay. Fluoride helps strengthen enamel and supports the remineralization of areas where the earliest stages of tooth decay are occurring. (ADA)That’s a huge leap from powdered eggshells and ox hooves.
Today’s Toothpaste Is Basically a Little Chemistry Lab
Modern toothpaste can contain a carefully formulated combination of ingredients designed to do different jobs. Depending on the toothpaste, ingredients may help:
* Prevent cavities – Fluoride strengthens enamel and helps prevent tooth decay.
* Reduce sensitivity – Certain ingredients can help decrease sensitivity from exposed dentin.
* Control plaque and gingivitis – Some formulations contain ingredients designed to help control bacteria and inflammation.
* Reduce tartar buildup
* Remove surface stains
* Freshen breath
And then there are ingredients that help toothpaste foam, stay moist, maintain its texture and—thankfully—taste considerably better than crushed oyster shells.
A Few Toothpaste Facts to Impress Your Friends
1) Toothpaste may be older than the toothbrush.
2) People once brushed with powders containing chalk, charcoal and cuttlefish. (Smithsonian Institution)
3) Toothpaste wasn’t always squeezed from a tube. It was commonly sold in jars, pots, bottles and boxes. (ADA)
4) World War II helped make daily brushing more common in American households. (Smithsonian Institution)
5) By 1949, toothpaste had captured roughly 75% of the American dentifrice market, overtaking tooth powders. (Smithsonian Institution)
And perhaps most importantly:
We’ve come a very long way from brushing our teeth with ox-hoof ashes.
Dr. Lisa’s Take
As a dentist, I find the history of toothpaste fascinating because the goal really hasn’t changed much in thousands of years. Humans have always wanted cleaner teeth, fresher breath and healthier mouths. What has changed is our understanding of the science.
Today we know much more about plaque bacteria, acids, enamel demineralization, remineralization, fluoride and gum disease. A modern fluoride toothpaste isn’t simply making your mouth feel clean—it’s an important part of preventing dental disease.
So tomorrow morning, when you squeeze that little ribbon of toothpaste onto your toothbrush, take a second to appreciate just how far dentistry has come.
No crushed shells.
No powdered hooves.
No communal toothpaste pot.
Just two minutes, twice a day.
I’ll call that progress.
Dr. Lisa Hilpl, DMD
Owner, Comfort Care Dental
Mansfield, Massachusetts
Dr. Lisa Hilpl, DMD and owner of Comfort Care Dental, a private practice in Mansfield, MA. Providing comprehensive dental and oral health care to patients. Dr. Lisa and her team can be contacted at (508) 851-9300.