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Sozodont was a popular brand of oral hygiene product from the mid-nineteenth century to the early twentieth century.
Created in 1859 by druggist Roswell van Buskirk (circa 1824–1902) of New Jersey, it derived its name from the Greek ''sozo'', meaning "to save", and ''dontia'', meaning " teeth". Sozodont was later manufactured by the firm Hall & Ruckel of
Sozodont fell out of favor with consumers in the early twentieth century amid concerns about side effects of its usage. As early as 1880, however, one dentist complained, "I will testify to what is so well known to most dentists, viz., that it ozodontdestroys the color of the teeth, turning them to a decidedly dark-yellow." At the turn of the 20th century, another dentist echoed this complaint, stating that "The liquid of Sozodont . . . is far too
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, New York
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* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
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, and London, England. Known as Van Buskirk's Fragrant Sozodont, or Van Buskirk's Fragrant and Antiseptic Sozodont, the product was dispensed from a glass bottle through a metal sprinkler and, as illustrated advertisements show, could be applied to the teeth using a toothbrush. The product made strong use of advertising as a marketing tool and by the late nineteenth century was an established household word.
Ingredients
According to an 1889 issue of the journal ''American Druggist'', Sozodont was made from a liquid and powder mixture. The powder contained orris root, carbonate of calcium, and magnesia. The liquid containedcastile soap
Castile soap is an olive oil based hard soap made in a style similar to that originating in the Castile region of Spain.
History
The origins of Castile soap go back to the Levant, where Aleppo soap-makers have made hard soaps based on olive ...
(soap made exclusively from vegetable oil), glycerin, sizeable portions of water and alcohol
Alcohol most commonly refers to:
* Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom
* Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks
Alcohol may also refer to:
Chemicals
* Ethanol, one of sev ...
, and, for flavoring, a small quantity of oil of peppermint, clover, cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus ''Cinnamomum''. Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, breakfa ...
, and star anise
''Illicium verum'' is a medium-sized evergreen tree native to northeast Vietnam and southwest China. A spice commonly called star anise, staranise, star anise seed, star aniseed, star of anise, Chinese star anise, or badian that closely resembl ...
, as well as, for coloring, cochineal (a dye made from an insect of the same name).
Advertising claims
Its manufacturers claimed that Sozodont would clean and preserve the teeth and harden the gums, as well as "impart a delightfully refreshing taste and feeling to the mouth." In addition, claimed promotional material, "it prevents the accumulation oftartar
Tartar may refer to:
Places
* Tartar (river), a river in Azerbaijan
* Tartar, Switzerland, a village in the Grisons
* Tərtər, capital of Tartar District, Azerbaijan
* Tartar District, Azerbaijan
* Tartar Island, South Shetland Islands, Ant ...
on the teeth and arrests the progress of decay."
Furthermore, cartons of the product maintained that, in addition to the above, Sozodont was "Recommended by many of the most prominent physicians
A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...
, chemists .e., pharmacists">pharmacists.html" ;"title=".e., pharmacists">.e., pharmacists dentists, and scientific gentlemen of all sections of the country."
Only a year after the discovery of X-rays in 1895, Sozodont used the scientific breakthrough to bolster its sales, noting in an advertisement, “Dr. Van Buskirk applies the Röntgen rays -raysin his dental practice and find that those habitually using Sozodont have perfect teeth, hard gums, and sweet breath."
Decline in popularity
Sozodont fell out of favor with consumers in the early twentieth century amid concerns about side effects of its usage. As early as 1880, however, one dentist complained, "I will testify to what is so well known to most dentists, viz., that it ozodontdestroys the color of the teeth, turning them to a decidedly dark-yellow." At the turn of the 20th century, another dentist echoed this complaint, stating that "The liquid of Sozodont . . . is far too alkaline
In chemistry, an alkali (; from ar, القلوي, al-qaly, lit=ashes of the saltwort) is a base (chemistry), basic, ionic compound, ionic salt (chemistry), salt of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal. An alkali can also be defined as ...
for general use, and would in time destroy the enamel of the teeth and make them yellow."
References
{{reflist 1859 introductions Brands of toothpaste Dentifrices Defunct manufacturing companies of the United States