At the end of the 18th century, Great Britain, despite its current rigidity in innovation, introduced the world to tooth powder, which changed its composition every year as dentistry developed.

Before this, the first mention of toothpaste in its history dates back to 1500 BC and a mention on ancient Egyptian papyrus, where ancient recipes for toothpastes from 3500 BC were collected. Since dentistry, biology, chemistry and medicine were not sufficiently developed at that time, the composition of toothpastes included “improvised” products, for example, one of the recipes was based on the ashes of the entrails of a bull, crushed eggshells, 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. 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 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 bellies and horns of large livestock. The Romans used dried rose and myrrh petals to flavor their toothpaste.

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. For example, one of the most popular recipes for tooth powder contained a cracker nibbled 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 tooth powder had to include 9 components, which were carefully ground and poured into a linen bag, thereby providing its owner with an oral care product.

Finally, the 18th century came for cleanliness, when Great Britain gave the world an analogue of the current means.

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

Those products were sold by dentists and chemists who, due to the development of technology at that time, did not know that their preparations contained excessive amounts of abrasive substances that caused irreparable harm to the teeth. They included brick dust, crushed porcelain, clay shards, soap and chalk.

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

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

The history of the development of toothpastes owes an unprecedented rise to this time. All sorts of companies began to emerge whose specialty was oral hygiene. For a long time, pharmacists produced tooth powders by grinding chalk into powder.

In order to give their product a pleasant aroma, they added various 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, extremely popular and had no competitors. What they did have were shortcomings. High abrasive properties erased tooth enamel, which became hypersensitive; the powders quickly became contaminated when used and in contact with a toothbrush.

In the mid-19th century, competition began to increase

Then the company S.S. White released its line of hygiene products - tooth powder, toothpaste, which was in a collapsible tube, as well as 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 oral hygiene. The opinion of the public, which listened to the opinion of experts, generated demand, developing from small retail local trade an entire industry for regular production. Thus, we owe the emergence of the first companies in this field to dentists.

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

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 producing toothpastes in tubes using its own technology. Thanks to this, the company has gained wide recognition in both America and 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 convenient 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 chalky base was distributed evenly in a thin layer. Starch paste dissolved in an aqueous solution of glycerin was used as a fastening agent. Subsequently, the paste was replaced with cellulose derivatives.

Since time does not stand still, breakthroughs in science and medicine are made every day, and dental care products are constantly being improved. The previously used chalk and calcium carbonate showed their ineffectiveness and faded into the background, giving way to new organically pure and beneficial materials for the body.

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 abandon the use of surfactants and sodium sulfate.

When producing natural toothpastes, companies completely abandon the use of any synthetic components, replacing them with plant-based ones that have grown on specially prepared biological plantations and have passed all the necessary organic controls.

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

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

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

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

Introduction

Toothpaste is a specialized dosage form intended for hygiene, prevention and treatment of diseases of the oral cavity.

Most of us have a lifestyle of “either candy or tea,” so we can safely say that the acidic environment in the oral cavity is maintained all day long. And the result of prolonged exposure to acid on the enamel and deeper tissues of the tooth is known to be caries. Our body certainly has a natural defense - saliva. The only problem is that the body needs about 2 hours for this protection to work, and then again the seagulls...

Almost the entire population of the globe suffers from caries, which leads to tooth decay. In Russia, this disease occurs in almost 100% of adults. Toothpaste provides effective cleansing of the oral cavity and a therapeutic and prophylactic effect on its organs through the use of abrasive, antimicrobial, surfactant, bacteriostatic, preservative and other substances.

For the vast majority of people, oral care products include toothpaste, a toothbrush, and perhaps chewing gum. In fact, this list is much wider, and many must be used daily to cleanse your teeth and protect them from disease. For this you may need: floss (dental floss), toothpicks, stimulants, irrigators, rinses, deodorants, plaque staining tablets, tongue cleaning brushes, etc.

Toothpaste is one of the most popular oral hygiene products. But according to statistics, the choice of pasta is most often taken lightly and they buy the one that comes to hand first. And if you read the annotations, absolutely all pastes protect against caries and freshen breath. Meanwhile, each paste, like each of its consumers, has its own characteristics. Various advertising tricks force people to choose certain types of toothpastes. This choice is not always the right one.

The main objective in this course work is to study the quality and safety of preventive and hygienic properties using the example of toothpastes.

General information about toothpastes

History of toothpaste

The oldest mention of toothpastes is the Bersa Papyrus, dating back to 1550 BC, where historians have found medical and dental recipes dating back even earlier, up to 3500 BC. It describes various herbal and mineral remedies - wood oil, aloe, onion, cumin, copper greens and others. They were used to make toothpastes. Resin, dough and fat were used as a base for toothpastes, the binding component was honey, flavorings were anise and cumin, dates, a decoction of green oats and sweet beer were used to soften them. The recipes for toothpastes given in the manuscript are extremely complex, but based on their composition, it can be assumed that the fascination with a large number of components is explained more by the desire of the priests to increase self-importance and instill in patients respect for their art of healing, rather than by considerations of benefit.

In ancient Chinese texts there are only two formulas, which included salt and flour and several other components with strange and unpronounceable names.

The Greeks, like no one in the ancient world, attached importance to the physical beauty of the human body and admired it. They were also concerned about the condition of teeth and maintaining their whiteness, for this they used various abrasive and polishing substances such as burnt shells, corals, talc combined with or without salt, giving them the form of powder or paste by mixing various components with honey. The addition of honey was also due to the ancient belief in its magical properties. The Greeks took a more civilized approach to hygiene: ancient medicine developed many recipes that included ash, powdered stones, crushed glass and wool soaked in honey. Teeth were cleaned with pumice and animal claws /6/.

Later medicine recommended dentifrices consisting of the following ingredients: three mice, the heads and fur of which were burned separately and then mixed with a white stone. This recipe is based on the ancient magic of the sun and ancient superstitions.

Ancient Roman literature contains information about various cleaning and polishing substances, such as ground oysters, pearl shells, burnt cattle bellies, and livestock horns, mixed with aromatic additives obtained from dried rose petals or myrrh and prepared in the form of both powders and and pasta.

During this period in Europe, superstitions were even wilder. One of the popular recipes of that time was tooth powder containing bread crumbs, nibbled by a mouse. Other recipes and prescriptions are no less absurd.

Another method of cleaning teeth during the same period was a combination of cuttlefish bones, small sea shells, pumice, burnt antlers of male deer, nut alum, mountain salt, reeds and iris roots; in total, the composition had to include nine ingredients. All of them were mixed, ground into powder, placed in a linen bag and used to rub teeth.

The Middle Ages were not the most favorable time for the development of hygiene. Cleanliness before God was considered preferable to bodily cleanliness, and this also applied to the oral cavity. Europeans didn't brush their teeth for an era until the famous Renaissance inventor Anthony van Leeuwenhoek suggested brushing your teeth with salt.

In the seventeenth century, it was believed that tooth enamel was capable of self-healing, so injury caused by rough powder would be temporary and could be ignored /6/.

The first significant change occurred when Peabody proposed adding soap to teeth cleaning products in 1824.

Thanks to John Harris, who in 1853 proposed the use of chalk as an abrasive filler in toothpastes, a completely new stage in their development began. Shortly thereafter, the S.S. White Company released a toothpowder, a liquid, a paste in a collapsible tube, and a bar tooth soap that consisted of precipitated chalk, coconut oil, white sugar, soap, and fragrance. This recipe was quite popular and lasted until the end of the 19th century.

At the end of the 19th century, dentists widely advocated oral hygiene, the public naturally listened to the opinions of professional specialists, which led to the emergence and development of a new direction in the industry - the industry of toothpastes and powders. It is therefore not surprising that the first oral hygiene companies were founded by dentists.

But, nevertheless, for quite a long time pharmacists were engaged in the production of toothpastes, and for the most part tooth powders. They ground chalk into powder, and to give it a more pleasant taste, they added finely ground leaves or fruits of medicinal plants such as cinnamon, sage, violet and others; later they began to replace them with various essential oils. Powders were very popular for quite a long time, since they were cheap, and, by and large, there was nothing to compete with them. The high abrasiveness of tooth powders led to the abrasion of tooth enamel and the appearance of hypersensitivity to external irritants. In addition, the powders quickly became contaminated during their use, upon opening and upon contact with a toothbrush /3, p.178/.

At the beginning of the 20th century, for some period, tooth soap was in use, which consisted of chalk, neutral soap and peppermint oil and was quite simple and convenient to use. But due to the negative effects on the soft tissues of the oral cavity, it did not last long enough on the market. And the appearance of the first toothpastes caused the cessation of the production of tooth soap.

The first chalk toothpastes were the finest chalk powder evenly distributed in a jelly-like mass. Initially, starch paste mixed with an aqueous solution of glycerin was used as a gelling agent. Subsequently, starch was replaced by cellulose derivatives.

It is believed that regular production of toothpastes in the world began in the late 70s of the 19th century in America. Tubes similar to modern ones appeared in the 90s of the 19th century.

The process of evolution of toothpastes is far from complete - some products die out, others live for decades. Progress and the development of science constantly present us with surprises that allow us to take better and better care of our teeth. Only one thing remains unchanged - a person’s desire to have a snow-white smile and pleasant breath" /6/.

"He who brushes his teeth in the morning acts wisely..."

Since time immemorial, ancient people had to resort to various improvised means to remove food debris from their teeth. People didn’t brush their teeth with anything before the advent of toothpaste and brushes.

Humanity began to take care of oral hygiene a very, very long time ago. After conducting an examination of dental remains older than 1.8 Ma, archaeologists have established that the small curved dimples on them are nothing more than the result of the influence of a primitive brush. True, she imagined just a bunch of grass with which ancient people rubbed their teeth. Over time, toothpicks became not just a hygiene item, but also an indicator of the status of their owner - in Ancient India, China, and Japan they were made of gold and bronze.

Also used for oral hygiene were ash, powdered stones, crushed glass, wool soaked in honey, charcoal, gypsum, plant roots, resin, cocoa grains, salt and many other components that were exotic to the eyes of modern man.

Mention of dental care and related products is already found in written sources Ancient Egypt. According to the testimony of ancient chroniclers, about five thousand years ago, the Egyptians achieved pearly white teeth using powder from dry incense, myrrh, kau, branches of the mastic tree, ram's horn and raisins.

In the Ebers papyrus, for oral hygiene, only rubbing teeth with onions is recommended, which made them white and shiny; one of the found manuscripts describes a recipe for a certain remedy, which included the following ingredients: ashes of the entrails of an ox, myrrh, ground eggshells and pumice, to Unfortunately, the method of using this remedy remains a mystery.

It was on the territory of Egypt that the first “civilized” toothbrushes appeared; the Egyptian ancestor of toothbrushes was a stick with a fan at one end and a pointed tip at the other. The sharp end was used to remove food fibers, the other was chewed with teeth, while coarse wood fibers removed plaque from the teeth. These “brushes” were made from special types of wood containing essential oils and known for their disinfecting properties.

They were used without any powders or pastes. Such “dental sticks”, about five thousand years old, are found in Egyptian tombs. By the way, in some corners of the Earth such “primitive brushes” are still used - for example, in Africa they are made from twigs of trees of the Salvadoran genus, and in some American states the indigenous population uses twigs of white elm.

Maintaining oral hygiene was important not only in Ancient Egypt; in India and the Chinese Empire, crushed shells, horns and hooves of animals, gypsum, as well as powdered minerals were used as cleansing compositions; wooden sticks were used, split at the ends in the form of a brush, metal toothpicks and tongue scrapers.

The first specially made gold toothpick was discovered in Sumer and dated to 3000 BC. e. An ancient Assyrian medical text described the procedure of cleaning teeth with the index finger wrapped in a cloth. Already in the second millennium BC. e. Tooth powder was used, made from pumice with the addition of natural acids - wine vinegar or tartaric acid.

The credit for further improvement of toothpaste itself belongs to two great civilizations in human history - the ancient Greeks and Romans, because it was the Mediterranean states that became the cradle of medicine.

Relatively regular oral hygiene practices have been known since Ancient Greece. Aristotle's student Theophrastus (died 287 BC) testified that the Greeks considered it a virtue to have white teeth and to brush them frequently. In the letters of the Greek philosopher Alciphron, who lived in the 2nd century BC. e., there is a mention of a common hygiene product at that time - a toothpick.

The first toothpaste recipes date back to 1500 BC. The famous healer Hippocrates (460-377 BC) made the first description of dental diseases and recommended the use of toothpastes. In the second millennium BC. e. already used tooth powder made from pumice with the addition of natural acids - wine vinegar or tartaric acid.

However, regular oral care did not become widespread until Greece became a province of Rome. Under Roman influence, the Greeks learned to use materials such as talc, pumice, gypsum, coral and corundum powder, and iron rust to clean teeth. Diocles of Karysto, an Athenian physician and contemporary of Aristotle, warned: “Every morning you should wipe your gums and teeth with bare fingers, then rub mint inside and outside your teeth to remove any remaining pieces of food.”

The ancient Aesculapians were the first to learn how to tie loose teeth together and hold artificial ones in place using gold wire. In ancient Rome The first lead instrument for removing teeth was invented. Particular attention was paid to such aspects as fresh breath, to maintain which it was recommended to consume goat's milk. But the effectiveness of some of the recommendations for dental care, such as rubbing the ashes of burnt animal parts (mice, rabbits, wolves, bulls and goats) into the gums, rinsing teeth with turtle blood three times a year, wearing a wolf bone necklace as a dental talisman pain would raise great doubts today.

Hygiene in general and oral hygiene in particular occupied a significant place in the life of the Romans. Its necessity was defended by the Roman physician Celsius. A recipe has been preserved for removing and preventing the formation of “black spots on teeth”: brush your teeth with a mixture of crushed rose petals, tannins and myrrh, and then rinse your mouth with young wine.

Teeth cleaning powders with a large number of components were widely used. The bones, eggshells, and oyster shells that were included in their composition were burned, thoroughly crushed, and sometimes mixed with honey. The astringent components were myrrh and saltpeter, which simultaneously had a strengthening effect on the gums and teeth. The substance "nitrum" was mentioned - probably sodium or potassium carbonate. But most of the components were added to the powders for superstitious reasons or simply from the imagination of the manufacturer.

Guests invited to dinner were given not only spoons and knives, but also ornate metal toothpicks, often made of gold, which guests could even take home with them. A toothpick was to be used at every change of dishes. Among the ancient Greeks and Romans, toothpicks were made of wood, bronze, silver, gold, ivory and goose feathers in the form of thin sticks, often mounted together with an ear spoon and a nail pick.

Early Middle Ages brought the first evidence of professional cleansing of the oral cavity: the Greek Paul of Aegina (605-690) proposed removing tartar using a chisel or other tools. He also wrote about the need to maintain oral hygiene, in particular brushing teeth after eating, emphasizing that various foods stick to the teeth and leave plaque.

To the Arab world The concept of oral hygiene was introduced by the prophet Mohammed (born in Mecca in 570 BC), introducing it into the Muslim religion. Among other requirements, the Koran requires rinsing the mouth three times before prayer (that is, 15 times a day). The Arabs cleaned their teeth according to the established ritual with the help of miswak - a stick made of fragrant wood with a split end like a brush and a chital toothpick - from the stem of an umbrella plant, and also from time to time they rubbed their teeth and gums with rose oil, myrrh, alum, and honey. The twig was soaked in clean water for about 24 hours until the fibers began to separate. The bark was removed, revealing a hard fiber that was quite flexible and easily split.

There are many more traditions related to oral hygiene associated with the Prophet Mohammed. For example, removing dental plaque in the interdental spaces, finger massage of the gums. Many of the rules of hygiene proposed by Mohammed exist in our time and are known from the works of the Muslim theologian of the last century, Ibn Abdin: “Teeth should be brushed with a natural brush if: 1) they have become yellow; 2) if the smell from your mouth has changed; 3) after you get out of bed; 4) before prayer; 5) before ablution."

Oral hygiene has been linked to religious beliefs and among the Hindus. The sacred book of the Veda contained a system of Indian medicine called the “science of life” (the materials presented in them date back to the first half of the 1st millennium).

Medical and religious beliefs proved to be an important reason for focusing Hindus' attention on their teeth. The mouth was seen as the gateway to the body, so it had to be kept absolutely clean. Brahmins (priests) brushed their teeth while watching the sunrise, while praying and calling upon God to bless their families.

The ancient books called for proper behavior and daily routine, paying special attention to the cleanliness of the mouth and the need to remove plaque using a special tool with a flat, sharpened diamond tip.

Hindus considered the use of toothbrushes made from animal bristles to be barbaric. Their toothbrush was made from tree branches, the end of which was divided into fibers. The trees from which such rods were prepared were varied; it was only required that they be sharp in taste and have astringent properties.

The daily ritual was not limited to brushing teeth. After regular cleansing, the tongue was scraped out with a specially designed instrument, and the body was rubbed with aromatic oils. Finally, the mouth was rinsed with a mixture of herbs and leaves. More than two thousand years ago, Greek doctors were familiar with infusions of Indian herbs that eliminated bad breath. Even Hippocrates described a cleanser made from powdered anise, dill and miter mixed with white wine.

The history of the development of oral care products after the fall of the Roman Empire is almost unknown up to 1000 AD, the instructions for oral care found during excavations in Persia date back to this period. These guidelines warned against the use of too harsh tooth powders and recommended the use of antler powder, crushed snail and clam shells, and calcined plaster. Other Persian recipes included compositions of various dried animal parts, herbs, honey, minerals, aromatic oil, etc.

During the Middle Ages in Europe Dental elixirs came into fashion, made by doctors and monks, and the recipe was kept secret.

In 1363, the work of Guy de Chauliac (1300-1368) “The Beginnings of the Art of Surgical Medicine” appeared, which in 1592 was translated into French and was widely used by practicing doctors, becoming the main work on surgery of that time. The book focused on dentistry. The author divided dental treatment into two types: universal and individual. Guy de Chauliac considered, in particular, compliance with oral hygiene to be a universal treatment. The hygiene rules consisted of 6 points, one of which involved gentle brushing of teeth with a mixture of honey, burnt salt and a small amount of vinegar.

The greatest success fell to the tooth elixir of the Benedictine fathers. It was invented in 1373, but at the beginning of the twentieth century it was still sold in pharmacies.

Chauliac's successor Giovanni do Vigo (1460-1525), author of the treatise “Complete Practice in the Art of Surgery,” recognized that healthy teeth have a beneficial effect on a person’s mental and physical health. To prevent tooth decay, he prescribed mixtures of pomegranate, wild olive and other plants for rinsing, and recommended regular removal of tartar. The Italian doctor Chigovani Arcoli (d. 1484) widely promoted the 10 rules he described for dental care, including after meals. In the 15th century in England, barbers who also practiced surgery used various metal instruments and solutions based on nitric acid to remove tartar (it is worth noting that the use of nitric acid for these purposes was stopped only in the 18th century).

First toothbrush like modern ones, made of pig bristles, appeared in China June 28, 1497. What exactly did the Chinese invent? Composite brush, where pork bristles were attached to a bamboo stick.

The bristles were torn from the scruff of pigs raised in northern China and even further north in Siberia. In cold climates, pigs have longer and stiffer bristles. Traders brought these brushes to Europe, but the bristles seemed too harsh to the Europeans. Those Europeans who had already brushed their teeth by this time (and there were few of them) preferred softer horsehair brushes. At times, however, other materials came into fashion, for example, badger hair.

Gradually, the Asian “new product” began to be “exported” to other countries of the world, The fashion for brushing teeth has reached Russia.

In Russia in the 16th century, similar “tooth brooms” were known, consisting of a wooden stick and a broom made of pork bristles - already under Ivan the Terrible, bearded boyars, no, no, and at the end of a stormy feast, from the pocket of their caftan, took out a “tooth broom” - a wooden stick with a tuft of bristles. These inventions were brought to Russia from Europe, where panicles made of horse hair, badger bristles, etc. were also used with pork whisks.

Toothbrushes were discovered during excavations in Novgorod. These are already full-fledged brushes with the bristles arranged like a modern brush, see the picture on the right.

Under Peter I, the royal decree ordered that the brush be replaced with a cloth and a pinch of crushed chalk. In the villages, teeth were still rubbed with birch charcoal, which perfectly whitened teeth.

Residents of the Japanese Islands The toothbrush and tongue-cleaning twig were introduced to Buddhist priests, whose religion requires cleaning the teeth and tongue every morning before prayer.

The Japanese “Samurai Code” ordered all warriors to brush their teeth after eating with soaked twigs of bushes. During the Tokugawa (Edo) period (1603-1867), toothbrushes were made from willow twigs, separated into fine fibers and specially processed. The brushes were of a certain length and flat in shape, so that they could be used as a tongue scraper.

Toothbrushes for women were smaller and softer to preserve the black color of their teeth (women painting their teeth black was an ancient tradition). A polishing paste made from a mixture of earth and salt, scented with musk, was applied to the tip of the twig moistened with water.

Toothpicks, similar to modern ones, were made by hand in Japan and sold along with brushes and powders, which appeared on the market as early as 1634. Colorful display cases invited customers to special stores where all dental care items were sold. By the beginning of the 19th century, the number of such stores increased sharply. There were more than two hundred of them on the street leading to the main Edo temple alone.

In Europe, the toothbrush initially became a pariah: it was believed that using this tool was indecent (as we remember, ladies and gentlemen also did not consider washing something necessary). However, by the middle of the 17th century, the toothbrush began to gain ground, which was facilitated by an important event.

The book was called “Small Medical Book on All Types of Dental Diseases and Infirmities” (Artzney Buchlein wider allerlei Krankeyten und Gebrechen der Tzeen).

It was based on the works of Galen, Avicenna and other Arab authors, consisted of 44 pages and over the next 45 years underwent more than 15 reprints. The book paid a lot of attention to oral hygiene. About 15 years later, surgeon Walter Ruff published the first monograph on dentistry for the layman, entitled “Helpful Tips on How to Keep Your Eyes and Vision Healthy and Maintained, with Further Instructions for Keeping Your Mouth Fresh, Teeth Clean, and Gums Firm.”

The famous 16th century surgeon Ambroise Paré recommended careful oral hygiene: remove all food debris from the teeth immediately after eating; it is necessary to remove tartar, as it acts on teeth like rust on iron; After removing stones from the teeth, the mouth should be rinsed with alcohol or a weak solution of nitric acid. To whiten teeth, weak solutions of nitric acid were most often used.

English sources of the 16th century describe various means for caring for the oral cavity; rubbing teeth with fingers and cloth and using toothpicks were widely recommended. Toothpicks were imported from France, Spain, Portugal, were considered very fashionable and were included in the list of items required for the queen. The respect for these hygiene items is evidenced by the reverent report that in 1570, Queen Elizabeth of England received six gold toothpicks as a gift.

Professional removal of dental plaque remained the job of barbers. Cintio d'Amato, in his book New and Useful Methods for All Diligent Barbers, published in 1632, noted: “This happens mainly due to the vapors rising from the stomach, as a result of which deposits form on the teeth, which can be removed with a rough cloth when you wake up in the morning. Therefore, one should scrape and brush the teeth every morning because if one does not know about it or does not think it is important, and the teeth become discolored and covered with a thick layer of tartar, it will cause them to decay and fall out. It is therefore necessary that a diligent barber remove the stones in question with a special instrument designed for this purpose.”

In the 17th century, Europeans enthusiastically brushed their teeth with salt, which was later replaced by chalk. The indescribable surprise of the Dutchman A. Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723), who designed the microscope, is known to have discovered microorganisms in the plaque on his own teeth, “despite the fact that they were regularly cleaned with salt.”

The first scientifically based presentation of material on oral hygiene belongs to Pierre Fauchard, who in his famous work “The Dentist-Surgeon, or a Treatise on Teeth” criticized the then prevailing opinion that the cause of dental diseases were some mysterious “tooth worms”. He identified 102 types of dental diseases and also developed a more humane method for removing teeth. The doctor also became famous for the fact that he invented false teeth, pin teeth, caps for teeth coated with porcelain enamel, and began to use primitive braces.

So, Fauchard argued that teeth must be brushed every day. True, in his opinion, horsehair, which was used in Europe to make bristles for toothbrushes, was too soft and could not clean teeth efficiently, and pig bristles, on the contrary, severely damaged the enamel of teeth. Alas, the doctor could not suggest any optimal material for bristles - his recommendations were limited to the instruction to wipe the teeth and gums with a natural sea sponge.

The first mention of toothbrushes in European literature dates back to 1675. It is believed that the first manufacturer of toothbrushes was the Addis company (1780) in London. She used natural bristles for these purposes. In 1840, brushes began to be produced in France and Germany.

And then toothpaste, the closest to modern ones, first appeared at the end of the 18th century in Great Britain. Although the powders were formulated by doctors and chemists, they often contained overly abrasive substances that could harm teeth: brick dust, crushed porcelain and clay shards, as well as soap. The dentifrice was sold in a ceramic container in two forms as a powder and a paste. People of good income had the opportunity to use a special brush to apply it, and those who were poorer did it with their fingers. The novelty did not arouse much enthusiasm, and soon in one of the magazines there appeared recommendations from experts not to use these powders, but to brush your teeth once every two weeks with a stick immersed in gunpowder.

In the 19th century, most dentifrices remained in powder form, sold in special small paper bags. Now its goal was not only to remove plaque, but also to at the same time give freshness to the breath, for which various natural additives were mainly used, such as strawberry extract. To make these products more palatable, glycerin was added to tooth powders.

In the 50s dentist John Harris suggested using chalk to make tooth powders, to which plant extracts or essential oils were added.

In Western Europe and Russia, chalk-based tooth powders were widely used. The first tooth powders were made in pharmacies according to special recipes, then their industrial production was established. The basis of these powders was chalk and magnesium carbonate. Finely ground leaves or fruits of medicinal plants (cinnamon, sage, violet, etc.) were added to the powders. Later, these additives were replaced by various essential oils.

From the second half of the 19th century began working on creating 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 in an aqueous solution of glycerin. Later, starch was replaced with a sodium salt of an organic acid, which stabilizes the chalk suspension. In 1873 the company Colgate introduced a flavored “liquefied” powder-paste in a glass jar to the American market, but consumers did not immediately accept the new product due to the inconvenience of packaging.

For some time, the so-called “tooth soap” was used for cleaning teeth, which consisted of kernel soap, chalk and fragrance (mint oil), thoroughly mixed together. Tooth soap was produced in the form of bars and plates of various shapes, packaged in paper or cardboard. It was convenient to use, but had an adverse effect on the gum tissue.

At the end of the 19th century, it became clear that tooth bristles needed a revolutionary new material when the outstanding French microbiologist Louis Pasteur hypothesized that microbes and viruses were the cause of many dental diseases. And where is it most comfortable for them to reproduce, if not in the moist environment of the natural bristles of toothbrushes? As an option, dentists suggested boiling toothbrushes daily, thereby disinfecting them, but this procedure quickly wore out the bristles and made the brush unusable.

In 1892, a dentist Washington Sheffield invented the toothpaste tube. In 1894, a pump-fed tube was developed much like the ones we use today. In 1896 Mr. Colgate began producing toothpastes in tubes using his own technology, thanks to which both the tube and this paste received universal recognition in America and Europe, as they had not only higher hygiene and safety, but also undeniable household advantages: compactness and portability. With the introduction of packaging in a tube, toothpaste has become a basic necessity for people.

Since the end of the 19th century, the world began to switch to toothpastes in tubes. In most countries of the world, they came into use in the 30s of the 20th century and gradually began to replace tooth powders, since they had undeniable advantages - compactness, portability, plasticity, and better taste properties.

Before World War II, most toothpastes contained soap, although it was known to have many side effects. With the development of chemical technology, soap was gradually replaced by modern ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium ricinoleate.

Not only toothpastes, but also rinses became increasingly popular. They often contained chlorophyll to give a fresh green color. In 1915, extracts from certain trees growing in Southeast Asia, such as eucalyptus, began to be introduced into the composition of the products. “Natural” toothpastes containing mint, strawberry and other plant extracts are also used.

The development of technology has made it possible to significantly expand the spectrum of action of toothpaste. In addition to their main purpose - to clean teeth from plaque and freshen breath - they acquire therapeutic and preventive properties due to the inclusion of special additives. The first extended-release toothpaste appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. It contained a therapeutic and prophylactic additive - the enzyme pepsin, which, according to manufacturers, helped whiten teeth and dissolve plaque. The most important discovery of the 20th century in the field of oral hygiene can be considered the introduction of fluoride compounds into toothpastes, which help strengthen enamel.

In 1937, specialists from an American chemical company Du Pont was nylon was invented - a synthetic material, the appearance of which marked the beginning of a new era in the development of toothbrushes. The advantages of nylon over bristles or horsehair are obvious: it is lightweight, quite durable, elastic, moisture-resistant, and highly resistant to many chemicals.

Nylon bristles dried much faster, so bacteria did not multiply as quickly. True, nylon scratched gums and teeth quite a lot, but after some time Du Pont managed to fix this by synthesizing “soft” nylon, which dentists vied with each other to praise their patients.

The end of the 30s of the 20th century was marked by another important event in the world of oral hygiene - the first Electric Toothbrush. True, attempts to create such a device have been made for a long time. So, back at the end of the 19th century, a certain Dr. Scott (George A. Scott) invented an electric brush and even patented it in the American Patent Office. However, unlike modern devices, that brush “hit” a person with an electric current during use. According to the inventor, electricity could have a beneficial effect on dental health.

A more humane toothbrush, powered by an electric network, was created in 1939 in Switzerland, but production and sales began only in 1960, when the American pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb released a toothbrush called Broxodent. It was planned that it would be used by people who have problems with fine motor skills, or those whose teeth are “decorated” with permanent orthopedic equipment (in other words, braces).

In 1956 the company Proctor & Gamble introduced the first fluoridated toothpaste with anti-caries effect - Crest with Fluoristat. But the improvement of paste recipes did not stop there. In the 70-80s, fluoridated toothpastes began to be enriched with soluble calcium salts, which strengthen dental tissue. And in 1987, the antibacterial component triclosan began to be included in toothpastes.

Almost The USSR lingered for three quarters of a century in the era of tooth powder, the first Soviet paste in a tube was released only in 1950. Before this, pastes were sold in tin, and later in plastic jars. True, toothpaste in this packaging appeared on store shelves quite rarely; the undisputed leader in sales was tooth powder, which became so firmly established in the life of Soviet people that it penetrated into areas unusual for its intended purpose. In home economics books of the time, you will find tips on using tooth powder to clean windows, clean canvas shoes, or shine metal utensils. The powder went away following the fashion for canvas. Consumers enthusiastically accepted the new product - a foamy and fragrant toothpaste.

In 1961, General Electrics introduced its version of the electric toothbrush, designed for use by all people without exception. Unlike older models, this safer toothbrush did not work from the mains, but was powered by a built-in battery.

Over the next forty years, only the lazy did not try to experiment with a toothbrush. Experts say that between 1963 and 2000, more than 3,000 toothbrush models were patented. What they didn’t do with them: first the brush was equipped with a built-in timer, then it became possible to replace the cleaning heads, later electric rotating brushes were released, and then reciprocating rotating brushes. The bristles of the brushes began to be covered with a pigment that gradually wore off, which reminded the owner of the need to replace the brush. Then brushes with rounded ends of the bristles appeared, which were safer for teeth and gums.

The development of electric toothbrushes continues actively today. Before we had time to properly learn how to use them (these devices appeared in Russia 15 years ago), an electric toothbrush was invented, and a little later an ultrasonic brush appeared, which breaks chains of bacteria even 5 mm under the gum. Recently in Japan they introduced a brush that connects to a computer via a USB port. Time will tell where miracle technologies will take us tomorrow...

Well, the production of toothpaste these days is also a complex process, behind which there are numerous studies by scientists and the practical knowledge of dentists. The number of existing oral hygiene products and items is enormous and is steadily increasing every year.

So, if you regularly take care of your teeth, they will shine with beauty.

And it is ILLOGICAL to hide beautiful teeth.

Three thousand years ago, the first mentions of dental and oral care appeared. The history of the prototype toothpaste is found in the written sources of Ancient Egypt.

For example, one of the found manuscripts describes a certain remedy that contained ingredients such as: ashes of bull offal, myrrh, ground eggshells and pumice. The recipe for “toothpaste” has been described, but the method of its use will forever remain a mystery.

Scientists suggest that ancestors rubbed this mixture into their teeth with their fingers, since toothbrushes did not yet exist. The historical beginning had been made.

Daily dental hygiene has since become important not only in Ancient Egypt, but also in other parts of the world. In historical India, such a procedure even became part of the philosophical system. There is evidence that the Buddha was not only an activist in promoting various teachings to the Indian masses, but was also interested in some very important practical aspects, in particular regarding brushing teeth. The Buddha used a dental stick as part of his hygiene ritual.

From the twenty-third to the seventy-ninth year of our era, toothpaste was improved. New ideas belonged to the most developed peoples at that time - the Greeks and Romans. Their peoples invented lead tools for removing teeth. My breath became fresher after drinking goat's milk. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the development of the history of toothpaste remained a mystery.

A thousand years ago BC, the Persians perfected toothpaste. Archaeologists have found instructions for oral care. They described warnings about using too harsh tooth powders. These instructions also contained recommendations for the use of deer antler powder, crushed snail shells and burnt gypsum.

At the end of the eighteenth century, the first, most similar to modern, tooth powder and toothpaste appeared in Great Britain. These hygiene products were sold in ceramic vessels. Wealthy people applied toothpaste to their brushes, while poor people brushed their teeth with their fingers. But, despite the new development of toothpaste, there was a big drawback in its composition. It contained excessively abrasive substances that damaged tooth enamel. It was brick dust, crushed porcelain, clay shards, soap and chalk.

Until the nineteenth century, most oral hygiene products remained in powder form. Since this century, toothpastes began to be developed not only to remove plaque, but also to give fresh breath. Additives, such as strawberry extract, began to be added to toothpastes, and glycerin was added to tooth powders.

Borax was also added to the composition as a foaming agent. In 1873, the Colgate company, still known to this day, developed and launched flavored toothpaste in a jar. A folding tube was invented in 1892, and a pump-feed tube, similar to the modern one, was invented in 1984.

In the twentieth century, even before World War II, more toothpastes contained soap, despite the fact that it became known about its countless side effects on the oral cavity. With the development of chemical technology, soap was replaced with ingredients that are still found in toothpaste today: sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium ricinoleate.

In the history of toothpaste and oral hygiene in general, rinses have also become increasingly popular. Their content mainly contained chlorophyll, which gave freshness to the breath; it was green in color. Since 1915, extracts of trees growing in Southeast Asia began to be introduced into mouthwashes. The most famous is eucalyptus. Natural toothpastes were also used, which included plant extracts: mint, strawberry, etc.

Back in the twentieth century, chemist developers began to pay attention not only to dental diseases, but also to bleeding gums. Therefore, toothpastes began to differ more and more from each other in terms of purpose of use and other very important characteristics. For example, the color of toothpaste, taste and smell.

Probably, in the history of toothpaste, the most important discovery in this area was the introduction of fluoride compounds into toothpastes. Fluoride helps strengthen enamel. In 1956, Proctor & Gamble, a huge company in the modern world, launched the first toothpaste containing fluoride.

And finally, the history of toothpaste has reached the twenty-first century. The trends of the twentieth century have continued in our century. Our progressive world gives every resident the opportunity to use toothpastes that play an active role in the prevention of various diseases of the teeth and gums. They have whitening and other additional effects without causing irritation to the mucous membrane. Brushing your teeth and caring for your entire mouth does not cause any inconvenience.

Children's toothpaste

How an adult feels about oral hygiene, in particular brushing his teeth, most often depends on his childhood habits. If a child is reluctant to use a toothbrush and toothpaste, then in adult life he will not have any special desire. This is why it is very important to teach your child to brush their teeth from an early age.

Proper oral hygiene in childhood ensures dental health in adulthood. In order for the cleaning effect to be maximum, it is necessary to use properly selected toothbrushes and toothpastes. Toothpaste deserves special attention, since the condition of the enamel and the quality of cleaning depend on its composition.

The difference between children's toothpaste and adult toothpaste

Everyone is accustomed to the fact that children's toothpaste differs from adult toothpaste primarily in its bright packaging. But it should be borne in mind that a beautiful box will constantly attract the child’s attention. The toothpaste also has a pleasant fruit flavor, which increases the likelihood that your baby will eat it.

Particular attention should be paid topaste composition. The amount of active substances in it should be lower than that intended for adults. In addition, the use of certain components is prohibited.

Children's toothpaste is classified depending on the age of children, since each period has its own characteristics and needs. There are different types of toothpaste: for children under three years old, from three to six and from seven to fourteen. Then you can switch to high-quality toothpaste for adults.

Basic requirements for toothpaste for children

First of all, children's toothpastes should have a low fluoride content. When brushing, children very often swallow some of the saliva, and along with it, the toothpaste. If it is normal, then the child may soon experience an overdose of fluoride. Therefore, children should brush their teeth only under the supervision of their parents. At seven or eight years old, when the child can control himself and not swallow toothpaste, he can switch to fluoride-containing toothpaste.

Often the toothpaste presented on store shelves does not have the necessary labeling. Usually, manufacturers limit themselves to writing the name, while people only guess that the product is for children from the bright packaging. This is done only in order to relieve oneself of responsibility for the presence of certain components, since special requirements are imposed on children's toothpaste.

The material from which the paste tube is made also matters. Most often, the mass is packaged in tubes made of polymer materials. Some manufacturers provide their products with a wide lid, which reduces the access of oxygen inside.

You should check the paste for some not-so-healthy additives. Saccharin gives it a pleasant taste, but at the same time it is a prohibited product. Sodium lauryl sulfate, which is used for foaming, is generally a very harmful component. It is also not recommended to purchase toothpaste for children that contains chlorhexidine, since the child’s immunity is not fully formed and the use of such products can disrupt the microflora of the oral cavity. Triclosan (a powerful antibiotic) and various dyes are prohibited.

Beneficial substances that should be present in toothpaste are papain, lactic enzymes, casein, organic calcium and glucose oxide. These substances have a beneficial effect on the condition of the enamel of children's teeth and protect them from pathogenic bacteria.

Types of toothpastes for adults

The main cause of caries development is dental plaque. Lack of fluoride and increased consumption of sweets promote the growth and reproduction of bacteria in the oral cavity.

It would seem that the conclusion is simple - you need a toothpaste that will effectively remove plaque, while containing a sufficient amount of fluoride and without sugar.

According to their intended purpose, toothpastes for adults are divided into four types:

1. hygienic
2. therapeutic and prophylactic
3. medicinal
4. whitening

If your teeth are healthy, you can use almost any hygienic paste. If not quite, you should take into account their features when choosing a paste.

Therapeutic and prophylactic pastes contain triclosan, chlorhexidine, metronidazole, etc., which prevent inflammation and bleeding of the gums. Such pastes, however, cannot be used constantly, otherwise the microflora of the oral cavity may be disrupted and microorganisms may develop resistance to them.

Pastes containing natural anti-inflammatory ingredients are well suited for daily use: oak bark, sage, chamomile, etc.

Medicated toothpastes contain strong medicinal substances and should only be prescribed by a dentist.

Whitening toothpastes should be used no more than 2 times a week, since, in addition to whitening, they tend to wear away the enamel. Many dentists do not recommend using such pastes at all.

With the right toothpaste, you will maintain the health of your teeth!

The first dental cleaning compounds date back to 5000 BC. For thousands of years, Egypt, the Roman Empire, Greece and China used different formulas. The first commercial product of this type did not exist until the 1800s. and, of course, that pasta was quite different from its modern versions.

Story

In ancient times, the Egyptians cleaned their teeth with a cream made from egg shells and the ashes of oxen's hooves, ground into powder, mixed with myrrh, pumice and water.

Around 500 BC, people in China, Greece and Rome used ground oyster shells and crustacean shells along with crushed bones, hooves and horns of various animals, made into powder for teeth.

They added charcoal or bark powder to freshen breath. Over time, the Chinese began to include ginseng, mint and salt in the composition, and the Romans mixed their formula from salt, mint leaves and irises. The inventive Romans added deer antler to the “paste” for its ammonia properties (bleaching), and then human urine, which was also used in laundry. The Roman Emperor Nero even imposed a tax on urine in the first century. After the Nativity of Christ, people also used twigs, worn-out twigs, or their own fingers as brushes.

Ancient chroniclers noted that people used all these types of mixtures to clean and whiten teeth, prevent tooth loss, strengthen gums and relieve toothache.

Warnings

Persian writings around 1000 AD warned people to stop using such strong abrasives in their teeth-cleaning powders. These chroniclers recommended antler, snail shells, and natural gypsum (calcium sulfate), along with honey and various herbs and minerals.

Properties

Commercial dentifrice powder was introduced to the world in Great Britain in the late 1700s. It was sold in ceramic jars. Other powders quickly appeared on the scene - all extremely abrasive - including ingredients like crushed brick and powdered porcelain. Bicarbonate of soda was often the main ingredient.

Importance

From the early to mid 1800s, handmade and patented tooth powders became popular throughout Europe. They were usually made from chalk, soap and salt. Finally, borax powder was added to the composition, because it could foam, and glycerin, because thanks to it, the taste of the substance improved. A dentist named Dr. Washington Wentworth Sheffield probably invented the first toothpaste sometime around the 1850s...

...despite the fact that Colgate claims to be the leader in its claims. Colgate began mass-producing their paste in the 1870s, packaging it in jars like powder compacts. Sheffield used the toothpaste he invented in his practice, and after positive feedback from customers, he founded a small manufactory of Dr. Sheffield's Creme Dentrifice.

Functionality

Both Sheffield and Colgate introduced soft paste tubes in the late 1890s. Colgate named their products Colgate Ribbon Dental Creme. The tubes were made of tin and lead and largely remained that way until the detrimental properties of lead became apparent during World War II. Then tubes began to be made of aluminum and plastic. In the 1990s, metal-free plastic tubes began to be produced.

Time frame

Mass-produced (commercial) toothpaste gained mass popularity in Europe in the early 1900s. The rise of its popularity in the United States dates back to the end of the First World War: in most states it replaced the powder by the end of the Second World War. Eventually, ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate replaced soap as a foaming agent. Emulsifiers have also been added. Fluoride was added in the 1950s, and at first a special agent was used against tooth decay.