Thankfully, technology and continuing education have made going to the dentist a much more pleasant – and painless – experience. We take a look at the history of dentistry's most common tools, and how they came to be vital components of our oral health care needs.
The first electric toothbrush was marketed in 1880, the Swiss developed the first effective electric toothbrush just after World War II. It was introduced in the United States around 1960.
Despite this seemingly gruesome practice, dental practitioners preceding Washington's time attempted aesthetic restorations. Ancient civilizations used ivory and bone to create new teeth. Unfortunately, this craft was lost until the mid-1800s. Rotten or damaged teeth were simply extracted, and gaps became a way of life. When false teeth were warranted, threads of silk or tightly coiled springs were used to hold the new teeth in place; it wasn't much of an anchor, and teeth had to be removed before eating, lest they literally spring from the wearer's mouth.
Where did toothbrushes and toothpaste come from?
The first toothbrushes were small sticks or twigs mashed at one end that created a broader cleaning surface. The Chinese claim they first invented the bristle toothbrush. Europe adopted the bristle brush in the 17th century, and many dentists practicing in colonial America advised their patients to start using a toothbrush.
A year later, the first cordless model was developed and proved to be popular with both consumers and dentists.
Toothpaste also saw its earliest form in ancient civilizations. Early toothpaste ingredients included powdered fruit, burnt or ground shells, talc, honey and dried flowers. Despite the decidedly non-minty flavor of early toothpaste, various recipes continued to appear throughout ancient history and well into the Middle Ages. Unfortunately, many of these toothpastes contained corrosive elements that dissolved tooth enamel.
Toothpaste as we know it emerged in the 1800s, with ingredients that included soap and chalk. In 1892, the first collapsible tube was marketed and reigned supreme until 1984, when the pump dispenser was introduced. In 1956, Proctor & Gamble introduced Crest brand toothpaste with fluoride.
What's the history behind false teeth?
Thanks to modern technology, today's false teeth are largely indistinguishable from real teeth. This wasn't always the case. Perhaps the most famous false-toothed American was the first president, George Washington. Popular history gave Washington wooden teeth, though this was not the case. In fact, wooden teeth are impossible; the corrosive effects of saliva would have turned them into mushy pulp before long. As a matter of fact, the first president's false teeth came from a variety of sources, including teeth extracted from human and animal corpses.
Additionally, genuine teeth extracted from the living and the dead and set in another's mouth soon rotted. Those who could afford it opted to have new teeth fashioned from ivory, gold or silver.
It wasn't until 1774 that two Frenchmen, a pharmacist and a dentist, designed a set of porcelain teeth. Steady improvements were made on the teeth, most notably in 1808 when an Italian dentist invented a single porcelain tooth imbedded with a platinum pin. These teeth came to America in 1822, and for the rest of the century dentists and technicians tinkered with the design, fit and feel of the teeth. A breakthrough occurred in 1839 with the discovery of vulcanized rubber, which was used to hold false teeth. Today's dentures are made of either plastic or ceramic.
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