Toothpaste

Though its taste may be open to debate, its effect is not. Whether you choose herb, mint or sport gel, toothpaste freshens the breath and improves oral hygiene at least twice a day. Pharmacist Ottomar von Mayenburg is the man responsible for healthy teeth.

In his Leo laboratory, a small lab in the attic above the Löwen-Apotheke in Dresden, he experimented in 1907 with toothpowder, mouthwash and ethereal oils. Von Mayenburg attempted to produce a mouth cleaning paste which, if used regularly, would guarantee the best possible protection for teeth.

The result of his experiments was a toothpaste he named "Chlorodont". Enriched with a touch of peppermint for flavour, he filled the paste directly into flexible metal tubes. His Chlorodont toothpaste was awarded a gold medal at the first international hygiene exhibition in Munich in 1911.

Significance: the invention from Dresden was soon in demand the world over, as it allowed people to clean their teeth quickly and intensively. Generations have this toothpaste to thank for their healthy teeth.

Invented by: Ottomar Heinsius von Mayenburg
In: 1907