A Quick History of Teeth Whitening

Today, the pursuit of whiter teeth is a $2 billion dollar industry here in the United States, but the desire for whiter teeth has been documented around the world for centuries. In fact, you might be surprised at how long ago attempts to lift stains and discoloration from the teeth truly began. If you’re fascinated by history, enjoy this look back at how the search for a brighter smile has changed over time!\

The Early Years…

About 4,000 years ago in Egypt, having healthy white teeth was a sign of status, beauty and wealth. To lighten their smiles, ancient Egyptians created their own rudimentary whitening paste by mixing ground pumice stone with wine vinegar. But don’t try this at home: between the abrasiveness of the pumice and the acidity of vinegar, this combination is quite dangerous for your tooth enamel.

17^th Century Innovations

In the 17^th century, there were no dentists, so people went to the barber to care for their teeth. Barbers would first file their customers’ teeth, and then apply a whitening acid to them. Unfortunately, this acid was very bad for the enamel, eroding it and leaving the teeth vulnerable to cavities and decay.

19^th Century Breakthroughs

Most of what we know about professional teeth whitening today comes from the 19th Century. Dentists began using peroxide to treat gum disease and soon realized that it had a surprising side effect: it whitened the teeth, too! By 1918 dentists discovered that using a heat lamp in addition to peroxide would accelerate the whitening process, and by the 1960s they learned that soaking teeth overnight in peroxide lightened them as well.

The 1980s yielded even more whitening breakthroughs when dentists began offering opalescence carbamide peroxide treatments. Today, your dentist still uses similar methods when he or she prescribes at-home bleaching kits with trays.

These days, most in-office whitening procedures now use a combination of peroxide and light, and many professional take-home products still use trays and an activator containing peroxide, too. If you’re looking for a dramatically whiter smile, don’t resort to archaic methods that can damage your teeth. Speak to your dentist about professional whitening today!

About Dr. Cowell

Dr. Christopher J. Cowell believes that when it comes to dentistry, you shouldn’t feel pressured to get services you don’t need or want. That’s why he will never recommend a treatment that isn’t necessary, and why so many patients trust him to protect their oral health, whether they’re seeking a cleaning, a restoration, or a cosmetic procedure like professional teeth whitening.

To schedule your whitening procedure, please visit our website or call us at 386-734-8585 today.