Imagine a time when “oral care” meant rubbing your teeth with chalk, brick dust, or even charcoal. Cavities were as common as bad hair days, and missing teeth? Just part of life. Brushing wasn’t a daily ritual, it wasn’t even on the radar.Then came Colgate. Not the toothpaste giant we know today, but a soap-and-candle company that noticed a glaring gap: people had teeth but no real habit of cleaning them.In 1873, Colgate launched its first dental powder, packaged in a humble glass jar. It wasn’t just about selling a product, they were planting the seeds for a whole new category. But the real magic happened in 1896, when Colgate borrowed an idea from artists: collapsible tubes. Suddenly, toothpaste wasn’t messy or old-fashioned. It was modern, hygienic, and aspirational. The packaging itself became the marketing.But Colgate understood something deeper, products alone don’t change behavior, ideas do. So instead of simply selling paste, they sold the&nbsp;concept of brushing. Their ads connected clean teeth with beauty, health, and even social success. Brushing wasn’t just about avoiding cavities anymore; it was about looking good, feeling good, and fitting in.The final push came during World War I. Soldiers were ordered to brush daily, and when they returned home, Colgate made sure the habit stuck with relentless campaigns. What started as a quirky new routine became second nature for millions.Fast forward to today, brushing twice a day feels as natural as having breakfast. And we can thank Colgate’s genius blend of smart packaging, cultural storytelling, and relentless marketing for turning a niche product into a global daily habit.Lesson for brands?&nbsp;Don’t just sell a product. Sell a habit. Sell an idea. When your product becomes part of people’s everyday lives, you’re not just marketing - you’re making history.

How Colgate Brushed Its Way Into History

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How Colgate Brushed Its Way Into History

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