While today we consider urine a waste product, in ancient times, it was regarded as a valuable commodity. The Romans believed that the urine of both humans and animals could whiten their teeth and prevent decay, so they used it as a mouthwash and mixed it with pumice stone to create toothpaste.
Urine was used in toothpaste until the 1700s. (Image: Ancient Origins).
Urine contains many important minerals and chemicals, such as phosphorus and potassium. In fact, urine was so effective that it was used in toothpaste and mouthwash until the 1700s.
According to the Romans, the best and most expensive urine on the market came from Portugal. It was believed to be the finest urine in the world, so they often chose it for their dental hygiene. Although most people today would refuse to use toothpaste made from urine, it actually worked!
When urine is stored in a jar without a lid, it gradually emits a smell and produces ammonia. This is the same substance used in many household cleaners today, and it was also the component responsible for whitening teeth in ancient Rome!
Due to its ability to produce ammonia, urine was also very important to the textile industry, which was a booming trade during the Roman Empire. Urine was commonly used to bleach wool, linen, and leather. It was also utilized in laundry. In fact, urine was incredibly popular in ancient Rome, to the point that Roman emperors Nero and Vespasian had to levy a “urine tax” on the collection of urine from public latrines.
