Smiling is the number one form of universal communication. Since the human species began, women and men have been fanatical in their efforts to have clean teeth and a sparkling smile. While some of the methods of yesteryear were crude to say the least, they served as a foundation for oral and dental hygiene as we know it today. Here’s a brief but interesting history about teeth whitening.
In 3000 BC toothbrushes were known as chew sticks, made of little branches that were frayed at one end. Our forefathers cleaned their teeth with these to remove debris. In the early 1400s the Chinese were the first people to use a toothbrush with a bamboo handle and hog bristles. European traders were very interested in these objects and took them home. From then, many cultures and countries began to use similar toothbrushes.
Louis Pasteur, a French bacteriologist, caused some alarm when he discovered germs. People learned that hog bristles could be responsible for oral infections. Scientists continued to search for a more sanitized substitute, but they were only successful in 1935 when nylon was discovered by Wallace Corothers.
A company called du Pont began marketing Dr West’s Miracle Tuft Toothbrush right across America. People were educated about the disadvantages of hog hair and informed about the advantages of nylon bristles. Unfortunately Dr West’s ‘miracle’ toothbrush was so hard that it damaged gums, so much so that dentists would not endorse them. It took du Pont almost another 20 years before producing the Park Avenue toothbrush with soft nylon.
1961 was a noteworthy year for oral hygiene when the Squibb Company proudly presented the electric toothbrush. Endorsed by the American Dental Association, the electric toothbrush became more refined with each passing year. The modern versions are battery powered, sonic powered, or cordless.
In 2000 BC the Egyptians were the first to start teeth whitening. They used a mixture of crushed pumice stone and wine vinegar which was rubbed onto the teeth using a chew stick. This might sound gross, but wait until you hear what the Romans did – they whitened their teeth with urine! Roman physicians were adamant that urine contained bleaching properties.
History shows that it wasn’t dentists who offered teeth whitening to the public. It was in fact barbers who were often asked to extract rotting teeth. After filing the teeth, they would apply a caustic acid as a whitener. It proved to be effective but, in the process, the enamel was destroyed.
Italian dentists were the first to realize that dental discolorations could be eliminated with fluoride. In the 1840s they recommended that children be allowed to suck sweetened lozenges containing fluoride. The benefits appeared to be so positive that fluoride was added to tap water, mouthwashes and toothpaste. This was discontinued years later when it was found that fluoride was the cause of discoloration of teeth in later life.
Here we are now in the 21st Century and mankind is still making efforts to get the ultimate smile with teeth whitening procedures and products. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry there has been an increase of 300 percent in the last five years in the number of bleaching and whitening procedures. These are a far cry from methods used by our ancestors!
Invisalign braces Toronto is an inexpensive way to straighten and enhance your smile dramatically. Cosmetic dentist Toronto offers various tooth whitening options to help you achieve the look that you want.
