From the time you were old enough to hold a toothbrush, daily brushing and flossing have been a normal part of your routine. You don’t think about it much—you just try to make sure you don’t forget about it.
Another part of your oral health care routine is visiting your Wilmington dentist twice each year for examinations and cleanings. You might not always do it every six months, but you know that you should if you want your teeth and gums to stay healthy.
At the polar opposite of today’s oral care standards is what people used to do take care of their teeth and gums: nothing.
As difficult as that might be to believe, it’s the truth. For many thousands of years, people never brushed or flossed their teeth or paid any attention whatsoever to their oral health care. Even more surprising? They had no dental problems!
Let’s take a look at why that was the case back in ancient times.
You Are What You Eat: Ancient Times Versus Modern Times
The highly processed food many people eat today is not doing our teeth any favors. Many foods we consume are high in sugar and low in nutrition. Despite our access to modern dental care, teeth can become weakened and decayed because the body is lacking proper nutrients.
Compare that to what people ate hundreds of thousands of years ago. Rice, wheat, vegetables, and fruits not only kept teeth strong because they are packed with nutrients, but these types of food actually helped clean teeth naturally. They also kept the immune system strong to help ward off cavities and infections.
Our Bad Habits Speak for Themselves
Life was simply “cleaner” back in the days of our ancestors. There were no sugary foods and beverages, and people didn’t use modern tobacco products, all of which can compromise our oral health.
Around 3000 BC, it appears that a toothbrush-style device made from twigs might have been used. Twigs might have also been used around that time to freshen breath.
Dental Cleanings with Your Wilmington Dentist
Regardless of modern dentistry’s origins, today we have toothpaste and dental floss to help us combat our bad habits and maintain good oral health. Good home care and visits to the dentist twice each year can help keep your modern teeth as strong and healthy as those of the ancients. Call your Wilmington dentist, Dr. Mark Gladnick, for an appointment!
