Say Ahhh......

Isn't it funny how you may have known something, and never realized that you've still got that crap floating around in the recesses of your brain? And all it takes is one word, or a song, or a phrase that makes it just as clear as beer piss!! That happened to me today at work. As I was filling out some paper work at my desk , a young child was wandering around the showroom. She had something in her hand that she wanted to give to her Mommy. Just as I looked up to smile at her, she looked at her Mom and said.."Look Ma!"...And immediately my mind raced back in time to the 60's , when one of the most popular catch phrases was " Look Ma...No Cavities"!
Just then, a man with a deep voice said.." Crest has shown to be an effective decay preventive dentifrice, when used in a conciensciously applied program of oral hygiene , and regular professional care". Plus that was emblazened on every tube of Crest toothpaste...Of course that kicked Mr. Knowitall into high gear. So let me tell you a little about Oral Hygiene....

People have been cleaning their teeth for thousands of years. Many ancient cultures used 'chew sticks'..Pencil sized twigs with one end frayed into soft bristles..Some have been excavated from tombs that are over 5000 years old.
The first toothbrush to resemble a modern one, originated in China around 1498. The bristles were plucked from hogs, and set into sticks of bamboo, or handles of bone. But animal hair is porous and water absorbant, which makes it a breeding ground for bacteria, so brushing did more harm than good. But none the less, Hog hair was used well into the 19th century. Toothbrushing didn't become popular in the U.S. until the late 30's. The main reason was the invention of the nylon bristle by Dupont in 1938. America finally had a substitute for the Hog Hair !!
History's first recorded toothpaste, was an Egyptian mixture of ground pumice and strong wine.
But the early Romans brushed their teeth with human urine...and also used it as mouthwash!
Actually, urine was an active component of toothpastes and mouthwashes well into the 18th century. The ammonia that it contains gave it a strong cleansing power. In poorer households baking soda was also used. What an abrasive!!
Fluoridated toothpaste came about as a result of a discovery made in Naples in 1802. Local dentists used it to clean yellow teeth, and during subsequant treatments they noticed the absence of cavities. However it took a while for the discovery to be implemented.The first U.S. water tests with fluoride didn't take place until 1915, and the first toothpaste with it , didn't hit the stores until 1956.....Crest!...."Look Ma..No Cavities"!

And now you know ...the rest of the story! Good Day............Peace.......Dr. G