Would Lady Mary Brush Twice a Day?

A Smile Fit for the Silver Screen

When you picture the grand halls of Downton Abbey, gleaming silverware and perfectly pressed waistcoats come to mind. But what about gleaming smiles? Ever wonder how often Lady Mary—or even Mrs. Patmore—picked up a toothbrush?

At LifeSmile Dental, we love a good period drama and a good set of pearly whites. So let’s time travel a bit and see what brushing habits looked like in the Downton era.

Tooth Powder, Boar Bristles, and British Manners

By the 1910s and 1920s, wealthy British families like the Crawleys almost certainly owned toothbrushes. The aristocracy favored elegant versions made with bone or ivory handles and natural boar bristles, often paired with tooth powders made from chalk or charcoal before modern toothpaste became common. Dental hygiene was considered part of proper grooming and refinement, so Lady Mary and her family likely maintained toothbrushes as part of their daily routine—even if they didn’t yet embrace the twice-a-day brushing habits we consider standard today.

Among the working class at the time, toothbrush use was mixed. By World War I, toothbrushes were becoming more common but were far from universal. Servants in a wealthy household like Downton were more likely to have them than poorer laborers, as they lived in an environment with higher standards of cleanliness and often had access to small luxuries through wages, gifts, or even their employers’ cast-offs. Still, a housemaid in 1912 might have relied on a rag and tooth powder rather than a proper brush. By the 1920s, however, toothbrushes had become more affordable and were steadily making their way into working-class homes.

The 1920s: The Modern Smile Emerges

By the 1920s, brushing was spreading through society thanks to mass-produced toothbrushes and—believe it or not—military influence. Soldiers in World War I were required to brush daily, and when they returned home, they brought the habit with them.

So if you picture Tom Branson’s Irish grin starting to sparkle a little more by the later seasons—you’re not wrong.

We’ve Come a Long Way With Dental Hygiene

From boar bristles to electric brushes, our dental routines have evolved dramatically. Luckily, you don’t need an estate or a butler to maintain a brilliant smile today—just a good brush, quality toothpaste, and your friendly neighborhood dental team (that’s us).

Ready to give your smile the royal treatment? Book your next cleaning with us; we promise, no boar bristles involved.