The next time you visit the dentist and enjoy all the modern advances and equipment that Dr. Dhiraj Sharma uses, remember that dentistry has come a long way. Your experience today is different but slightly similar to that of Ancient Romans. Despite living thousands of years ago, the Ancient Romans had some fairly advanced dental techniques. Of course, they also had practices that we are now grateful to consider obsolete.
How They Cared for Their Teeth
Ancient Romans used precursors to today’s brushing and flossing to care for their teeth. Specifically, they used frayed sticks as toothbrushes and abrasive powders as toothpaste. Some ingredients used in the powders included ashes, seashells, eggshells, pumice, and hooves.
Romans also used urine as a mouthwash to clean and whiten their teeth. The cleansing properties came from the urine’s ammonia. Thankfully, we’ve moved past that method today.
Remedies for Toothaches
Pliny, the famous Roman writer, mentions finding a frog in the moonlight and requesting it to get rid of toothaches. And Emperor Claudius’ doctor, Scribonius Largus, suggested a remedy that used Hyoscyamus seeds on burning charcoal. Patients would then rinse their mouths using hot water, and small worms would come out.
This alludes to the common belief back then that tiny worms in the teeth caused cavities.
Who Cared for Teeth and How They Did So
During Ancient Roman times, doctors performed tooth extractions. Dentures were made using boxwood, bone, or ivory. Extractions relied on crude forceps. Based on the Twelve Tables of Roman legislation, we also know that gold was used on teeth during the time.
Ancient Romans also developed dental crowns and bridges during 500 BCE. They were commonly made using ivory or bone.
Based on medical writings, Ancient Romans also knew that loose teeth could occur because of gum disease or root weakness. This was treated by cauterizing gums and covering them in a mixture of mead and honey before medicating the tooth. If necessary, they would extract the entire tooth.
A Patron Saint
In addition to practical methods, Ancient Romans also had a patron saint for those suffering from toothaches. This was Apollonia, an Alexandrian magistrate’s daughter. She reportedly stood up for Christianity and suffered injuries to her teeth because of it. As a mob burned her alive, she called out that people who invoked her name could get relief from toothaches.
Ancient Romans Had Healthy Teeth
Apart from all the facts we now know about Ancient Roman dentistry, we can also gather data on its effects. We can do this thanks to the well-preserved bodies at Pompeii. Scientists used advanced imaging to examine the teeth of about 30 bodies, which showed that even the average Roman had healthy, strong teeth.
Dental Health Wasn’t Just a Result of Dental Hygiene
Ancient Roman dental hygiene certainly played a role in their healthy teeth, but it wasn’t the only factor.
Experts believe the Ancient Romans’ diet played a big part in their dental health. Granulated sugar didn’t appear anywhere until the 5th century, so sugar wasn’t a concern. Also, the alkaline diet of the Ancient Romans was good for dental health, decreasing the probability of cavities.
Conclusion
The Ancient Romans recognized the importance of tooth care, but dentistry has come a long way since that era. While they are responsible for the first dental bridges and crowns, they also mistakenly believed tooth worms caused cavities.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dentistry_in_ancient_Rome
https://bda.org/museum/the-story-of-dentistry/ancient-modern/ancient-dentistry
https://www.docseducation.com/blog/ancient-romans-had-healthier-smiles-we-do-today
FAQs
During Ancient Roman times, doctors performed tooth extractions. Dentures were made using boxwood, bone, or ivory. Extractions relied on crude forceps. Based on the Twelve Tables of Roman legislation, we also know that gold was used on teeth during the time.
What is the history of dentistry in Rome? ›
Roman Dentistry
Roman dentists used scary clamps and drills to remove teeth's; opium was their pain medication for dentistry. Also, the Romans were well aware of oral hygiene and had healthy teeth's due to their diet. Roman dentists replaced missing teeth's and extracted teeth's only when it could not be treated.
What type of dental procedures did the Romans practice? ›
Roman dentists were able to insert gold fillings into decayed teeth and may even have been able to replace missing teeth with primitive forms of dental prosthetics. They removed any gold fillings and teeth from the mouths of corpses before burial, however.
What is the history of dentistry in early America? ›
In early colonial America, dental care was also rendered by artisans such as ivory turners. One such artisan was Isaac Greenwood, who began practicing dentistry in 1779 and is considered to be the first American-born dentist. Four of his six sons became dentists.
What were the ancient ways of dental care? ›
Toothbrushes as we know them today did not exist, and toothpaste was a distant concept. Instead, people relied on rudimentary methods to maintain oral health. One common method involved using sticks or twigs with frayed ends, known as “chew sticks” or “miswak,” to scrape off food particles and dental plaque.
Why did the Romans have such good teeth? ›
Ancient Romans used precursors to today's brushing and flossing to care for their teeth. Specifically, they used frayed sticks as toothbrushes and abrasive powders as toothpaste. Some ingredients used in the powders included ashes, seashells, eggshells, pumice, and hooves.
Who is the Roman god of dentistry? ›
Aesculapius, the Roman equivalent of Greek god of medicine and healing Asclepius, was believed to advocate cleansing the mouth and teeth. Greek Philosopher Aristotle, student of Plato, discussed teeth in some of his writings.
How often did Romans brush their teeth? ›
Romans brushed their teeth daily. Sound familiar? The tools were a little different, though – they used frayed sticks and rough pastes made of ground eggshells, hooves, seashells, pumice, and ash. They also had another familiar daily dental habit: using mouthwash.
How did they remove teeth in ancient times? ›
At first a sharp surgical instrument was used to separate the tooth from the soft gum tissue. Then, the tooth was grabbed with the forceps and were used in rocking movements. When the tooth was loose enough, they pulled it out using their fingers.
How did they brush their teeth in biblical times? ›
Salt and charcoal were often rubbed across the teeth and then rinsed away. However, the most common way of taking care of teeth involved taking a birch twig and fraying the end, making a primitive brush. Dental powders were also used. They were made from strange concoctions of burned eggshells ashes and animal hooves.
The earliest known example of dental caries manipulation is found in a Paleolithic man, dated between 14,160 and 13,820 BP. The earliest known use of a filling after removal of decayed or infected pulp is found in a Paleolithic who lived near modern-day Tuscany, Italy, from 13,000 to 12,740 BP.
What was the old name for a dentist? ›
Before the late eighteenth century the term 'dentist' wasn't even used. Instead, care of the teeth was the responsibility of a range of different – and sometimes surprising – practitioners. Until the mid-eighteenth century, perhaps the main providers of dental services were barber-surgeons.
What is the ancient origin of dentistry? ›
Dentistry is one of the oldest medical professions, dating back to 7000 B.C. with the Indus Valley Civilization. However, it wasn't until 5000 B.C. that descriptions related to dentistry and tooth decay were available.
How did ancient people deal with bad teeth? ›
Human and animal teeth were used as artificial teeth and held in place by gold bands. Performed around 700 B.C this is the first time in history a form of prosthetics was ever used in the mouth, and would be the only use for many years.
Did they brush their teeth in ancient times? ›
Findings from ancient tartar analyses indicate that even cavemen cleaned the spaces between their teeth with plant fibres. However, dental care was not a priority for our earliest ancestors. As the diet during the Stone Age contained hardly any sugar, tooth decay was rare.
When did Americans start brushing their teeth? ›
In the United States, although toothbrushes were available at the end of the 19th century, the practice did not become widespread until after the Second World War, when US soldiers continued the tooth brushing that had been required during their military service.
What did Roman do to his teeth? ›
Romans brushed their teeth daily. Sound familiar? The tools were a little different, though – they used frayed sticks and rough pastes made of ground eggshells, hooves, seashells, pumice, and ash. They also had another familiar daily dental habit: using mouthwash.
Did the Romans invent dental fillings? ›
The first fillings
From 166–201 AD the Etruscans/Romans were the most advanced dentists of the ancient world; they used gold to fill teeth and even made artificial crowns. Early records of fillings are also found in Chinese, Egyptian and Greek culture.
Did Romans have dental hygiene? ›
Ancient Romans had a unique and meticulous approach to oral hygiene, with toothpaste recipes featuring unconventional ingredients. A key component was powdered charcoal, derived from burned substances such as animal bones and oyster shells, providing the necessary abrasiveness for teeth cleaning.
How did the Romans deal with toothache? ›
- Pliny the Elder discussed various therapies for tooth pain in his work. - Remedies included pouring medication into the ear, inhaling wild mint, and using hare bones to incise the gums. - Gargling the ash of deer horns was another treatment method. - Roman doctors believed toothaches were caused by a toothworm.