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Wait, Radioactive Toothpaste Was a Thing?

Live Life Smiling

radioactive-toothpaste
  • Holmes and Palmer Orthodontics
  • January 5, 2022

 

RADIATION AND THE harm it can do to humans wasn’t well understood in the early years after it was discovered. There were all kinds of exciting radioactive products for the public to buy, from radioactive water jugs to children’s toys to butter to…toothpaste.

Thorium Toothpaste in 1920s Germany

A hundred years ago, the German company Auergesellschaft produced Doramad, a toothpaste with thorium as the (radio)active ingredient. Doramad was advertised as being great for fighting gum disease and polishing enamel. Meanwhile, in Paris, a radioactive cosmetics line called Tho-Radia included toothpaste.

Tubes of Doramad had some bold (and false) claims on their labels: “Its radioactive radiation increases the defenses of teeth and gums. The cells are loaded with new life energy, the bacteria are hindered in their destroying effect.” This was flagrant false advertising, and thankfully the radioactive toothpaste craze didn’t last long.

The Saga Continued With a WWII Caper

These kinds of fraudulent health and cosmetics companies were probably the reason behind an odd series of events that happened in WWII. While the Manhattan Project was underway in the US, a team of spies was tasked to discover how far the Nazis were getting with developing nuclear technology. What they found instead was a radioactive scam.

The Alsos Mission was an international operation of scientific, intelligence, and military officials established in 1943. Colonel Boris Pash and his men seized scientists, scientific data, and atomic materials as they followed on the heels of the advancing Allied forces, and they discovered someone was collecting radioactive materials like uranium and a stockpile of thorium smuggled from Paris to Germany by the Auer company.

The Alsos team was obsessed with solving the mystery of that thorium stockpile. In what first seemed like a huge success for the mission, they eventually tracked it down — only to discover that it was being kept in preparation for the end of the war, after which the Auer company planned to get rich making toothpaste out of it. That’s how the mission got its sarcastic nickname “Operation Toothpaste.”

Dentists Discovered the Dangers of Radiation First!

Two decades earlier in the United States, a dentist, Joseph Knef, traced the pattern of severe tooth and jaw problems in local young women back to their place of employment: the US Radium plant, where they all used radioactive paint. The reason it was causing such awful dental problems is that the women would lick their brushes to keep the bristles straight, putting the paint in direct contact with their teeth and gums.

Follow the Dentist’s Advice and Steer Clear of Fads

Thankfully nothing so dangerous as radioactive materials has become a popular dental fad in modern times, but it’s still a good idea to avoid getting dental health advice from unofficial sources. If you’re looking for a good toothpaste for you, just ask the dentist!

Do you know of any wild old-fashioned dental health products?

Top image by Wikimedia user Suit used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

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EVERY SMILE TELLS A SPECIAL STORY

We are thankful for the opportunity to serve our community with excellent care and take pride in our mission of having a patient-centered philosophy. Check out what our patients are saying about us!

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Lola D.
We absolutely love Holmes & Palmer..horrible experience elsewhere, and was leary... they go above and beyond from the moment you step in the door.
Lola D.
We absolutely love Holmes & Palmer..horrible experience elsewhere, and was leary... they go above and beyond from the moment you step in the door.
Sarah M.
From the first step in the door we were impressed!! Professional, friendly, explained everything thoroughly. So happy we chose Holmes and Palmer. Highly recommend 😀
Kelley M.
This is my second child to receive orthodontic care with Dr. Holmes. This practice is efficiently run and the staff is always friendly. We’ve never waited more than 10 minutes to be seen. Highly recommend!!
Kelley M.
This is my second child to receive orthodontic care with Dr. Holmes. This practice is efficiently run and the staff is always friendly. We’ve never waited more than 10 minutes to be seen. Highly recommend!!
Ilissa P.
Wonderful and caring staff. My kids don’t mind going to the dentist, which is huge and speaks for itself.
Ilissa P.
Wonderful and caring staff. My kids don’t mind going to the dentist, which is huge and speaks for itself.
Carrie B.
We have been very impressed with the staff and orthodontists here. They communicate with us as the parents and treat our daughter well while she is here for treatment. We will definitely choose them again when it’s time for our youngest to get her braces.

Sarah B
Carrie B.
We have been very impressed with the staff and orthodontists here. They communicate with us as the parents and treat our daughter well while she is here for treatment. We will definitely choose them again when it’s time for our youngest to get her braces.

Sarah B
Lenon H.
This is the best orthodontist office in the tri-state! A very nice and efficient staff! Getting braces was quick and easy!
Lenon H.
This is the best orthodontist office in the tri-state! A very nice and efficient staff! Getting braces was quick and easy!
Francesca H.
We always have the best experience here! Such a clean and friendly environment. They are patient and understanding and will walk my daughter through any of her fears or concerns. 100% recommend!
Alison W.
Wonderful staff and atmosphere! Everyone is friendly and takes time to explain every step! Highly recommended!
Alison W.
Wonderful staff and atmosphere! Everyone is friendly and takes time to explain every step! Highly recommended!
Shawna B.
My son is a patient and everyone is so nice and very Great with Patients.Dr is amazing and always so good at explaining everything...I would refer these Drs and Nurses 100 times over...Thank You all for everything you do to make sure my babys have a beautiful smile...😁
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