---------- Forwarded message --------- From: 'N Sekar' via iyer123 <[email protected]> Date: Sun, Nov 5, 2023, 2:35 PM Subject: [iyer123] Re: TOOTH POWDER To: gopala krishnan <[email protected]>, Iyer <[email protected]>, Kerala Iyer <[email protected]>, Rangarajan T.N.C. < [email protected]>, Chittanandam V. R. <[email protected]>, Mathangi K. Kumar <[email protected]>, Yeddanapudi Markandeyulu < [email protected]>
Very nice write up Sri G K. Enjoyed reading it. Thanks. Colgate has gone the full circle and says they have coal in their paste now which was what we were using decades back. There is a joke about K P Namboodri paste. In an interview for a FMCG company, to the questions asked by the co as to what paste, soap, powder etc. he uses, the interviewee replies K P Namboodri to all. The interviewer asks how come he uses KPN powder, soap etc as they are not made by KPN, the fellow replies that his room mate's name is K P Namboodri and he is using his paste, soap, powder etc. Incidentally, I have used KPN paste and found them good. Sensodyne is also good. N Sekar Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android <https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=Global_Acquisition_YMktg_315_Internal_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=Global_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100000604&af_sub5=EmailSignature__Static_> On Sun, Nov 5, 2023 at 1:12 PM, gopala krishnan <[email protected]> wrote: *TOOTH POWDER* *Dear friends,* *Last four days watching an advertisement by Colgate in TV channels attracted my attention too much. This advertisement came with a theme, most Indian consume sweet in the night, hence, a request to brush teeth to avoid cavities.* *In the advertisement most are sitting in rows, very few standing and cleaning teeth using different methods. Some with mango type leaf, some with tooth powder with hand, some with tooth brush, and some with neem stick softened at one end, some with tooth paste. * *Some nostalgic memories about teeth cleaning and tongue cleaning. * *Gopalakrishnan 5-11-2023* *1. My boyhood days.* *In my boyhood days tooth powder or tooth paste was not known in my area. All cleaned teeth with umikkari (burnt husk of paddy) and cleaned tongue with coconut nerve. Cleaning of tongue was equally important like cleaning of teeth. Index finger was used to clean teeth touching umikkaari and moving finger with force. Few preferred mango leaves in place of umikkari if it was handy. Umikkari was prepared at home. We were told by parents it is important to clean tongue well for correct pronunciation of Malayalam letters. * *2 Colgate toothpaste.* *The first tooth paste famous in Kerala was Colgate. Though in 1950, it became famous in India, probably by 1955’s it became famous in Kerala. Most rich made a change to toothpaste during the period and by 1960’s middle class started purchasing toothpaste. Along with tooth brush also appeared for convenient use of toothpaste. * *3Tongue cleaning.* *Equally important was tongue cleaning and tongue cleaners in flexible plastic started appear along with, tooth brush. Tooth brush had a hole in the holding end and tongue cleaner had holes at both ends. The two were attached and kept. It was a common sight to see teeth and tongue cleaning before bath in the river. * *4 Bath rooms and tongue cleaning* *After the appearance of bath room meant for aged to take bath at home, gradually bath room became bathrooms and fitted with wash basins and most used wash basins to clean teeth and tongue at home. Gradually all started taking bath in bath rooms. River Ghats and ponds became almost empty. Temple priests and associated people, those after in auspicious things alone started using bathing Ghats. Dhobis started using bathing Ghats in the morning also to wash clothes. Exception is Ganga Ghats or Godavari Ghats where pilgrims take bath.* *5 Appearance of tooth powder.* *Colgate also came with tooth powder, for those who liked powder to paste after sometime. If tooth brush was forgotten using index finger and using tooth powder, teeth were cleaned. * *6 Elders and teeth cleaning.* *Gradually elders also started using tooth paste/tooth powder. They too started feel tooth brush as more convenient than index finger.* *7 Other tooth pastes and powders* *After a time close up came with red colour paste. Bianca tooth paste, more costly appeared. Later binanca became Cibaca. Radio Ceylon had Bianca music program which was very interesting. (During 1994 Colgate purchased Cibaca and now a new brand Colgate cibca is available). * *After a time Neem tooth paste appeared. Monkey brand black tooth powder appeared. Vico vajradanthi tooth powder and tooth paste appeared. Vico was ayurvedic tooth powder and paste. * *8 Cleaning teeth after meals.* *Some felt cleaning teeth after meals gives pleasant odour. Especially youngsters started cleaning teeth after dinner. * *The cost of tooth paste /tooth powder was more; middle class could not purchase more, so limited to one time teeth cleaning in the morning.* *Present day doctors are of the opinion frequent cleaning of tooth on the same day can damage teeth enamel and best to limit to two times a day. * *9 Pressing the tube* *It was very common to press the tube maximum possible, especially the mouth area, so that at least 95% of the filled tube could be used. With most now too the habit created is continued, though two numbers new packs are purchased and available. Very few throw away after 85% use when tube appears almost exhausted. * *10 Nothing more than cleaning* *Earlier toothpaste had no benefits told other than cleaning the teeth and good smell. Gradually tooth pastes came with added qualities like repairing, avoiding cavity, good for gums etc. * *More companies appeared with either ayurvedic or chemical tooth paste.* *11Metal tongue cleaner* *Plastic tongue cleaner had an abrupt stop. It was not because it used to break after sometime, but injurious to health.* *Metal tongue cleaners appeared in stainless steel. Now shops have only metal tongue cleaners. * *12 Tooth brush with corrugated side.* *In place of tongue cleaner, brushes started appearing with rough surface on the opposite of brush side. Moving this on tongue cleaned tongue to certain extent. However some started using the method. However it is not equal to the effectiveness of tongue cleaner.* *13 Soft, medium and hard tooth brush.* *For children soft and others either medium or hard tooth brush started appearing. Most prefer medium tooth brush. For children small size handle gentle tooth brush appeared.* *14 Different sizes of tubes.* *The paste is filled now in different sizes of tubes like small, medium and large. Large tubes have lesser price comparing to two medium tubes. Present day tubes are soft PVC. Unless there are more members sharing, most like either medium or small packs.* *15 Special toothpastes* *After dental jobs dentists prescribe certain special tooth pastes on those days. These pastes were available only in pharmacies. Now too such special quality toothpastes are available. * *16 Percentage of people using tooth paste/ tooth powder* *Comparing to tooth paste, people using tooth powder is lesser now. However we get ayurvedic tooth powders, and even umikkari nowadays in plastic bottles. So still there are many like Umikkari.* *17 Different company’s toothpaste available now* *There is stiff competition between different companies producing tooth paste; hence all types of tooth pastes have somewhat similar cost. Present days most available tooth pastes are Colgate, Sensodyne, close-up, Dabur, Oral B, Himalaya, Parodontax, Pepsodent, Patanjali, and KP Nampoothiri etc. * -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "iyer123" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/1280316410.317007.1699175148000%40mail.yahoo.com <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/1280316410.317007.1699175148000%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> . -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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