You might be surprised to learn that teeth whitening has been around for thousands of years. After all, people today tend to associate it with Hollywood stars, models, and anyone else seeking a photogenic smile. It’s enough to think that earlier ages would’ve been too focused on survival to care about the issue.
Still, the pursuit of a gleaming smile is as old as humanity. To prove it, here’s a brief history of teeth whitening that spans the practice’s origins up to its present techniques.
Pre-Modern Teeth Whitening
Various ancient cultures greatly valued appearance, especially clean-looking smiles.
The classical Egyptians considered white teeth as a symbol of virility and wealth. Pharaohs were fascinated by them and thus made a special toothpaste out of wine-vinegar, pumice stone, and oxen hooves. Many Egyptian citizens during this time created the first toothbrushes, which were essentially chewed sticks.
The people of ancient Rome were very concerned about their teeth’s health and appearance. They used a special chewed stick to brush and keep their mouths plaque-free. Beauty-conscious Romans would also clean dentures with urine to keep their teeth’s whiteness intact.
Nomads of early Europe are known to have used acid and even filed their teeth. While these actions may have restored their smiles’ white aura, they’d have lost enamel in the process.
19th– 20th Century Teeth Whitening
In the late 1800s, dentists started using chlorine as a bleaching agent to remove the yellowish tinge from teeth. The approach was a popular teeth whitening method until about 1900.
Post-1900, the use of hydrogen peroxide came into practice. Around 1960, dentist William Klusimer invented different peroxide-based whitening agents widely used till 1970. From 1989 onward, carbamide peroxide became a teeth whitening agent with virtually no side effects.
Teeth Whitening Today
Presently, numerous products exist in the market that facilitate teeth whitening. Some of these include whitening strips, whitening toothpaste, whitening mouthwash, etc. Furthermore, people who want better teeth now opt for professional whitening from trained dentists. This latter point is especially important, as the method and treatment for teeth whitening should be one a professional dentist approves.
Humans have always cared about achieving a nice, white smile. To honor their past efforts, consider talking to your dentist about teeth whitening that earlier generations could only imagine!
About the Practice
Harrisonburg Family and Cosmetic Dentistry is headed by Drs. Mario DeNicola and Monisha Khanna, both graduates of the State University of New York. Their team ensures that patient experience is comprehensive and tends to both physical and mental health. To that end, they offer various services, including excellent cosmetic dentistry. For more information or to book an appointment, the practice can be reached at its website or by phone at (540)-432-6616.