No matter who you talk to, it seems like just about everyone you meet is interested in a white smile. Just about everyone fantasizes about having a set of gleaming pearly whites, which is part of why teeth whitening is such a popular cosmetic treatment.
As it turns out, the fascination with a whiter smile is far from new. People have been trying to remove stains from their teeth for millennia, and the methods they’ve used have advanced incredibly over time. If you want to get a full appreciation for how far cosmetic dentistry has come, here’s a brief history of teeth whitening.
Ancient Whitening
It’s believed that the earliest instances of teeth whitening happened in ancient Egypt, where it’s thought that white teeth were symbols of wealth and beauty. Interestingly, the first whitening methods incorporated methods familiar to modern dentistry: the use of abrasives and acids in order to change the tooth’s color. To get brighter smiles, Egyptians created a whitening paste by combining ground pumice stone with wine vinegar.
Ancient Romans are also thought to have whitened their teeth, though perhaps with a more unappealing method: urine. The ammonia in the urine acted as a bleaching agent, lifting stains from the smile.
Medieval Whitening
In medieval Europe, there was no such thing as a dentist. Instead, barbers were primarily responsible for the care of the teeth, and created methods for helping people improve their oral health. While these treatments could be effective, they often weren’t the gentlest.
To whiten teeth, barbers could file down the teeth and apply a heavy acid in order to change their color. While this happened to work, it also wore down the enamel and led to deteriorations in overall oral health.
Modern Whitening
Today, whitening is done by applying a peroxide solution to the teeth, allowing dentists to brighten the smile by up to eight shades within a single appointment. This process was discovered by accident in the 1980s; peroxide was used as an antiseptic on the gums, and dentists found that it would change the enamel’s color when allowed to sit on the teeth.
Now that you know how far this process has come, you might have a greater appreciation for what modern dentists are capable of (and perhaps a bit grateful that you weren’t born in ancient Rome).
About Our Practice
At Family Dental Associates of Spring Hill, we’re proud to say that we’re different from other dental practices. We give our patients plenty of time and our full attention, allowing us to truly and deeply understand what they need. Your dream smile will be unlike anyone else’s, so when you come to us we will take the time to make sure the treatment plan we make for you will be perfectly suited to you as an individual.
If you have any questions about teeth whitening, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (615) 302-1414.