How did people clean their teeth before toothpaste was invented?
From Mystery Doug

Summary
Mystery Doug takes on a real kid's question -- "How did people clean their teeth before toothpaste was invented?" -- and follows the clues. Before toothpaste, people scrubbed their teeth with frayed twigs, cloth, and gritty mixtures of things like crushed shells. A quick five-minute watch to spark curiosity and kick off a conversation.
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
Doug investigates a question kids really asked: "How did people clean their teeth before toothpaste was invented?"
- What was Doug's answer to today's question, in your own words?
- What surprised you most about teeth, or what did you already know?
- What's one thing this makes you want to find out more about?
Quick work-a-long
Words to know: teeth, clean, history.
Try it: Explain the answer to "How did people clean their teeth before toothpaste was invented?" to someone at home using these three words, then write down one new question it made you wonder.
