The ancient Romans paid attention to the hygiene of not only the whole body, but also the oral cavity, but their toothpaste recipes were strange.
In ancient Rome, people were especially careful about oral care, but toothpaste recipes were not very ordinary. Ancient Origins writes that human urine, as well as powdered mouse brains, were found in the composition of ancient Roman toothpaste.
In Focus. Technologies emerged telegram channel. Subscribe to avoid missing the latest and most exciting news from the world of science!
Unusual toothpaste
In ancient Rome, the main ingredient of toothpaste was powdered charcoal, obtained by burning various substances, including animal bones and oyster shells. This charcoal provided the abrasive properties necessary to thoroughly clean teeth.
Important
Interestingly, the toothpaste also contained crushed mouse brains. According to historians, this ingredient can increase the effectiveness of toothpaste. Perhaps the most unusual ingredient in ancient Roman toothpaste was human urine. Ammonia, found in urine, was valued in ancient Rome for its bleaching properties. Thus, this ingredient was included not only in toothpastes but also in mouthwashes.
How was toothpaste created in ancient Rome?
Masters took great care in making toothpaste. All its ingredients, including various herbs, mouse brain, urine and animal bones, were crushed to make a smooth mixture. Then, a binder such as honey was added to this powder, allowing the entire mixture to turn into toothpaste.
Research shows that ancient Romans used this toothpaste not only to clean their teeth, but also to maintain fresh breath. In ancient Roman society, good breath was an important element of personal hygiene.
In ancient Rome, wooden sticks were used to clean teeth, and even something similar to modern toothbrushes, on which toothpaste was applied.
Dental treatment in ancient Rome
Bad breath and dental diseases were common problems in ancient Roman society. In ancient Rome, teeth that were painful, that is, teeth affected by decay, were generally not treated by dentists. That is, they were simply removed, and it is believed that this happened without the use of anesthesia.
It is important to note that during excavations in Pompeii, archaeologists found that only 30% of human skeletons were toothless. Even more interesting, only a few of the ancient Romans whose skeletons were discovered here showed signs of tooth decay.
In any case, no matter how unusual the composition of the ancient Roman paste was, this indicates a serious approach to oral hygiene in Ancient Rome. That such a paste is quite effective is shown by the results of the examination of ancient human remains.
As I already wrote Focus400 years later, in England, the famous King Henry VIII. A Tudor palace where Henry VIII lived has been discovered. The royal palace began to collapse in the 17th century and gradually nothing remained, but the building became part of local legend.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.