Today, products and services are offered everywhere to help us keep our teeth white and beautiful. However, in the long history of teeth whitening, people didn't have it so easy. For 5,000 years people have been using some kind of teeth whitening and cleaning system. Now, in 3000 BC they didn't have access to electric toothbrushes, dental floss, and mouthwash, but they made do. People would chew on sticks to keep their teeth clean. The stick would be an ordinary one, with one end a bit frayed. Rubbing this frayed end over the teeth would clean them and remove food particles and plaque. Actually, this method is still used in some less developed civilizations and cultures.
In the 16th century, bristle toothbrushes started appearing. This started in China, with the toothbrushes made of bone or wood. For the bristles, hog's hair was used. People found that this cleaned and whitened their teeth better than their original methods. The bristles got between the teeth and cleaned there as well as the surface of the teeth.
When DuPont invented the tooth brush in 1938, they campaigned against using hog's hair bristle toothbrushes. Of course, they added the disadvantages of germs and possible infections in their marketing. Since the nylon was extremely hard and actually damaged people's teeth rather than make them better, no dentists would recommend them. However, a little over 10 years later, DuPont created soft vinyl, and the bristles were much more flexible and healthy for the teeth.
The actual practice of teeth whitening began around 4000 years ago with the ancient Egyptians. These people would create a whitening paste using ground up pumice stone mixed in wine vinegar. White teeth were a mark of beauty and a sign of the wealthy. This concoction sounds terrible enough, but it isn't the most disgusting thing ever used for teeth whitening. Ancient Romans would actually whiten their teeth using urine! The ammonia in the urine served the purpose, and there are still products today that contain ammonia. Early dentists recognized that what whitened the teeth was the ammonia, and that's what they started using. A lot of active ingredients in things that we purchase today for cleaning the teeth is ammonia. Thank goodness that we are more developed today, and don't have to rely on those primitive methods of teeth whitening.
During the 17th century, people would visit their barbers for a haircut and tooth whitening. The barbers served as both the one to see for your hair, and your teeth. They would actually perform tooth extractions, or pull the teeth. They also performed whitenings. The barber would file down the teeth and apply an acid to them that would whiten them. This actually did make the teeth whiter, however, it led to tooth decay because of the erosion of the tooth enamel. However, because people considered it to be very important to have a great smile and white teeth, this practiced continued until the 18th century.
Around the 1840's, people began using fluoride as a way to keep their teeth healthy and cavity free. However, it was realized that too much fluoride can actually stain the teeth. This is especially prevalent in children who use fluoride toothpastes. Swallowing the toothpaste instead of spitting it out can cause discoloration of teeth later in life.
Today, dentists will recommend a number of things for teeth whitening. A large factor in discoloration or spots on the teeth is the food and drinks that we consume. Most dentists will recommend that we stay away from coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco. These are the number 1 teeth staining items.
The demand for teeth whitening products and procedures keeps growing and growing. As a matter of fact, in 2002, a survey was done by the American Dental Association and Colgate. The survey results stated that the fastest growing business of a dentist was teeth whitening. There was a 25% increase in the number of patients who wanted this service. Over the last five years, teeth whitening and bleaching procedure demands have grown over 300%. Apparently we all want a bright white smile.
Today, there are a number of different procedures that you can have done to whiten your teeth and brighten your smile. You can visit your dentist and discuss it with him. He can then help you to decide on a procedure that's best for you. You could also just visit your local drugstore and pick up one of many teeth whitening systems to keep your smile a shiny and bright one.
In the 16th century, bristle toothbrushes started appearing. This started in China, with the toothbrushes made of bone or wood. For the bristles, hog's hair was used. People found that this cleaned and whitened their teeth better than their original methods. The bristles got between the teeth and cleaned there as well as the surface of the teeth.
When DuPont invented the tooth brush in 1938, they campaigned against using hog's hair bristle toothbrushes. Of course, they added the disadvantages of germs and possible infections in their marketing. Since the nylon was extremely hard and actually damaged people's teeth rather than make them better, no dentists would recommend them. However, a little over 10 years later, DuPont created soft vinyl, and the bristles were much more flexible and healthy for the teeth.
The actual practice of teeth whitening began around 4000 years ago with the ancient Egyptians. These people would create a whitening paste using ground up pumice stone mixed in wine vinegar. White teeth were a mark of beauty and a sign of the wealthy. This concoction sounds terrible enough, but it isn't the most disgusting thing ever used for teeth whitening. Ancient Romans would actually whiten their teeth using urine! The ammonia in the urine served the purpose, and there are still products today that contain ammonia. Early dentists recognized that what whitened the teeth was the ammonia, and that's what they started using. A lot of active ingredients in things that we purchase today for cleaning the teeth is ammonia. Thank goodness that we are more developed today, and don't have to rely on those primitive methods of teeth whitening.
During the 17th century, people would visit their barbers for a haircut and tooth whitening. The barbers served as both the one to see for your hair, and your teeth. They would actually perform tooth extractions, or pull the teeth. They also performed whitenings. The barber would file down the teeth and apply an acid to them that would whiten them. This actually did make the teeth whiter, however, it led to tooth decay because of the erosion of the tooth enamel. However, because people considered it to be very important to have a great smile and white teeth, this practiced continued until the 18th century.
Around the 1840's, people began using fluoride as a way to keep their teeth healthy and cavity free. However, it was realized that too much fluoride can actually stain the teeth. This is especially prevalent in children who use fluoride toothpastes. Swallowing the toothpaste instead of spitting it out can cause discoloration of teeth later in life.
Today, dentists will recommend a number of things for teeth whitening. A large factor in discoloration or spots on the teeth is the food and drinks that we consume. Most dentists will recommend that we stay away from coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco. These are the number 1 teeth staining items.
The demand for teeth whitening products and procedures keeps growing and growing. As a matter of fact, in 2002, a survey was done by the American Dental Association and Colgate. The survey results stated that the fastest growing business of a dentist was teeth whitening. There was a 25% increase in the number of patients who wanted this service. Over the last five years, teeth whitening and bleaching procedure demands have grown over 300%. Apparently we all want a bright white smile.
Today, there are a number of different procedures that you can have done to whiten your teeth and brighten your smile. You can visit your dentist and discuss it with him. He can then help you to decide on a procedure that's best for you. You could also just visit your local drugstore and pick up one of many teeth whitening systems to keep your smile a shiny and bright one.
Marc Ilgen is an internet entrepreneur and and affiliate marketer. He runs a website called Teeth-Whitening-Central.com to provide free information on tooth whitening products. He also has an online store for tooth whitener kits, gels and accessories.
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