Ancient Romans Cleaned Their Teeth With Porcupine Quills

Long before the invention of dental floss or even wooden toothpicks as we know them, ancient Romans were already obsessed with oral hygiene. Their solution? Porcupine quills—nature's ready-made dental tool.

Roman writers like Pliny the Elder documented various tooth-cleaning methods, and archaeological evidence has confirmed that porcupine quills were among the preferred implements. The quills were the perfect size and shape: thin enough to fit between teeth, rigid enough to dislodge food particles, and naturally tapered to a point.

Why Porcupine Quills?

Romans didn't just grab any random stick. They were surprisingly particular about dental care, and porcupine quills offered distinct advantages:

• Natural flexibility: Unlike brittle wood splinters, quills had just enough give to navigate tight spaces without breaking
• Durability: A single quill could last through multiple uses before wearing down
• Availability: Porcupines were common across the Roman Empire, from Italy to North Africa
• Status symbol: For wealthier Romans, imported quills from exotic species showed sophistication

Roman Dental Obsession

This wasn't Romans' only dental innovation. They also created tooth powder from crushed bone and oyster shells, used urine as a whitening agent (yes, really), and even fashioned primitive toothbrushes from twigs.

The wealthy employed slaves specifically trained in dental care—essentially ancient dental hygienists who would clean their masters' teeth daily. Porcupine quills were part of a larger grooming kit that might include tongue scrapers, ear picks, and nail cleaners.

Bad breath was considered a serious social offense in Roman society. Poet Martial wrote scathing verses mocking people with poor oral hygiene, and there's evidence Romans would chew herbs like parsley and fennel to freshen their breath after meals.

From Quills to Modern Picks

The transition from quills to wooden toothpicks happened gradually over centuries. By medieval times, Europeans were carving specialized picks from wood and bone, though porcupine quills remained in use in some regions well into the 17th century.

The mass-produced wooden toothpick as we know it wasn't invented until 1869, when American entrepreneur Charles Forster opened the first toothpick manufacturing plant in Maine. Before that? People around the world used whatever nature provided—thorns, feathers, fish bones, and yes, porcupine quills.

So the next time you grab a disposable wooden toothpick after dinner, remember: you're participating in a tradition that goes back thousands of years. Though you're probably better off not following the Romans' lead on the whole urine mouthwash thing.