Did Muslims invent toothpaste?

Did Muslims Invent Toothpaste?

While it’s not accurate to say Muslims invented toothpaste in the modern sense, early Islamic civilizations made groundbreaking contributions to oral hygiene—centuries ahead of their time. One key figure was Ziryab, a Persian polymath and cultural trendsetter in 9th-century Al-Andalus (Islamic Spain). Known for revolutionizing music, fashion, and etiquette, Ziryab also crafted one of the first recorded forms of toothpaste.

His formula, though lost to time, was said to clean teeth effectively and freshen breath—qualities we still expect from toothpaste today. But even before Ziryab, another tradition flourished across the Islamic world: the use of the miswak. This natural tooth-cleaning twig comes from the Salvadora persica tree and has been used for centuries in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Chew one end, fray it into bristles, and you’ve got an effective, antimicrobial brush. Many Muslims still use miswak today, partly inspired by its endorsement in Prophetic tradition.

Islamic scholars and physicians like Al-Zahrawi and Ibn Sina later documented oral care in medical texts, praising both miswak and early paste-like formulations. These weren’t just folk remedies—they were part of a sophisticated approach to health that combined science, hygiene, and daily ritual.

So while modern toothpaste evolved over centuries, the innovations from the Islamic Golden Age laid vital groundwork. From Ziryab’s personal care revolution to the enduring use of miswak, Muslim scholars and cultures helped shape the habits we take for granted every time we brush our teeth.