by Kristin Holt | Jun 25, 2018 | Articles
Did Victorians blame tooth decay on worms or germs?
Scientific understanding of dental decay received a huge boost in the work of Dr. Willoughby Miller, an American dentist in Germany in the late 19th century. His publication of his microbiology discoveries, Micro-Organisms of the Human Mouth, eradicated old myths and brought about “an unprecedented interest in oral hygiene”… and occurred just in time to contribute to my novella’s [Isabella’s Calico Groom] setting and characters’ development.
by Kristin Holt | Sep 2, 2015 | Articles
Victorian Era Dentistry Advertisements show a great deal about the methods, products, components, and beliefs surrounding oral hygiene in the late 19th century.
by Kristin Holt | Aug 30, 2015 | Articles
Every cowboy knew how to whittle a toothpick from a stick–and did so regularly. But when (and how) did toothpicks become commercialized? What was the earliest dental floss made of?
by Kristin Holt | Aug 27, 2015 | Articles
Oral hygiene in the Old West? Absolutely! What did they use for toothpaste?–homemade or from the mercantile (or catalog)? This article is rich in historical resources about toothpowders, toothpaste, toothbrushes, when they were patented, and what they were made of.