Who invented listerine

Importing bottled urine became so popular that the emperor Nero taxed the trade. The ammonia in urine was thought to disinfect mouths and whiten teeth, and urine remained a popular mouthwash ingredient until the 18 th century. People have used some strange combinations — besides urine — as mouthwash. Tortoise blood was once thought to disinfect mouths and clean teeth, and mixtures of berries, mint leaves and vinegar or wine has also been used as mouthwash. In the 12 th century, Saint Hildegard von Bingen advocated that swishing pure, cold water could remove plaque and tartar.

Upon his discovery, he experimented with a variety of solutions that could kill the bacteria. It is around this time that alcohol became the most popular ingredient used in mouthwash — and it is still used today!

In , English doctor Joseph Lister became the first surgeon to perform an operation in a chamber that had been sterilized with antiseptic — a practice that was very uncommon. Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

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