Toothpaste

As far back as 3000-5000 BC, ancient Egyptians were using a tooth cream. This dental cream was comprised of powdered ashes from oxen hooves, myrrh, egg shells, pumice. They used their fingers, instead of a brush. Greeks and Romans improved on the process. Then China and India were using a powder/paste as well. The Chinese were particularly forward-thinking in adding flavoring, such as Ginseng, herbal mints, and salt.

Doctors, dentists, and chemists in Britain  introduced tooth powders (or dentrifice) that included abrasive substances like brick dust and crushed china. Glycerine was added in the early 19th century, transforming the powders into pastes. In 1892, Dr. Washington Sheffield of Connecticut invented Dr. Sheffield’s Crème Dentrifice. It was the first time toothpaste was featured in a collapsible tube. In 1873 toothpaste was first mass-produced.

Tom and Kate Chappell sought to create their own toothpaste. They moved from Philadelphia to rural Kennebunk, Maine, and introduced the first natural toothpaste in 1975. It is still called Tom’s of Maine