Yang Liuzhi is regarded by some people as the earliest "toothbrush" in ancient China. In the late Tang Dynasty, people liked to soak Yang Liuzhi in water, which could be clear water or special water. After soaking in water, Yang Liuzhi will become softer and easier to use. When it was time to brush your teeth, the ancients took out Yang Liuzhi, opened Yang Liuzhi with their teeth, and brushed their teeth with the exposed willow fiber.

But Yang Liuzhi, after all, is a rough thing, which easily hurts the gums. By the Song Dynasty, toothbrushes had begun to take shape. According to historical records, there were many shops selling toothbrushes in many alleys of the Song Dynasty. At first, this toothbrush was made of bones, horns, bamboo and wood. Two rows of small holes were drilled in it, and then horsetail hair was planted, similar to today's toothbrush.

The way the ancients brushed their teeth.

As early as the Qin and Han dynasties, our ancestors began to think about how to solve oral problems. There is a record in the Book of Rites that "the chicken crows at first, and it is salty to wash". At dawn, when the chicken crows, you have to get up and prepare to wash your face and rinse your mouth. ?

Simply gargling with water, the effect is definitely not ideal. For example, Su Shi said that gargling with strong tea after meals can relieve boredom, remove dregs and nourish the stomach. But it's just a mouthwash. Some people add salt, vinegar and alum, all of which have bactericidal effect. ?

However, the cleaning effect of gargling is limited, and the ancestors began to think of ways. Of course, the most primitive thing is to clean your teeth with your fingers. The scientific name is "tooth brushing". Dip some salt in your hands, rub your teeth left and right twice, and then rinse your mouth with water.