A Glimpse Into Ancient Dental Hygiene

Every morning, billions of people around the world perform the same routine – they brush their teeth. This simple act connects us across cultures and centuries, but few pause to consider its fascinating origins. While modern plastic toothbrushes seem like recent inventions, archaeological discoveries reveal that sophisticated dental hygiene tools existed in China over a thousand years ago, challenging conventional wisdom about the history of personal care.

Early Dental Care: From Fingers to Twigs

Before the invention of toothbrushes, ancient civilizations developed various methods for cleaning teeth. The most basic approach involved simply using one’s finger, as depicted in classic Chinese literature like “Dream of the Red Chamber,” where characters like Jia Baoyu clean their teeth by rubbing them with fingers dipped in green salt.

Buddhist traditions introduced another method to China during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). Indian Buddhist monks practiced oral hygiene by chewing on neem twigs, a technique called “dantakastha” or “tooth wood.” This practice spread to China along with Buddhism, where monks used twigs from willow, peach, or locust trees. The process involved chewing one end of a twig until it frayed into soft fibers that could scrub teeth clean. Buddhist texts like the “Fifty Bodhisattva Practices Sutra” from the Western Jin Dynasty (265-316 CE) document this practice in detail.

The Revolutionary Invention of Bristle Toothbrushes

Contrary to popular belief that toothbrushes were invented in 18th century England by William Addis, archaeological evidence proves that Chinese craftsmen created bristle toothbrushes centuries earlier. The groundbreaking discovery came in 1953 when archaeologists excavating the tomb of a Liao Dynasty (907-1125 CE) noble in Inner Mongolia uncovered two bone-handled brushes with eight holes for bristles arranged in two rows. The design closely resembled modern toothbrushes, complete with tapered holes that held animal hair bristles securely.

Subsequent excavations across northern China revealed numerous similar toothbrushes from Liao and Jin Dynasty tombs, with bristle holes ranging from 4 to 24 per brush. These ancient dental tools were often buried alongside other grooming items like combs and mirrors, indicating their status as personal care essentials rather than ceremonial objects.

Even more remarkably, in 1985 archaeologists discovered four bone-handled toothbrushes in a Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) refuse pit in Chengdu, pushing the invention date back three more centuries. The best-preserved specimen featured twelve bristle holes in two rows, with an ergonomic handle that widened near the brushing end.

Song Dynasty: Toothbrushes Become Commonplace

By the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), toothbrushes had evolved into mass-produced consumer goods available in urban markets. Japanese Buddhist monk Dōgen, visiting China in 1223, recorded seeing Song monks using toothbrushes with horsehair bristles set in ox horn handles. Contemporary medical texts like “Classified Collections of the Sagely Benefaction” warned against using overly stiff horsehair brushes that might damage gums, suggesting people had become discerning consumers of dental products.

Hangzhou, the Southern Song capital, even boasted specialized toothbrush shops like “Mr. Fu’s Toothbrush Store” and “The Ling Family Toothbrush Shop,” as documented in the city guide “Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital.” These establishments sold brushes alongside other personal care items, indicating a thriving grooming industry.

Archaeological finds from a Song Dynasty workshop site in Henan province revealed toothbrush handles with an astonishing 48 bristle holes, showing the sophistication of Song-era dental technology. Excavated brushes display two advanced bristle-setting techniques: “open perforation” where holes went completely through the handle, and “hidden perforation” where interconnected channels secured bristles invisibly inside the handle for a sleeker appearance.

Ancient Toothpaste and Oral Hygiene Practices

The Song Chinese didn’t stop at toothbrushes – they developed an array of toothpaste formulations too. Imperial medical compendiums like the “Complete Record of Sagely Benefaction” and “General Treatise on the Relief of Children’s Diseases” contained dozens of tooth powder recipes using ingredients like salt, herbs, and tree sap. One typical formula combined willow and mulberry twig extract with ginger juice and Sichuan peppercorn powder.

Southern Song physician Yan Yonghe’s “Comprehensive Formulas to Aid the Living” explicitly described morning toothbrushing routines using these pastes: “Every dawn, use a toothbrush with concentrated soapberry solution to scrub teeth. After ten days, all dental diseases will disappear.” This shows that daily brushing for preventive care was already medical advice seven centuries ago.

The Spread of Toothbrushing Culture

After the Song Dynasty, toothbrush use gradually expanded beyond elite circles. Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) encyclopedia “Illustrations of the Three Powers” clearly differentiated toothbrushes from hairbrushes in its grooming tools section, while late Ming writer Feng Menglong included toothbrush riddles in his joke books – proof they had become commonplace enough for wordplay.

Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) records show toothbrushes reaching rural markets through peddlers’ “miscellaneous goods baskets,” and elementary school primers listed toothbrushing alongside washing and combing as essential hygiene habits to teach children. Yet as late as the 18th century, urban intellectuals still mocked country folk for poor dental hygiene, revealing lingering class divides in access to oral care.

Conclusion: Rethinking the History of Everyday Life

The long evolution of Chinese toothbrushes from Tang Dynasty bone handles to Song specialty shops represents more than just dental technology – it reflects broader cultural values about cleanliness, health, and daily ritual. These humble artifacts remind us that civilization advances not only through dramatic political events but through countless small improvements to ordinary life. Next time you brush your teeth, consider that you’re participating in a tradition over twelve centuries old, one that connects you to Song Dynasty monks, Liao Dynasty nobles, and countless others who valued that fresh, clean feeling.