Editing Toothpaste (section)

===Early toothpastes===
Since 5000 BCE, the [[Egyptians]] made a tooth powder, which consisted of powdered ashes of ox hooves, myrrh, powdered and burnt eggshells, and [[pumice]]. The [[Ancient Greece|Greeks]], and then the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], improved the recipes by adding abrasives such as crushed bones and oyster shells.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2818686 The History of Toothpaste and Toothbrushes]. Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on April 4, 2013.</ref> In the 9th century, Iraqi musician and fashion designer [[Ziryab]] invented a type of toothpaste, which he popularized throughout [[Al-Andalus|Islamic Spain]]. The exact ingredients of this toothpaste are unknown, but it was reported to have been both "functional and pleasant to taste".<ref>{{Cite journal| vauthors = Lebling RW |title=Flight of the Blackbird|journal=[[Saudi Aramco World]]|date=July–August 2003|pages=24–33|url=http://www.islamicspain.tv/Arts-and-Science/flight_of_the_blackbird.htm|access-date=January 28, 2008}}</ref> It is not known whether these early toothpastes were used alone, were to be rubbed onto the teeth with rags, or were to be used with early toothbrushes, such as [[Neem tree|neem-tree]] twigs and ''[[miswak]]''. During Japan's [[Edo period]], inventor [[Hiraga Gennai|Hiraga Gennai's]] ''Hika rakuyo'' (1769) contained advertisements for ''Sosekiko'', a "toothpaste in a box."<ref>{{Cite book|title=Japanese fashion : a cultural history| vauthors = Toby S |date=2009|publisher=Berg|isbn=978-0857851451|edition=English |location=Oxford|oclc=719377495}}</ref> Toothpastes or powders came into general use in the 19th century.