While going through different books i came through many interesting facts related to dentistry, mostly about the kind of dentistry which was in practice before the original dentistry practice started.

So here are some of the interesting facts about the techniques and the sort of myths in dentistry.

toothpaste & toohbrush

  • Before toothbrushes were invented people used twigs or their fingers to brush their teeth.(Neem twigs are still used in India as thy have high bactericidal property)
  • Some Interesting facts about toothpastes:
  • The Greek physician Hippocrates (400BC) suggested a toothpaste made from three mice and the head of a hare to cure toothache.
  •  Before toothpaste was invented people used dry, rough things as an abrasive to clean their teeth – like crushed eggshell, pumice or the burnt hooves of animals!
  •   A third of the population squeeze their toothpaste tube from the middle.
  •   The world’s oldest-known formula for toothpaste, used more than 1,500 years before Colgate began marketing in 1873, was discovered on a piece of dusty papyrus in the basement of a Viennese museum.

Some Interesting facts about teeth:

tooth

  •  A couple of hundred years ago bad teeth were considered to be a rich man’s disease. It was only the rich people who could afford to eat sweet things like Queen Elizabeth I, who had very bad teeth.
  •  In the dark ages, superstitions held that a person could cure his/her toothache or re-grow a lost tooth by obtaining a tooth from someone else. This tooth would have  preferably come from a  hanged criminal. It was believed that just the mere possession of such a tooth would work.
  •  Cows do not have upper front teeth and their bottom ones never stop growing!
  • In the 18th century people would sell their teeth to the rich people, Who then used to make false teeth with them.(so replacement of teeth was seen from as early as 18th century)
  • The biggest shark species has the smallest teeth. The 12 metre long whale shark has more than 4,000 teeth, each only 3mm long.
  • New teeth are constantly being formed in rows in a shark’s jaw. Shark’s teeth are normally replaced every eight days.

    The rats front teeth are constantly growing all through its life, this is the reason they bite into everything they see to get rid of the itching sensation due to growth of teeth.

While going through some websites i came across this list of cures for tooth problems which were used in ancient times,

The following disgusting list are other cures for tooth problems in the past.

  •      Toothache: apply the following  mixture to the corresponding shoulder: figs, saffron, mustard seed, and plaster of myrrh; boil earthworms in oil and drop the oil into the ear holes; rub the tooth with dried cow’s dung!
  •      Tooth decay: rinse with a mouthwash made by boiling dogs’ teeth in wine.
  •      To make loose teeth firm, tie a frog to your jaw.

 Important Message- please do not try these at home!
tooth fairy

 Tooth fairy: Many people tell their children that when we loose our teeth/tooth, and when placed under our pillow before we sleep a tooth fairy comes and exchanges the tooth with a gift.

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