Renewed Emphasis on Oral Hygiene 130 Years Ago

In the late 1800s into the early 1900s, there was a significant awareness of the need for enhance dental hygiene. As in the United States, there appeared in Europe an increase in the number of advertisements promoting various toothpastes and whitening products. With respect to the latter, the use of baking soda and charcoal were common, however toothpaste was still the primary material to clean the teeth, in addition to enhancing the breath, an issue of importance for those focused on their social status. Oral health education was on the rise in this era, as was the professional care offered in the explosion of dental clinics.