Preface
How did the ancients maintain oral hygiene? How did they brush their teeth in the era when there was no toothbrush and toothpaste? In this era of personal hygiene and cleanliness, it has become a habit for us to brush our teeth every morning and evening. However, in ancient times, when there were no toothbrushes and toothpaste, how did people maintain oral hygiene?
In this regard, we have to admit that the oral hygiene conditions of the ancients were indeed relatively backward and difficult. But even in difficult circumstances, they did not give up on the pursuit of personal hygiene, but invented many unique oral cleaning methods. This perseverance and creativity also contributed to the hygiene habits of the ancients themselves.
1. Qin and Han dynasties: bronze toothbrush and hand salt brushing
During the Qin Dynasty, oral cleaning tools were relatively rudimentary. At that time, an object called a "bronze toothbrush" was quite popular, which was shaped like a pipe, and the round hole was stuffed with strips of cloth to be used as a toothbrush. This is mainly the exclusive property of the elite class, and it is difficult for the common people to access.
Most of the ordinary people of that era were peasants, and their lives were relatively difficult. They toiled in the fields during the day, and they naturally had no time to care about luxury items like toothbrushes. Even if you hear it occasionally, you must have sighed countless times that you didn't have a chance to use it. Therefore, bronze toothbrushes only stayed in a small number of official households. And most people are still stuck in the most basic stage of finger grinding.
In the Han Dynasty, people who still had limited conditions gave up brushing their teeth with tools and turned to the simplest method of "hand salt brushing". It is to dip your fingers directly in some salt and rub the surface of the tooth. The salty salt is slightly astringent, barely cleansing. Of course, this kind of brushing is also limited.
However, when there was no other option, the ancients had no choice but to maintain basic oral hygiene in this way. According to ancient records, doctors in the Han Dynasty also tried to use certain plants and medicinal herbs for tooth cleaning. However, the excessively cumbersome production process makes it difficult for ordinary people to master. The cruel reality has also made countless people acquiesce to the arrangement of fate, and let the tooth plaque be counted, which is regarded as the fate given to them by God.
In our opinion, their dental hygiene needs to be improved. But for the people of that era, being able to live was the greatest happiness. Saving your life is much more important than taking care of your teeth.
2. Three Kingdoms Period: The emergence of the custom of gargling
During the Three Kingdoms period, people gradually paid attention to the link of gargling. Salt water, strong tea, and alcohol are all used as "mouth cleaners" for gargling. Especially after meals, after taking medicine, and before going to bed, people will rinse their mouths regularly in the hope of purifying their mouths and preventing disease infection.
The most used mouthwash during this period was "chicken tongue fragrance". It smells fragrant and also has the effect of refreshing the mouth. Therefore, it was deeply loved by the people at that time, and was called the "ancient chewing gum" in the mouth of the ancestors.
From this point of view, the ancients paid more attention to personal hygiene than we imagined.
At that time, it was believed that the oral cavity was the only way to the internal organs. If the oral condition is not good, various diseases can take advantage of the situation and harm other parts of the body. That's why they make oral hygiene a top priority. Even if life is hard, I will try my best to research mouthwash materials.
For example, at that time, chicken tongue incense was made of lily, rosemary and other plants through complex processes. The price is expensive, and it is difficult for the average person to afford it. But as long as conditions permit, ordinary people will be willing to spend money to buy. Because it's about your own health and that of your family.
It can be seen that the health awareness of the ancients is even deeper than we think. In order to save his life, he spared no effort.
3. Tang and Song dynasties: the emergence of willow branch brushing and toothpaste
After the Tang Dynasty, the Buddhist faith began to spread widely among the people. Under the influence of the monks, people learned to use willow branches to brush their teeth. The process is to soak the picked willow branches until soft, and then bite one end directly, the toughness of the willow makes it not bite off completely, but emits many fine fibers, becoming a soft natural toothbrush. Dip it in salt or powder, and the effect of brushing your teeth will be greatly increased.
"Morning chewing willow branches" has therefore become the most common way to brush teeth after the Tang Dynasty, and the folk also spread the saying of "chewing tooth wood in the morning". Not only monks, but also many scholars and scholars also admired this simple and unpretentious method of brushing teeth.
Buddhism believes that always being grateful and caring for oneself is the foundation of spiritual practice. Therefore, many monks at that time attached great importance to their basic personal cultivation and regarded the hygiene of tooth cleaning devices as a necessary step in cultivating their nature. After experimenting with the effects of several plant species, they finally found a willow branch with ideal toughness. It is used as a morning and evening tooth cleaner, and is highly respected by Zen disciples.
Led by the monks, this simple and easy-to-use cleaning method also began to spread among the vernacular laymen. Many poets and scholars have also felt the convenience of willow branches after personal practice. The use of branches instead of fingers does greatly reduce the pain of wear. It also protects the gums better. So the literati also joined the ranks. The willow branch brushing method became a new fashion among scholars and doctors at that time.
Under the cultural development of the Northern Song Dynasty, toothpaste specially used for brushing and cleaning also appeared for the first time. With the use of willow branches and other tools, the oral hygiene effect has been greatly improved. In the Southern Song Dynasty, some small workshops specializing in making and selling toothbrushes also sprung up.
We can see that since the Tang and Song dynasties, the dental care of the ancients has begun to take shape, with special appliances and formulas, and it is no longer a patchwork state.
Fourth, the Ming and Qing dynasties: toothbrush tools are becoming more and more perfect
During the hundreds of years of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the production process of toothbrushes has also made great progress. Many toothbrushes use high-quality materials such as ivory and tortoiseshell shells to create handles, and the handles are made of dozens of small openings according to the structure of people's mouths, and the soft bristles made of horsehair form a modern toothbrush.
With the improvement and upgrading of the toothbrush itself, it has gradually become popular in the lives of ordinary people from the original luxury gadget. Teeth cleaning and maintenance is no longer the preserve of the elite, but a health right that everyone should have.
Since the middle of the Ming Dynasty, with the prosperity of industry and commerce, toothbrush manufacturing has also become a business worth investing in. As a result, some dexterous craftsmen began to experiment with various materials to create toothbrushes. Among them, ivory and hawksbill turtle are the most popular, not only for their good texture, but also for their auspiciousness.
As a result, toothbrushes gradually changed from a royal luxury to a necessity of people's lives. Of course, the price has also decreased with the improvement of the production process. Ordinary people are also beginning to have the opportunity to use this cleaning tool to take care of their teeth. By the late Qing Dynasty, the popularity of toothbrushes was considerable. Brushing teeth with a toothbrush has become the new way of life for the masses.
If a toothbrush represents a mechanical cleaning, then a mouthwash is responsible for regulating the oral environment. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the types of mouthwashes also became abundant. For example, the "medicinal gargle" with the extract of traditional Chinese medicine is quite popular, the smell is aromatic and palatable, and it can also play a role in treating dental diseases, and is deeply loved by the people.
In the context of the prevalence of toothbrushes, all kinds of ancillary products are also popular. At that time, many TCM practitioners developed a wide variety of mouthwash potions based on ancient recipes. Natural herbs such as leeks and mint are added to dissolve bad breath. These rinses can not only play a role in daily conditioning, but also can assist in the treatment of oral diseases, and are highly respected by people at that time.
5. Other dental health measures in ancient times
In addition to basic oral hygiene measures such as brushing and rinsing, the ancients also innovated and devised other good ways to protect teeth.
For example, in the Song Dynasty, the "gnawing tea grinding method" has appeared. People will choose some tea fruits with a hard texture, such as Longjing tea, Biluochun, etc., and chew them directly after meals to grind their teeth. The astringency of tea soup can also play a certain role in sterilization and inflammation.
In addition, there is also the tobacco effect of "Natu tobacco molar", which can not only eliminate smoking cravings, but also clean the tooth surface through tobacco wear. It was quite common in ancient times.
In addition, the ancients also paid great attention to the management of odors in the mouth. For example, saliva itself can clean their teeth, so they will swallow saliva often and increase saliva production in their mouths. Modern medicine has also confirmed that this is beneficial for periodontal disease prevention.
Scholars in the Song Dynasty found that many tea raw materials could have a certain tooth grinding effect after chewing. In particular, teas with a hard texture and sufficient astringency. So they consciously chose some Longjing, Biluochun, etc. to "chew tea and grind their teeth" after eating. On the one hand, I enjoyed the taste of tea, and on the other hand, I sharpened my teeth.
There are also scholars and literati who like to smoke mint cigarettes, originally to eliminate physical fatigue. It was later discovered that tobacco was also beneficial for teeth cleaning. As a result, there is a saying that "Natu smoke grinds teeth" circulated among literati and scholars. They draw two tubes in the morning and evening, taking advantage of the mechanical wear and tear of the tobacco to clean the tooth surface. Although the medicine is slightly strong, it has a significant effect on dental hygiene.
epilogue
Through the above combing, we can clearly see that from the Qin and Han dynasties to the Ming and Qing dynasties for more than a thousand years, the concepts and methods of oral health care of the ancients have not changed much. The conditions were tough, but they didn't let it go for granted.
On the contrary, the ancients used their ingenuity and wisdom to create a variety of unique dental maintenance methods by using natural resources such as plants that were available around them. This not only reveals their strict requirements for personal hygiene, but also shows the spirit of the ancients who are industrious, brave, and innovative in adversity.
To this day, despite all the advanced dental techniques we have, the age-old rules of brushing and rinsing are still worth learning. Just like the chewing of willow branches in the morning, "gargling three cups of tea" and other chewing relics, it is also quite popular among contemporary people.
Doctors also advocate that instead of relying too much on various admixtures, it is better to return to nature and use simple and simple maintenance rules. This is the most precious tooth care legacy left to us by the ancients, and it is also the most appropriate advice in the face of the prosperity and chaos of this era.
In ancient poems, white teeth were often compared to beautiful women's red faces, which shows how much they attach importance to dental health. Even if the environment is harsh, we never slack off on maintenance. You can clean your teeth diligently with a simple willow branch, which is the embodiment of the thrift, simplicity and perseverance of the ancients. It also flows with the wisdom gene of the Chinese nation's unremitting self-improvement and flexibility.