Ancient Origins Of Dental Care

Evidence from archaeology and historical texts reveals that ancient civilisations were aware of dental health and practiced various methods of teeth cleaning and care, despite their limited understanding of dental science as we know it today. Here are some notable ancient practices and evidence related to dental health:

1. Toothpicks and Chew Sticks:

- One of the oldest and most widespread tools for oral hygiene was the chew stick or miswak, a twig with a frayed end used to brush teeth. Chew sticks have been found in Egyptian tombs dating to 3000 B.C.

- Toothpicks, often made from various materials like bone, wood, or quills, were widely used in ancient societies, including by the Greeks and Romans, for dislodging food particles.

2. Tooth Powders and Pastes:

- The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used tooth powders made from ingredients like crushed bone, eggshells, pumice, ashes, and myrrh. These powders were applied with fingers or chew sticks.

- The Chinese are believed to have developed a type of toothpaste as early as 500 B.C., which included ingredients like salt, ginseng, and herbal mints.

3. Herbal Remedies and Mouth Rinses:

- Various herbal remedies were used for oral care. The Greeks and Romans used rinses made of oils and herbal extracts for breath freshening.

- In traditional Indian Ayurveda, chewing on neem or licorice root was a common oral hygiene practice.

4. Dental Treatments:

- Archaeological findings show that ancient civilisations attempted rudimentary dental treatments. For example, Sumerian texts from around 5000 B.C. mention "tooth worms" as a cause of dental decay, an idea that persisted into the Middle Ages.

- Evidence of dental drilling has been found in teeth from an Indus Valley Civilization site dating back to 7000 B.C.

5. Early Toothbrushes:

- The first bristle toothbrush, similar to what we use today, is believed to have been invented in China during the Tang Dynasty (619–907 A.D.). It used bristles from pigs and a bamboo handle.

- This invention eventually spread to Europe, where horsehair was sometimes used as bristles.

6. Early Dental Prosthetics:

- Etruscans in what is now Italy made dentures out of human or animal teeth as early as 700 B.C.

These ancient practices demonstrate an early understanding of the importance of oral hygiene, even if the rationale behind some of the methods was based on beliefs and knowledge that are now outdated. The evolution of dental care practices over centuries has been integral to the development of modern dentistry.