Niyok Dental Care

”Have you brushed your teeth yet?“ is the most frequently asked question to children at bedtime. This way they learn at an early age already, that it is important to brush their teeth at least twice a day. Toothbrushes and toothpastes can therefore be found even in the smallest bathroom cabinets and in all travel bags. However, this dental care duo in its present form has only existed since the late 19th century. The history of oral hygiene starts much earlier, though. Already over 5,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians cleaned their teeth with chew sticks. For this, they chewed the thin end of a soft branch until it was frayed. With the fibrous end, the tooth surface was rubbed off. In the Orient, this early form of toothbrush is still known as miswak until today. The branches of the toothbrush tree (Salvadora persica) even contain a small proportion of fluorides. A miswak thus combines the properties of toothbrush and toothpaste.

Did the Romans possibly come into contact with chew sticks when they occupied Egypt? If so, they had no interest in them. In Rome, chew sticks or other original forms of the toothbrush were unknown. To clean their teeth, the Romans preferred ”dentifricium“. These powders were sprinkled on a damp linen cloth. You then rubbed off your teeth with this cloth. In his book ”Naturalis historia“ the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder describes a recipe for ”dentifricium“. First, bones, clam shells or horn are ground into powder and then burned to ashes. To make the taste more pleasant, the ashes are still mixed with baking soda and myrrh. The Romans were very keen to experiment when it came to the production of tooth powder. In addition to bones, shells, salt and pumice stone, partially also clay fragments, dog teeth and burnt mouse heads were ground into powder.

The first toothbrushes with bristles were developed at around 1500 in China. But they were more like a paintbrush than a toothbrush. However, it still took almost three centuries until the toothbrushes from China spread in Europe. Until then, people in Europe cleaned their teeth with bones and toothpicks made of wood or metal. In Germany, the toothbrush was first mentioned in written form in the ”Universal Lexicon of All Sciences and Arts“ in 1750. In the 18th century, the bristles were still made of soft horsehair. Therefore they were not very thorough. Additionally they were so expensive that only nobles could afford a toothbrush. This changed with the invention of artificial fibers, which made the toothbrush a mass-produced item in the first half of the 20th century. The first nylon bristles were still extremely hard, though, and often injured the gums while brushing. Tooth brushing only became more enjoyable in the 1950s, when softer nylon was developed.

Tooth powders were very popular until the mid-19th century. Those who could not afford a toothbrush sprinkled the powder on a finger and polished the plaque away. The first toothpaste was invented in 1850 by the 23-year-old Washington W. Sheffield, who mixed toothpaste with glycerin. However, since this paste was sold in cans and Staniol bags, it dried up quickly. In 1876, his son Lucius Tracy Sheffield came up with the idea of filling toothpaste into the metal tubes that were then used for paints and varnishes. The idea proved itself and since then almost every toothpaste is filled in tubes. But why do we still need toothpaste in the age of modern toothbrushes?

In order to effectively remove plaque, the mechanical friction of the toothbrush is insufficient. The toothpaste must also contain fine abrasive particles. These so-called abrasives are present in almost every toothpaste today. Chalk, silicate compounds, silica or marble powder can be used for this. The toothpaste owes much of its cleansing effect to these abrasives, which do the main work in cleaning the teeth. All other additives are merely auxiliary agents, for example for prophylaxis or for a fresh taste.

Nowadays, many people are looking for natural alternatives to conventional dental care products. An obvious way to avoid chemical ingredients are natural cosmetics. Natural cosmetics manufacturers focus on natural ingredients and essential oils for dental care. The Berlin-based brand Niyok combines the mouth-caring properties of coconut oil with the practical advantages of toothpaste. Mild chalk-based abrasives ensure a gentle and thorough tooth cleaning. The creamy, slightly foaming texture provides a pleasant feeling when brushing your teeth. The Niyok Toothpaste Peppermint & Lemon is a classically balanced toothpaste for those who do not need any experiments. But freshness is also possible without mint. The tangy combination of fresh lemongrass and spicy ginger in the Toothpaste Lemongrass & Ginger not only convinces fans of spice tea. The Niyok Toothpaste Blood Orange & Basil, on the other hand, provides for an exotic taste experience for more sensitive oral cavities. With fruity blood orange and mild basil, it provides an all-around good mouthfeel with every application.

For a gentle yet thorough tooth cleaning Niyok uses only very mild chalk-based abrasives. With the Niyok Toothpastes you can enjoy the creamy, slightly foaming texture and the sweet-fresh taste of coconut oil during your daily tooth brushing routine.