[The overview of the prevention and treatment of dental disease in ancient China].

About 2000 years ago, our country already had a record about mouth washing. It was one of the earliest countries that invented teeth brushing and the toothbrush. It mentioned many kinds of effective techniques of teeth protection and health improvment such as swallowing the saliva, knocking the teeth and practising Qigong. About 3000 years ago, our country already had records about dental disease and had established the specialty of stomatology and dentistry in the Tang dynasty. The methods of treating toothache by acupuncture and external medicine, treating caries by arsenic trioxide and using silver paste to fill the teeth, using artificial teeth for restoration, and treating periodontosis by teeth-cleaning techniques all took the lead in the world. Traditional Chinese Medicines are still used today to treat toothache and periodontosis in clinic.