Сіль стала причиною смерті 2.5 мільйонів чоловік
26.12.2018

Personal hygiene and prevention. Excursion into history.


Personal hygiene and prevention. Excursion into history.


At all times in human history, gums and teeth were directly linked to the health of the oral cavity. Prevention of dental diseases has always started with the prevention of oral hygiene.

For the first time, our ancestors used the branches of the tree to clean the mouth from food residues and plaque. Evidence of this method of oral hygiene was found during the excavation of burials in ancient Egypt and Etruria.

The first toothpick was found in Sumerian three thousand years BC. It was made entirely of gold. And the first instruction to clean teeth with an index finger coated with a cloth was found in the ancient Assyrian medical text.

In the second millennium BC, our ancestors already used tooth powder, which was made of pumice and natural acids (in particular, used vinegar and tartaric acid).

Regular practice oral hygiene has been established since ancient Greece. The records that the Greeks respected people who have beautiful white teeth and watch for oral hygiene were found in the archives of Aristotle's student Theophrastus, who died in 278 BC. The letters of the Greek philosopher Alcyfrona (he lived in the 2nd century BC) also mention that in those days, the toothpick is actively used to support oral hygiene .

Despite the frequent mention of a toothpick, oral hygiene has been so widespread. This attitude to oral hygiene lasted until Greece became a province of Rome. The Romans taught the Greeks to use such items for cleaning the mouth as pumice stone, coral or corundum powder, talc, gypsum and iron rust. Contemporary Aristotle, as well as the Athenian doctor Karistsky, warned that in the morning teeth and gums should be wiped with bare fingers, and then rub the mint inside and outside. This should be done in order to remove the remaining pieces of food and plaque.

The Romans were very careful about their health, which is why general hygiene and cleanness of the oral cavity occupied a very important place in the life of every Roman. The fight against an unsanitary cavity of the mouth and body was defended by the famous Roman physician Celsius. To this day preserved a recipe that prevents the occurrence of "black spots on the teeth." According to this recipe, the teeth should be cleaned with a mixture, which should consist of crushed ingredients: pink petals, myrrh, tuna. After brushing your teeth with this mixture, your mouth should be rinsed with young wine.

In Rome, various dental powders that consisted of various components were actively used. The most commonly used ingredients are egg shell, oyster shells and bone bases. All solids were burned, ground and mixed with honey. As a binder element used myrrh and nitrate, formed independently of the adhesive properties, have also strengthened the action.

Ancient manuscripts also mentioned the use of nitram (sodium carbonate or potassium) in the cleaning agent. Often in the tooth powder some substances were added not for medical reasons, but through any superstition or their own imagination. In addition to toothpicks, toothbrushes were used. When the Romans invited someone to their lunch they not only distributed the kitchen utensils, but also decorated the table with metal toothpicks, which were often made of gold. Guests were allowed to take their toothpicks with them. It was considered the norm of decency to use a toothpick after each meal.

Greeks and Romans made toothpicks made of wood, silver, gold, ivory, bronze or goose feathers. They looked like thin sticks. Often toothpicks are mounted along with an ear spoon or nail polish.

For the first time, the professional cleansing of the oral cavity was mentioned in the early Middle Ages. The Greek Pavel Eginsky, who lived in the period 605-690, suggested removing the dental stones, while using dolosty and other dental instruments. In his manuscripts, he paid special attention to oral hygiene . In particular, he recommended to regularly brush his teeth after eating, as food leaves plaque on his teeth.

Arab doctors were also worried about oral hygiene . The author of the treatise Al-Tashrif (in the translation of the "Method" - the manuscript in consequence has become the encyclopedia of surgery and medicine), the famous doctor of the western caliphate Khakarn II, as well as Albuqasis (Abuel Kasim or Abu al-Kasim Khalat ibn Abbas al-Zahrawi, who lived from 1050 to 1122 gg.) argued that tooth enamel on both sides, as well as under the gums, often formed dental deposits that have a terrible appearance. These deposits could be of different colors: yellow, green or black. Over time, under the influence of these deposits, teeth became "naked". In order to remove this plaque, doctors recommended to put it this way: the head of the patient should be put on his knees, so that you can without effortlessly clean the teeth, on the surface of which were deposits. The tooth was cleaned until the tooth got its natural color. In the event that, after cleaning the teeth on the first day, an unpleasant plaque remains, then the procedure should be repeated the next day and so on until the tooth is completely cleared. This procedure was carried out using a special metal bracket.

It is important to keep the teeth clean, also wrote Avicenna or Abu Ali Ibn Sina, who lived in the period of 980-1037. He suggested using to clean teeth sea foam, salt, powder of burned shells snails or deer horns.

The Arab world first learned about the concept of oral hygiene in the period when the great prophet Mohammed lived. He introduced the concept of hygiene into a Muslim religion. Accordingly, Islam taught people to adhere not only to the purity of reason, but also the purity of the body. There is a requirement in the Qur'an that every Muslim is obliged to rinse his mouth before the beginning of prayer three times, that is, every day, every decent Muslim should rinse his mouth fifteen times. In addition, Mohammed recommended to brush his teeth with the rods of the tree of Salvador, Persia, which included such substances as tannic acid and sodium bicarbonate. These beneficial substances have had a beneficial effect on the gum. Before using the spatula, it was soaked in water for twenty four hours until the fibers began to separate. After this, the crown was removed from the tree, leaving a solid fiber that was flexible and split splashes perfectly.

In addition to hygiene of the oral cavity, the Prophet Mohammed introduced a number of traditions of oral hygiene . In particular, he recommended that a regular gum massage be performed and cleansing of the interdental space from contamination. From the Muslim theologian of the last century, the following postulates are known: teeth should be brushed with a natural brush if they become yellow, the smell changed from your mouth, before bedtime, before dive, or after you got out of bed.

The religion of oral hygiene is also associated with Hindu traditions. In the sacred book of the Hindus of the Veda, contained the systems of Indian medicine, which were called "the science of life." These materials refer to the period of the first half of the first millennium BC. Religion was an important reason for giving more attention to their health. In terms of Hindu religion, the mouth was seen as a gateway to the body. That is why keeping the oral cavity clean was an important step.

The priests in India brushed their teeth during the sunrise and prayed for the blessings of their families. In ancient books, people urged people to follow daily oral hygiene and body. To clean teeth from plaque and other deposits it was necessary daily with the help of a special tool with a flat, sharpened diamond tip. Hindus did not accept the use of toothbrushes, made from animal bristles, as it was considered barbaric. His Indian toothbrushes were made from a branch of trees, the end of which was divided into fibers. Various trees were used to make similar toothbrushes. The main requirement for the trees was that they were sharp in taste and had astringent properties.

The daily ritual oral hygiene included brushing teeth, cleaning the tongue and rubbing the body with aromatic oils. Language is screwed with a special tool. At the end of all procedures, the mouth was rinsed with a decoction of herbs and leaves. These infusions not only helped to clear the cavity, but also removed the bad breath. The miraculous decoctions and infusions prepared by the Hindus for the purification of the oral cavity were mentioned even in the records of Hippocrates. In particular, it is a cleaning fluid that consisted of powdered anise, mitra, dill and white wine.

In Japan, the existence of a toothbrush and special tools for cleaning the language learned from the Buddhist priests. Subsequently, oral hygiene was prescribed in the Codex samurai, which obliged each samurai to brush each time after eating. Japanese teeth were cleaned with samurai using shaved sprigs of shrubs. From rods willow toothbrushes were made during the reign of Tokugawa (Edo, 1603-1867 gg.). Willow rod was divided into thin fibers, and prior to use it was treated with special tools. Such brushes had a clear length and were flat, allowing them to be used not only for brushing teeth, but also for cleaning the tongue. For women, toothbrushes were made that were much softer and smaller in size than men. This was necessary in order to preserve the ancient tradition - the coloring of women's teeth in black. For polishing a special mixture consisting of earth, salt, flavored musk was used. The mixture was applied using a special spatula, which was previously wetted in water.

Already in 1634, the first toothpicks appeared on the markets of Japan, which accurately copied modern ones. The difference from the modern one was that the toothpicks were previously made manually. At the same time, there were many stores, the main product of which were all the necessary items to maintain personal hygiene and cleanness of the oral cavity. At the end of the nineteenth century, the number of stores for the care of teeth has sharply increased. On the same street that led to the Echo Temple, there were more than two hundred such stores.