<P> An 18th - century American and British toothpaste recipe called for burned bread . Another formula around this time called for dragon's blood (a resin), cinnamon, and burned alum . </P> <P> By 1900, a paste made of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda was recommended for use with toothbrushes . Pre-mixed toothpastes were first marketed in the 19th century, but did not surpass the popularity of tooth - powder until World War I. In 1880, Doctor Washington Sheffield of New London, CT manufactured toothpaste into a collapsible tube, Dr. Sheffield's Creme Dentifrice . He had the idea after his son traveled to Paris and saw painters using paint from tubes . In York in 1896, Colgate & Company Dental Cream was packaged in collapsible tubes imitating Sheffield . The original collapsible toothpaste tubes were made of lead . </P> <P> Together with Willoughby D. Miller, Newell Sill Jenkins developed a toothpaste and named it Kolynos, the first toothpaste containing disinfectants . The name's origin is from Greek Kolyo nosos (κωλύω νόσος), meaning "disease prevention". Numerous attempts to produce the toothpaste by pharmacists in Europe have been uneconomic . After returning to the US, he continued experimenting with Harry Ward Foote (1875 - 1942), professor of chemistry at Sheffield Chemical Laboratory of Yale University . After 17 years of development of Kolynos and clinical trials Jenkins retired and transferred the production and distribution to his son Leonard A. Jenkins, who brought the first toothpaste tubes on the market on April 13, 1908 . Within a few years the company expanded in North America, Latin America, Europe and the Far East . A branch operation opened in London in 1909 . In 1937 Kolynos was produced in 22 countries and sold in 88 countries . Until modern times Kolynos is widespread mainly in South America and in Hungary . Colgate - Palmolive took over the production of American Home Products in 1995 at a cost of one billion US dollars . </P> <P> Fluoride was first added to toothpastes in the 1890s . Tanagra, containing calcium fluoride as the active ingredient, was sold by Karl F. Toellner Company, of Bremen, Germany, based upon the early work of chemist Albert Deninger . An analogous invention by Roy Cross, of Kansas City, Missouri, was initially criticized by the American Dental Association (ADA) in 1937 . Fluoride toothpastes developed in the 1950s received the ADA's approval . To develop the first ADA - approved fluoride toothpaste, Procter & Gamble started a research program in the early 1940s . In 1950, Procter & Gamble developed a joint research project team headed by Dr. Joseph Muhler at Indiana University to study new toothpaste with fluoride . In 1955, Procter & Gamble's Crest launched its first clinically proven fluoride - containing toothpaste . On August 1, 1960, the ADA reported that "Crest has been shown to be an effective anticavity (decay preventative) dentifrice that can be of significant value when used in a conscientiously applied program of oral hygiene and regular professional care ." </P>

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