The struggle with the invisible enemy - bad breath - lasts as long as human civilization exists. The condition known today as halitosis has been treated in various ways, sometimes effectively, and sometimes on the contrary ...
The scale of the problem is much greater than it might seem. Here are some examples. We read in the Torah that bad breath is "a severe handicap" and can cause divorce. Legend has it that the young Nahid - the fiancée of King Darab, mother of Alexander the Great - was sent back to Macedonia because of a bad breath.
Even today, although it would seem that halitosis has been tamed, the problem is very serious for many people. James Wynbrandt in The Painful History of Dentistry writes:
In the modern world, bad breath is so aversive in humans that it can even lead to death - even in those who do not have it. According to one expert, 20 percent of people who sought medical help for imaginary halitosis had reached the level of social neurosis, which in some of them even manifested suicidal tendencies.
In the example given, it is clearly visible how an important element of self-esteem can be the smell coming out of our mouths. No wonder then that over the centuries many different methods have been invented to freshen the breath.
Egyptian Mints
Probably about 3,000 years ago, the Egyptians invented the ancestor of the mint sucking candy. They cooked various herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, myrrh, and incense (a substance obtained from certain plants belonging to the frankincense family), and then mixed the brew with honey. This is how lozenges were created that could be sucked or chewed, releasing the aromas contained in them. It seems simple and also fun.
The problem of bad breath has accompanied people for centuries
The ancient Romans used to chew parsley leaves after meals, while the inhabitants of modern Iraq used cloves. The latter also used a type of chewing gum made of resin. The same gum was recommended by Jewish bad breath specialists, alternatively recommending rinsing the mouth with water and oil.
It seems that the most bizarre customs arose in ancient China, where healers told distressed patients to gnaw on chicken eggshells to wipe off the contaminants that were supposed to cause the bad smell. Pliny the Elder also competed for the title of the most bizarre treatment, proposing as a remedy ... ash from burnt mouse droppings mixed with honey.
Spices and herbs are doing fine
The Middle Ages and the Renaissance made full use of the experience of ancient civilizations to heal bad breath. Mainly, mixtures of spices and herbs prepared in various ways were used. Interestingly, the composition of many specifics has not changed until today (we are talking about herbal preparations). In The Englishman Compendium from 1613 we read:
To get rid of the foul odor from the mouth, first rinse it with vinegar water, then spend a moment chewing the mastic, then rinse the inside with anise seed decoction again. mint and wine cloves.
Probably ineffective - and certainly not very pleasant for the user - the Renaissance way was to chew a mixture of pepper, mint and rock salt and then swallow it . There are also examples of completely unsuccessful or even unhealthy treatments, such as rinsing your teeth with wine after meals and then wiping them with a cloth.
Nothing, however, beats the "miracle cure" that led to terrible damage to the dentition. James Wynbrandt reports:
Balwierze cleaned their clients' mouths with toothpicks and pieces of cloth. Once the teeth had been scraped, they scrubbed them with a stick dipped in "strong water" for a whitening effect . This strong water, called aquaforte in Italian, is nothing but nitric acid. After such treatment, the smile actually became whiter, but it was due to abrasion of the enamel, which permanently damaged the teeth.
Wonderful remedy
When Anton von Leeuwenhoek discovered the existence of microorganisms, humanity looked at the hygiene problem from a completely different perspective. This includes, of course, oral hygiene - the famous scientist observed under a microscope, among other things, material taken from there. It became obvious that keeping the bacterial population in check is crucial to keeping your breath fresh and thus the fight with the unpleasant smell entered the last straight. This time, however, scientists and inventors had a clearly defined goal and awareness of what their opponent really was.
The front of the fight against bad breath shifted in favor of the people thanks to the English surgeon, pioneer of surgical antisepsis, Joseph Lister.
Leeuwenhoek subjected his microscopic discovery to the appropriate tests, pouring the bacteria with brandy and wine vinegar. He observed that not all types of microorganisms die as a result of such treatments; a more comprehensive antiseptic had to be developed.
It took a while, however. Leeuwenhoek died in 1723, and the real breakthrough did not come until the end of the 19th century! The front of the fight against bad breath shifted in favor of the people thanks to the English surgeon, pioneer of surgical antisepsis, Joseph Lister. It was in his honor that the brand name Listerine, known to this day, was created posthumously in 1879, although at the beginning it was not only associated with rinsing the mouth!
The fluid was marketed as a versatile antiseptic for use on virtually any occasion. While it was effective against mouth odor, its effectiveness as a disinfectant for surgeons, a remedy for dandruff, and a floor cleaner was questionable. Meanwhile, the pharmacy shelves were swaying under the weight of the wonderful product.
Fortunately, the boom on Listerine has finally passed, and the owners of the brand have decided - quite rightly - to narrow down the audience. The heirs of the business, the brothers Gerard and Marion Lambert put the future of the product to the fight against halitosis. And they won.
Bibliography:
- Ford, B., The Leeuwenhoek Legacy . Biopress and Farrand Press, Bristol and London, 1991.
- Godlee, J., Lord Lister . Oxford University Press, 2009.
- Wynbrandt, J., A Painful History of Dentistry. Marginesy, Warsaw, 2020.