Make Dartmoor National Park’s medieval toothpaste
EDUCATION
If you’re struggling with ideas to entertain young ones during the cold, wet and wintery days and dark nights, why not try making medieval toothpaste.
D
artmoor National Park Authority has a wide selection of activities to entertain all ages throughout the year but have you ever wondered how our medieval ancestors cleaned their teeth? When we think of medieval times, we picture people with rotted and blackened teeth who used soot to polish them. Can you imagine a toothache with only the local blacksmith to pull out the offending tooth? Ouch! However, twigs from the native hazel tree found in our upland Dartmoor oakwoods, were used as toothbrushes and called ‘cleaning twigs’. Follow the recipe below to find out just how medieval people cleaned their teeth and to make your very own medieval toothpaste from herbs and rock salt. How does it compare with the toothpaste you use today? Health and Safety: although these recipes are not intended to be consumed do consider any allergies before using. You will need: • Pestle and mortar • Cloves • Rock salt • Fresh or dried herbs
Method:
1. Ideally, gather some herbs from your garden if you have some growing. Otherwise, you will find bagged herbs in most supermarkets. Put a small handful of cloves into the mortar. These can be whole cloves or ready ground. Cloves an analgesic which means they stop your nerves from feeling pain.
2. Add a small handful of rock salt and a little water. Salt will clean any infections from sores in your mouth and help things heal. You can experiment with different flavours of toothpaste with different flavours of herbs. Sage works well or rosemary, or mint of course, which we still use for fresh breath today. 3. Crush the contents with the pestle. This is hard work so stick at it. When you have a smooth paste, not too wet, wrap it in a leaf as there were no toothpaste tubes invented in medieval times. 4. Try it on your teeth. Either use your finger or carefully with the end of a small hazel twig. Rinse out and don’t swallow.
So, what do you think? Is it pleasant or did you pull a face? Will you swap it for the toothpaste you use today? Would you have liked to have lived in medieval times? If you had a toothache there were no dentists to fill in holes or give fillings. Can you imagine having your teeth pulled out without an anaesthetic? Try this on your friends and family and see what they think. n
Outstanding Childcare in Woolwell 15 Hours or 30 Hours FREE Childcare for eligible 2, 3 & 4 Year Olds Available Now! School Drive, Woolwell, Plymouth PL6 7TH
01752 696616 woolwell@bambinosdaynursery.co.uk www.bambinosdaynursery.co.uk
Please mention PLYM LINKS when responding to adverts
Outstanding Childcare and Natural Environments Outstanding and Caring Staff for Your Child Visit our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk 23
