The history and global market of oral home-care products

• Published in: Brazilian oral research Vol. 23 Suppl 1; no. suppl 1; pp. 17 - 22
• Main Authors: Jardim, Juliana Jobim, Alves, Luana Severo, Maltz, Marisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa Odontológica - SBPqO 01-06-2009; Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa Odontológica
• Subjects: Commerce - history; Commerce - statistics & numerical data; Cosmetics - supply & distribution; Dental devices; Dental Devices, Home Care - history; Dental Devices, Home Care - supply & distribution; Dental Devices, Home Care - utilization; Dentifrices; Dentistry; DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE; Drug Industry - history; Drug Industry - statistics & numerical data; History, 17th Century; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; History, Ancient; History, Medieval; home care; Humans; Mouthwashes; Mouthwashes - history; Mouthwashes - supply & distribution; Oral Health; Oral hygiene; Oral Hygiene - history; Oral Hygiene - utilization; Toothbrushing - history; Toothbrushing - utilization; Toothpastes - history; Toothpastes - supply & distribution; Mouthwashes; home care; Dentifrices; Dental devices; Oral hygiene
• ISSN: 1806-8324; 1807-3107; 1807-3107; 1806-8324
• DOI: 10.1590/S1806-83242009000500004

This literature review reports the history and the current market of oral home-care products. It provides information extending from the products used by our ancestors to those currently available, as well as on the changes in the supply and consumption of these products. Although the scientific knowledge about oral diseases has improved greatly in recent years, our ancestors had already been concerned with cleaning their teeth. A variety of rudimentary products and devices were used since before recorded history, like chewing sticks, tree twigs, bird feathers, animal bones, tooth powder and home-made mouth rinses. Today, due to technological improvements of the cosmetic industry and market competition, home-use oral care products available in the marketplace offer a great variety of options. An increase in the consumption of oral care products has been observed in the last decades. Estimates show that Latin America observed a 12% increase in hygiene and beauty products sales between 2002 and 2003, whereas the observed global rate was approximately 2%. A significant increase in the per capita consumption of toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthrinse and dental floss has been estimated from 1992 to 2002, respectively at rates of 38.3%, 138.3%, 618.8% and 177.2%. Pertaining to this increased supply and consumption of oral care products, some related questions remain unanswered, like the occurrence of changes in disease behavior due to the use of new compounds, their actual efficacy and correct indications, and the extent of the benefits to oral health derived from consuming more products.