Old West: Toothbrushes and Toothpaste

Old West: Toothbrushes and Toothpaste

.

Kristin Holt | Old West: Toothbrushes and Toothpaste. A vintage photo from 1899 showing the use of a toothbrush. Created: 31 March 1899 [Image: Public Domain]

A photo from 1899 showing the use of a toothbrush. [Image: Public Domain]

.

TOOTH POWDERS & TOOTHPASTE

.

The recipe for toothpaste was found on an ancient Egyptian papyrus. This toothpaste was a mixture of rock salt, dried iris flower and pepper ground up and combined together.

.

Kristin Holt | Old West: Toothbrushes and Toothpaste. Photo of antique container: Dr. Sheffield's Antiseptic Tooth Powder, Sheffield Pharmaceuticals - Sheffield Pharmaceuticals' Private Archives, Public Domain

Dr. Sheffield’s Antiseptic Tooth Powder, Sheffield Pharmaceuticals – Sheffield Pharmaceuticals’ Private Archives, [Image: Public Domain]

.

In 1855, a recipe for toothpaste was printed in the Farmer’s Almanac. The recipe called for myrrh, honey, and green sage. This was to be used on wet teeth each night. An alternate recipe called for cream of tartar mixed with clover oil and cuttlefish bone.

.

Tooth powders for use with toothbrushes came into general use in the 19th century in Britain. Most were homemade, with chalk, pulverized brick, or salt as ingredients. An 1866 Home Encyclopedia recommended pulverized charcoal, and cautioned that many patented tooth powders that were commercially marketed did more harm than good.

.

In 1873, Colgate debuted a nice-smelling toothpaste and sold it in a glass jar.

.

Kristin Holt | Old West: Toothbrushes and Toothpaste. Dr. Sheffield's Creme Angelique Dentifrice, Sheffield Pharmaceuticals - Sheffield Pharmaceuticals' Private Archives, Public Domain

Dr. Sheffield’s Creme Angelique Dentifrice, Sheffield Pharmaceuticals – Sheffield Pharmaceuticals’ Private Archives, [Image: Public Domain]

.

Dr. Sheffield made his own dental cream in his office, added mint extracts to it so as to improve the flavor, and used it on his patients who expressed their liking for it. The first advertisement published for Dr. Sheffield’s Créme Angelique Dentifrice toothpaste appeared in the New London Telegram on March 12, 1881. In 1896, Colgate & Company Dental Cream was packaged in collapsible tubes imitating Sheffield. The original collapsible toothpaste tubes were made of lead.

.

Those living in the comparatively rural American West often concocted homemade recipes for tooth powder or used simple staples such as baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), a mild abrasive. It has a mild whitening action and helps to keep an alkaline environment (not friendly for dental plaque bacteria) in the mouth.

.

TOOTHBRUSHES

.

Kristin Holt | Old West: Toothbrushes and Toothpaste. Collection of Victorian Toothbrushes with silver handles, courtesy of Pinterest.

Collection of Victorian Toothbrushes with silver handles, courtesy of Pinterest.

.

Until the 20th century, toothbrushes sported hog bristles. Handles made from cattle bone or wood supported those bristles. The wealthy enjoyed toothbrushes of silver (like Napoleon Bonaparte’s). In 1844, the first 3-row bristle brush was designed.

.

Kristin Holt | Old West: Toothbrushes and Toothpaste. Photograph of antique: 19th century toothbrush for sale by worthpoint.com. Made of bovine bone and boar bristle, carved to conform to the grip. 6.5-inches in length, this tooth brush was manufactured in France for export to the American Market. (Info and photo: worthpoint.com)

19th century toothbrush for sale by worthpoint.com. Made of bovine bone and boar bristle, carved to conform to the grip. 6.5-inches in length, this unused tooth brush was manufactured in France for export to the American Market. (Info and photo: worthpoint.com)

.

The first American to patent a toothbrush was H. N. Wadsworth, (patent number 18,653,) on Nov. 7, 1857. Mass production of toothbrushes began in America around 1885. 95 years after mass production of toothbrushes in England.

.

Kristin Holt | Old West: Toothbrushes and Toothpaste. Photograph of antiques: Silver gilt toothbrushes. Image courtesy of Pinterest.

Antique silver-gilt toothbrushes. Image courtesy of Pinterest.

.

Toothbrushes had begun to be mass produced at the end of the eighteenth century, using bone for the handles, but for those who could afford a personal-hygiene set handles were made from more-expensive materials such as silver gilt and mother-of-pearl. The owner of such a brush would not have wanted to throw it away once the bristles were worn out so replacement pads of bristles were also available.

.

~ Note accompanying this image of silver gilt toothbrushes on Pinterest

.

Kristin Holt | Old West: Toothbrushes and Toothpaste. Photograph of antique celluloid toothbrushes, dated to 1890. Image courtesy of Flickr.

Antique celluloid toothbrushes, dated to 1890. Image courtesy of Flickr.

.

DID WESTERN HISTORICAL ROMANCE CHARACTERS BRUSH THEIR TEETH?

.

As oral hygiene implements resided on shelves at the General Store, I hope so. We read of heroes finding the heroine’s nearness pleasant and agreeable and the fresh taste of the hero’s kiss. So fictional characters, at least, employed excellent oral hygiene.

.

.

Related Articles

.

Kristin Holt | Old West Dentistry

Kristin Holt | The Old West: Dental Floss & Toothpicks

Kristin Holt | Victorian Era Dentistry Advertisements

Kristin Holt | Late Victorian Dentistry: Ultra Modern!

Kristin Holt | Victorian Medical and Dental Dispensaries: Really? It's Free?

Kristin Holt | Cocaine in Victorian Dentistry

Kristin Holt | Victorian Mouths: Worms or Germs?

Kristin Holt | Oatmeal in the Victorian Toilette

Kristin Holt | Late Victorian-era Beauty Secrets

Kristin Holt | Celebrities Endorse Pears' Soap in 1880s Magazines

Kristin Holt | Indoor Plumbing in Victorian America

Kristin Holt | The Necessary (a.k.a. the outhouse)

Kristin Holt | Chamber Pots and the Old West

Kristin Holt | Old West Bath Tubs

Kristin Holt | Victorian Hair Receiver

Kristin Holt | Victorian Shaving, Part 1 of 2

.

 

Updated June 2022
Copyright © 2015 Kristin Holt LC
Old West: Toothbrushes and Toothpaste

Save