Storeroom Discoveries: Dentocillin Tooth Powder Video

New in our series of Storeroom Discoveries, Collections Coordinator Adam Johnson takes a closer look at tooth powders, with a focus on Dentocillin. This over-the-counter tooth powder contained penicillin, the antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.

The manufacturer claimed the product was produced “with the blessing of the Food & Drug Administration” and, in their clinical studies, purported to reduce tooth decay by 55%. It was only produced by the Andrew Jergens Company for a brief time only, beginning in 1950. 

Watch the video to learn more, check out our online catalog entry for the Dentocillin bottle in our collection, and stay tuned for more Storeroom Discoveries and a whole panel of historical tooth powders in our upcoming exhibit.