The dental profession has changed a great deal through the ages.  Many of the most common dental tools were used as early as the Stone Age.  Thankfully, technology and continuing education have made going to the dentist a much more pleasant-and painless-experience.  Here is a little trivia on the history of dentistry's most common tools, and how they came to be vital components of our oral health care needs.

Where did toothbrushes and toothpaste come from? 
The first toothbrushes were small sticks or twigs mashed at one end to create a broader cleaning surface.  The Chinese lay claim to the first bristle toothbrush.  Europe adopted the bristle brush in the 17th century, and many dentists practicing in colonial America advised their patients to use the brush.  The first electric toothbrush was marketed in 1880, though the Swiss developed the first effective electric toothbrush just after World War II.  It was introduced in the United States around 1960.  A year later, the first cordless model was developed and proved to be popular with 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.  Less agreeable ingredients included mice, rabbit heads, lizard livers and urine.  Makes you want to brush three times a day doesn’t it.  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.

When was drinking water fluoridated?
In 1945, two cities - Newburgh, N.Y., and Grand Rapids, Mich.- introduced sodium fluoride into their public water systems to help fight tooth decay among residents.  At the same time, a group of Wisconsin-based dentists succeeded in getting the state's water system fluoridated.  After substantial testing showed that fluoride reduced incidents of cavities by as much as two-thirds, the U.S. Public Health Service in 1951 urged the entire country to fluoridate public drinking water.

The idea for water fluoridation resulted from an observation made by a Colorado Springs dentist in the early 1900s.  Dr. Frederick McKay noticed that locals had brown stains on their teeth.  He called the staining "enamel mottling" and attributed it to drinking water with high fluoride content.  He reported that the locals had a reduced incident of tooth decay.  In 1940, another dentist revealed that one part fluoride per one million parts water was the ideal ratio for reducing decay while preventing staining.  Soon after, fluoride gained acceptance, and today more than 60 percent of Americans have fluoridated water.  I am thankful that Huntsville residents enjoy a water system that is fluoridated.

Next week I will fill you in a little more on the trivia and history of false teeth and dental anesthetics.  I hope and pray that your holiday season is blessed and joyous.