The History of Teeth Whitening

Whether you are whitening your teeth at home with one of the many home whitening kits, or you are paying for professional teeth whitening, it seems everyone is brightening up their smile now. Believe it or not, there was one point in time when teeth whitening was reserved for only the wealthiest of people. In fact, the history of this common cosmetic dental procedure is steeped with interesting facts and information. Did you ever wonder how people first began whitening their teeth before the more modern kits and procedures were discovered? The truth behind that thought is both interesting and cringe worthy. Needless to say, technology was lacking initially and dental practices were quite barbaric and rudimentary. The history of teeth whitening starts with the tooth brush. Yes, believe it or not brushing teeth was not always a standard part of good hygiene. The first tooth brush was made of a stick. The stick would be frayed on one end so that end could brush the teeth. OUCH! The first toothpaste, was made of ground up pumice stone and wine vinegar. Double OUCH!! Naturally, as they did with many things, the Romans attempted to perfect the teeth whitening process. They did this by making a new toothpaste that had urine as an ingredient. YUCK! That said, there was actually thought behind this because ammonia does actually whiten teeth and urine contains ammonia. Later, more barbaric practices of teeth whitening came to practice. People would actually have their teeth filed and covered in acid to achieve a whiter smile. However, this practice didn't last long because although it did lead to a temporarily whiter smile it also caused eventual rot and decay. Needless to say, we have come a far distance from the original methods used for teeth whitening. Kits and whitening toothpastes available from cosmetic dentists use a carefully measured combination of chemicals to slowly whiten your smile without causing unnecessary damage. This ensures that your tooth enamel stays intact and your smile is as bright as you wish it to be.