Odd Question: Dental Care in Golarion?

[Jabborwacky]

The question came to me while I was thinking about character starting equipment, but what do people use to clean their teeth in a fantasy setting like Golarion? Do they have something like baking soda? Do elves have more refined dental care products than halflings? How does the king have such shiny white teeth? Do hags eat too much sugar?

[Richard Pett]

Splendid post:)

[Crystal Frasier]

Here's the quick rundown: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dentistry#History

[rat_ bastard]

My Theurge uses prestidigitation spells but most people would use soap and a rag to clean their teeth. Regular brushing and ivory, wood or metal tooth prosthetic are certainly possible in a world with commonplace glass, metallurgy and flying machines.

[Chris Self]

"Before toothbrushes, people used rough cloth and water to clean their teeth. They would also rub things like salt and chalk across their teeth to try to get rid of the grime.

The ancient Egyptians made a kind of brush by splitting the end of a twig. And the ancient Chinese chewed on twigs with a special flavor to freshen their breath."

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/12/AR200904120 2655.html

Anecdotally, I have a close friend who cleans his teeth with just salt and his finger. Works fine for him.

[Jelloarm]

My half-orc shapeshifter ranger uses sharks.

True story, that.

[Liz Courts]

Moved thread.
I highly recommend reading Ancient Inventions, as it's full of useful tidbits that you can integrate into your roleplaying game.

[Erik Keith]

While I'm not trying to advocate evil or anything, some of their organizations have outstanding dental plans...

[Umbranus]

I'd say that you can make tooth-paste with craft(alchemy)

[Jabborwacky]

Thanks for the resources everyone!

[Kevin Andrew Murphy]

One of the old dental care things that still works is a licorice root. You chew the dried root and it sweetens your breath without sugar. Also, the chewed end forms bristles not unlike a toothbrush--I used this in college a couple times when I'd forgot mine.

And cloves can be used to kill tooth pain.

[feytharn]

Cloves even work against minor infections.

[Jeff Erwin]

Kevin Andrew Murphy wrote:

One of the old dental care things that still works is a licorice root. You chew the dried root and it sweetens your breath without sugar. Also, the chewed end forms bristles not unlike a toothbrush--I used this in college a couple times when I'd forgot mine.

And cloves can be used to kill tooth pain.

A tiny amount of clove oil is what I use with her when my daughter's teeth are coming in.

[Rhys Grey]

You know, I've found this thread strangely informative. I've never really thought about how medieval-esque characters clean their teeth, before.

For some reason, this has really made my morning. :)