Many believe that before the invention of toothpaste and toothbrushes, ancient people must have suffered from terrible breath. Some even wonder if they would need to pack extra gum in case they time-traveled to the past! But the truth is, ancient people cared about dental hygiene more than you might think. Let’s take a journey through history and explore how our ancestors kept their teeth clean.

Early Dental Care: Rinsing Instead of Brushing

Chinese culture has long emphasized the beauty and cleanliness of teeth. In the Book of Songs (Shijing), a woman’s teeth are described as “齿如瓠犀”—as neat and white as gourd seeds. However, the primary method of oral hygiene in early times was not brushing but rinsing. According to Liji (Book of Rites), people were instructed to rinse their mouths in the morning as part of their daily routine. This practice remained common well into the modern era.

Ancient Mouthwash: Salt, Tea, and Even Alcohol

Ancient people experimented with various mouthwashes. The most common was saltwater, which was believed to have antibacterial properties and prevent gum disease. Dream of the Red Chamber (Hong Lou Meng) describes how the protagonist, Jia Baoyu, cleaned his teeth with salt every morning. Other alternatives included tea, alcohol, and even alum water, which was said to help prevent mouth ulcers. Interestingly, some modern mouthwash products still contain alum and olive extracts, echoing these ancient practices.

Brushing Begins: The Buddhist Influence on Dental Hygiene

Toothbrushing as we know it today didn’t appear in China until the Sui and Tang dynasties. This practice was introduced through Buddhism. According to legend, when Buddha taught under the Bodhi tree, his disciples’ bad breath became an issue. He encouraged them to clean their teeth using tree twigs, a practice that spread to China along with Buddhism.

A medical book from the Tang Dynasty, Waitai Miyao, detailed this “tooth rubbing” method: people would chew on the end of a willow twig to soften it, then dip it in herbal powder and rub it against their teeth. The willow twig, known as chimu (齿木, “tooth wood”), functioned as the earliest toothbrush. If no twigs were available, people could use their fingers instead. A late Tang Dynasty mural in Dunhuang’s Mogao Caves even depicts a person cleaning their teeth with their fingers, highlighting the prevalence of this technique.

The Rise of the Toothbrush in the Song Dynasty

The first real toothbrush appeared during the Song Dynasty, known as shua yazi (刷牙子). According to Yangsheng Leizan, Song-era toothbrushes were made from horsehair attached to a cow horn handle, resembling modern toothbrushes. However, since horsehair was scarce and expensive, some brushes used pig bristles instead.

By the Southern Song period, toothbrush shops were established. The historical text Mengliang Lu records the presence of specialized toothbrush stores in Hangzhou. This suggests that by then, brushing teeth had become a common practice, at least among the urban population.

Ancient Toothpaste: Herbal and Fragrant

Ancient Chinese people didn’t use toothpaste as we do today but instead relied on herbal powders and pastes. These contained natural ingredients like soapberry, ginger, rhubarb, and licorice, often mixed with salt for extra cleansing power. The Song Dynasty also introduced ya xiang chou (牙香筹), a solid herbal toothpaste stick that was attached to the toothbrush. This could be reused multiple times and was a must-have for travelers.

Spreading to the West: From China to Europe

Chinese toothbrushes eventually made their way to Europe, where they became popular among the nobility. However, due to high costs, they remained a luxury item. It wasn’t until the 1830s, when nylon-bristled toothbrushes were mass-produced, that they became affordable for the general public.

The Legacy of Ancient Oral Hygiene

From saltwater rinses to herbal toothpaste and even Buddhist-influenced brushing, ancient people had surprisingly sophisticated dental care routines. Their methods laid the foundation for modern oral hygiene practices. So next time you brush your teeth, remember—you’re following a tradition that has been evolving for thousands of years!