The first instances of toothpaste were known to have been developed in ancient Egypt, between 3000 and 5000 BC. The Egyptian version of toothpaste comprised many abrasives including powdered ashes from oxen hooves, myrrh, egg shells and pumice. Water was added to the powder to make paste. To scrape off plaque more effectively, the Greeks and the Romans added more abrasives to the mix such as crushed bones and oyster shells. The Romans are also known to have added powdered charcoal and bark, apparently as a flavouring agent. By mid 1800s, toothpaste had soap and chalk among the ingredients. Before 1850s, toothpaste was only available commercially in powder form. 1850s saw toothpaste in a jar called Creme Dentifrice. By 1873, Colgate started mass producing toothpaste in jars. A toothpaste tube similar to modern-day ones was also introduced by Colgate in the 1890s. Toothpaste became an organized medium to stave off specific diseases and conditions only in the 20th century. Fluoride which helps prevent tooth decay has been added to toothpastes since 1914.
Toothpaste
