Keeping a good dental hygiene has become synonymous with our human lives, whether you liked it or not as a child. There are the obvious advantages of cleaning our teeth, such as to get rid of bacteria in the mouth, preventing bad breath and of course, for aesthetic reason. A shiny white set of teeth usually means a winning smile, which comes in handy for anyone who wishes to make a great first impression. More importantly, teeth hygiene also affects our body medically. When bacteria aren’t brushed away, they can get access to the blood line through the gum, causing respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, or even heart attacks. Although the toothpaste we have come to know and love today is a product of modern history, the concept of tooth brushing is nowhere near a new one.
In ancient Egypt, people used a mixture of ox hooves' ashes and burnt eggshells, combined with pumice, to rub against their teeth. The Greeks and Romans favored more abrasiveness and their toothpaste ingredients included crushed bones and oyster shells. Famous Greek doctor Hippocrates was one of the pioneers of dental self-care, who also encouraged people to clean their teeth frequently using something called a ‘dentifrice powder’. Over time, flavoring was added, along with powdered charcoal and bark, to help with bad breath. Most ‘toothbrush’ at the time was quite rough, and as a result tooth brushing could be painful. Another way of teeth keeping was by chewing gum made by the sap of a specific type of tree, which was of course a lot more convenient. Recipes were then developed to include salt, pepper, and wet mint leaves. According to various documents, these toothpastes were ‘way ahead of its time’.
The ancient Chinese took a different approach to toothpaste. While the Egyptian and Roman products were mostly powders, the Chinese added water to make their toothpaste an actual paste. It often contained flower petals, tea, ginseng or various other herbs to create aroma. Meanwhile in India, nectar from flowers were filled into hard twigs, which people chewed on gently while scraping their teeth in the process. This meant that their breath was fresher, and could be kept longer compared to their Chinese counterparts.
During the 19th century, chemically produced toothpastes started to appear in Europe. The early version of modern toothpastes often included soap to boost their cleaning power. However, soap proved to be rather difficult to mix with other ingredients in the batch, and was later replaced by sodium lauryl sulfate for a better blended consistency. In 1873, Colgate successfully came up with their smooth, good smelling toothpaste, which was sold in tiny jars instead of tubes. Finally, in 1914, fluoride was shown by scientific research to have great health benefits, leading to its inclusion in almost any toothpastes from that point onward.
The ancient Vietnamese has their unique way of keeping their teeth, based on their perception of aesthetic beauty. Throughout most of history, important events in Vietnam were often accompanied by something called ‘trầu’, wraps of betel leaves containing a slice of areca catechu. People would chew on them without swallowing, then spit them out once all the flavors have been extracted. The compounds inside these wraps turned their teeth into a yellowish tone. To counter this, it was decided that teeth should be dyed shiny black. Most Vietnamese started having their teeth dyed in their early teens, especially for girls. Women with shiny black teeth were considered attractive, and some men would have their teeth dyed too.
The process was easier said than done, and most of it was painful. To prepare teeth for dying, toothpicks are first used to remove plaque from teeth and gum. Cloths are used to wipe until the surface of all teeth becomes smooth. One would then be required to rub their teeth with a mixture of fine coal and salt hard for three days, during which time they would also need to chew on lemon and used rice wine as mouthwash. This helps the acid penetrate deeply into the teeth, destroying the outer enamel. After that, a black mixture of tree sap and lime juice is applied via a piece of rough cloth. Several applications of the concoction might be required until the teeth are completely black and glossy. The dye was often re-applied annually, or before special occasions, such as a family party or wedding.
As time went on, under the French colony and later the US, cultural integration took place and the public perception of attractiveness changed accordingly. Black teeth faded in popularity, as people switched to using toothpaste to keep their teeth clean. Today, teeth dyeing has become part of the Vietnamese heritage, a symbol that used to represent the identity of the people.
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