Scientists have discovered a toothpaste formula from ancient Egypt, dating back to the 4th century AD, in a collection of papyrus documents at the National Museum in Vienna, Austria. This is the oldest known toothpaste formula in the world, providing further evidence that ancient Egyptian medicine was one of the most advanced medical practices of its time.
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Iris Flower |
The ingredients of the toothpaste include 1 drachma of salt, 2 drachmas of mint, 20 peppercorns, and 1 drachma of dried iris flower. Researchers found that this flower is very effective against gum diseases. A drachma is a very small unit, equivalent to 1/100 ounce (1 ounce = 28.35g). This formula is hardly enough to fill a standard toothpaste tube. Therefore, it is likely that ancient Egyptians prepared a small amount of toothpaste each time they brushed their teeth.
Dentist Heinz Neuman, attending a dental conference in Vienna, remarked that no dentist would have believed that such an advanced toothpaste formula existed in ancient times. Neuman tried this toothpaste and found his mouth felt clean and fresh.
Lisa Schwappach-Shirriff, Director of the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose, California, explained that ancient Egyptians were very concerned about dental health. Wheat was often ground with small grains of sand, which could wear down teeth and occasionally lead to serious abscesses, potentially resulting in death. Ancient Egyptians experimented with various dental remedies, including chewing gum to freshen breath and applying honey – a natural antibiotic. Dental fillings were made from resin and malachite – a mineral with antibiotic properties.
Because this toothpaste formula from the 4th century was written on the back of correspondence between monasteries, researchers suspect it may have been invented by a Christian monk. The invention of this toothpaste likely coincided with the time when the works of Saint Basil the Great – the Archbishop of Caesarea – were influential in the region now known as Turkey.
This toothpaste formula is very modern and even ahead of its time. Until 1873, when Colgate introduced the first commercial toothpaste product, most people used a mixture of soap and salt water, which was less effective.
(Minh Sơn – According to Discovery)
