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Mouthwash seems straight forward enough. In fact, it’s probably the simplest dental care operation. It makes flossing look like rocket science and toothpaste science fiction. Yes, there a few pleasures in life as easy as mouthwash. Or so it seems. That is where the story of mouthwash use ends. However, the real story behind mouthwash, it’s intricate and unusual history, goes back quite a bit further. You knew that, right? Our guess on that one is no. We’re about prove that mouthwash isn’t at all boring or mundane. The history of that mint-flavored, blue-tinted substance rivals the best in Greek myth and Jules Vernes’ most developed science fiction.

Mouthwash’s tale started many thousands of years ago. Nearly five thousand years in the past, the Ayurvedic people had their own theories about mouthwash and the relevance of rinsing teeth. Wait, Ayurvedic? What does that mean? Don’t worry. We didn’t know before our research either. Ayurvedic merely describes people of Ayurveda, which was in modern-day India. A few thousand years after that, the Classical world caught on. A primitive and natural form of mouthwash was rather popular amongst the priveledged members of Ancient Greece. Unfortunately, despite their forward looking ideas about mouthwash and dental care, Ancient Europe’s science was not up to snuff, despite popular sentiment. Hippocrates, the famed Greek doctor, attempted to make his own formula. His solution? Just three ingredients: salt, alum and vinegar. Unfortunately, we now known this combination didn’t actually do much good in trying to kill off bacteria long term. The ancient Jewish holy scripture the Talmud also got into the ancient dental care game, suggesting dough water and olive oil as the basis for a mouthwash.

Equally practical but generally ineffective mouthwashes were pretty much the normal for the next few thousand years, until things finally changed (a little bit) in the 1600s. It was the scientist and dental care visionary Anton van Leeunwenhoek who first took a more theoretical approach to the development of an efficient mouthwash. Van Leeunwenhoek, using his trusty microscope, discovered small, motile living creatures enshadowed in the crevices in teeth. What he spied was actually plaque, that white film made up of harmful bacteria. Those are the same bacteria that eat away at teeth causing caries disorder. Next, the curious scientist discovered tiny, motile living things in the canal that ran besides his abode. Van Leeuwenhoek wondered if he could find a way to neutralize these pests. He took samples from the canal and combined them with a brandy and vinegar mixture. What happened? Well, the bacteria were no match for the compound. They were rendered impotent. Van Leeuwenhoek was a step away from mouthwash. He used the solution in his mouth and… it didn’t work.

And so mouthwash stayed stagnant until our fair century. it was in 1960, that Harold Loe figured things out. The professor discovered that a mouthwash featuring chlorhexidine could effectively stop plaque. How did Loe’s mouthwash, not that different from any other, rise to the top? Well, chlorhexidine adheres to the surface of the mouth, thus remaining in effective concentrations for hours, attacking bacteria the whole time. And that is essentially the end of mouthwash’s story. Loe’s talents truly laid the groundwork for today’s mouthwashes. Certainly, new innovations improve them, but the makeup is almost the same.

The purpose of this article is for everyone to know the importance of taking care of your oral health. Sometimes brushing your teeth is just not enough. There are so many things you can do to prevent bacteria and plaque in your mouth and using mouth wash is one of them. After reading this article, if you like more information on taking care of your dental health give my blog on Woodbury dentist a visit. Here you will find guides and tips to taking care of your teeth, and information of dentist in Woodbury.