{"id":1386,"date":"2023-02-25T13:05:57","date_gmt":"2023-02-25T12:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=1386"},"modified":"2023-02-25T13:05:57","modified_gmt":"2023-02-25T12:05:57","slug":"did-ancient-romans-brush-teeth-urine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/did-ancient-romans-brush-teeth-urine\/","title":{"rendered":"Did ancient romans brush teeth urine?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ancient Romans were a clean people and they brushed their teeth regularly. They used urine as a mouthwash and toothpaste. Urine has natural antibacterial properties that help to keep the mouth clean and free of bacteria.<\/p>\n

No, the ancient Romans did not brush their teeth with urine. There is no record of them using urine for this purpose, and it is not something that is commonly done in any culture.<\/p>\n

What did the ancient Romans use urine for? <\/h2>\n

The ancient Romans valued urine for its ammonia content. They found the natural enemy of dirt and grease valuable for laundering clothes and even whitening teeth. And like all valuable products, there was a scheme to tax it. Emperor Vespasian (r. 69-79 AD) was the first to tax urine, and the proceeds were used to restore the Colosseum.<\/p>\n

Soap was not invented until the early 1800s. Before that, people used urine to wash their clothes. The ammonia in the urine would make even the worst stains come out of the clothes. Laundries would therefore eagerly purchase barrels of urine from people. Urine was not only used to wash clothes, but the Romans also used it to brush their teeth.<\/p>\n

What did ancient Romans clean their teeth <\/h3>\n
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The ancient Romans were also known to practice dental hygiene. They would use frayed sticks and abrasive powders to brush their teeth. These powders were made from ground-up hooves, pumice, eggshells, seashells, and ashes. While we may not use the same methods today, it’s interesting to see how far back this practice goes!<\/p>\n

You’re pretty close on your history! It was actually the ancient Romans who gave their teeth urine baths. Ammonia, which is a common household cleaner, can be found in urine, and does have the ability to brighten a smile.<\/p>\n

What did the Romans use for toothpaste? <\/h2>\n

It is interesting to note that the Greeks and Romans used quite different ingredients in their toothpastes. The Greeks used a mixture of crushed bones and oyster shells, which was then powdered to create a cleaning agent. The Romans later added flavoring to help with bad breath, as well as powdered charcoal and bark. This shows that even in early times, people were aware of the importance of oral hygiene and were trying to create products to help with this.<\/p>\n

The ancient Romans used a mixture of charcoal and goat fat as deodorant. In the 19th century, lime solutions or potassium permanganate were used. These substances work by disinfecting. The first commercial deodorant was patented by Edna Murphey in Philadelphia, PA, USA, in 1888.<\/p>\n

What Romans did without toilet paper? <\/h2>\n
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The tersorium was a popular cleaning tool in ancient Rome and was used to clean the body, especially in places that were difficult to reach. The tersorium was made by attaching a natural sponge to the end of a stick and was often used in the bath or after a meal.<\/p>\n

The Roman soldiers were known for their cleanliness and their toilets reflected that. They would go to the toilet wherever they were, whether it was on patrol or back at the fort. The toilets at the fort were communal and had their own plumbing and sewers. Sometimes they would even use water from the bath houses to flush the toilets. The Roman soldiers did not have toilet paper, but they were still able to keep their toilets clean.<\/p>\n

How did Romans clean after toilet <\/h3>\n

The tersorium was a soft, gentle tool used by the Romans to clean their behinds. The tersorium was made of a sea sponge attached to a stick, and the gutter supplied clean flowing water to dip the sponges in. The Romans liked to move their bowels in comfort.<\/p>\n

Though it has been suggested that the Romans might have had better periodontal health than modern people, the truth is that Romans had high risk for tooth decay and gum disease. With a grain-based diet that also included lots of sweets, oral bacteria thrived in the mouth of Romans.