Fridus A. van der Weijden

1 Introduction Oral hygiene has been practiced since the earliest days of human civilization. Across cultures and throughout history, people have searched for ways to clean their teeth, freshen their breath, and maintain oral comfort, even long before the biological mechanisms of dental diseases were understood or dentistry existed as a profession. These early practices reflect a blend of ingenuity, cultural tradition, and evolving scientific curiosity.

1 Introduction Oral diseases rank among the most prevalent diseases worldwide. The Global Burden of Disease 2015 study reports that approximately 3.5 billion people suffer from oral disease conditions, with dental caries and periodontal diseases being the most common [1].