Birkengold Tooth Powder
Did people have better or worse teeth in the Middle Ages than today? They knew neither toothbrush nor toothpaste, but there were also no soft drinks or candy bars back then. The main reason for damaged teeth nowadays seem to be sugary foods. Caries is caused by bacteria that live on plaque in the oral cavity. They prefer to eat sugar, which is metabolized to acids. These acids attack the enamel and begin to dissolve mineral substances such as calcium. If nothing is done against this process, the tooth becomes holey and the so-called ”tooth decay“ starts. Only 1% of all adults in Germany have completely caries-free teeth. In the course of our life, almost every one of us has had a hole in our teeth. That is why the discovery of an early medieval burial ground near Kharkov in Ukraine was a small sensation. The teeth of the villagers buried over 1,200 years ago were completely free of caries.
Were the teeth of people in the early Middle Ages actually better than the teeth of their descendants? Not necessarily. Their teeth had no holes, but were extremely worn out. The breads and porridges of the ordinary population were probably to blame for this. In many places, the grains were ground in sandstone mills. Small fragments flaked off the millstone and remained in the flour. Due to the sandy flour, the teeth were literally ground down over the years when chewing. Nobles rarely had this problem because they ate meat and fish more often. Due to these softer dishes, their teeth were not so worn out. In addition, the nobility was already interested in dental care at that time. Flawless teeth were already a beauty ideal in the Middle Ages.
The ”white teeth“ or the ”sweet breath“ of noble court ladies were often a topic in the songs of the minstrels. You can also find numerous references to oral hygiene in the medical manuscripts of the monastery libraries. Hildegard of Bingen recommended for example the daily gargling with cold water. Other sources talk about mouthwashes with vinegar or wine. To free the teeth from plaque, they were rubbed off with a damp linen cloth dipped in marble lime. The use of such tooth powder on a piece of linen was already known in ancient Rome. In the case of the Romans, the powder ground from bone ash, mussel shells or horn was called ”dentifricium“. It was mixed with baking soda and myrrh for a pleasant taste.
Tooth powders were known in various compositions from ancient times to the early 20th century. Shortly after the turn of the century, however, they were almost completely replaced by synthetically manufactured toothpaste. However, more and more people are now questioning the ingredients and sustainability of toothpaste. The ever-growing interest in natural cosmetics is also responsible for a comeback of tooth powder. The high-quality Tooth Powders by Birkengold demonstrate that tooth powder also meets the requirements of the 21st century. The mixtures with calcium carbonate, xylitol and essential oils ensure a pleasant and fresh tooth cleaning, all without surfactants and fluorides. The application is very easy: Simply press the moistened toothbrush into the tooth powder and brush your teeth. Birkengold Tooth Powder is available in four varieties. In the case of the Birkengold Tooth Powder Mint peppermint oil provides a fresh feeling when brushing your teeth. If you like it fruity, you should try the Tooth Powder Orange. Tea tree, myrrh, chamomile and bergamot oil ensure the herbal tea character of the Tooth Powder Herbs. The Birkengold Tooth Powder Rose, mixed with fine rose oil, is also very special. With the Birkengold Tooth Powders you can rediscover a well-tried natural and sustainable tooth care product in a new way.
