A Brief History Of Tooth Whitening - From The Sublime To The… (2024)

FAQs

What is the history of teeth whitening? ›

How Did Teeth Whitening Originate? Many years ago, ancient Egyptians created a paste using ground pumice stone, wine vinegar, and ground oxen hooves to whiten their teeth. Since appearance was of utmost importance during this time, they considered a bright smile to be a symbol of virility, wealth, and sensuous appeal.

Ancient Egyptian Teeth Whitening

Whitening teeth was something that fascinated the Pharaohs, and they had their own method of achieving a beautiful smile. Often times, they would use a special toothpaste that was comprised of wine-vinegar, pumice stone, and ground oxen hooves.

In the 1960's, dentists stumbled across the use of hydrogen peroxide. While peroxide gel was commonly used as an antiseptic to treat gum disease, they noticed that a side effect of treatment was actually whiter teeth.

The problem was identified early on. Teeth showed up grey in early black-and-white films—Errol Flynn's were famously filthy. To correct this, actors were often required by their studio contracts to have full sets of gleaming new dentures made for them. Perhaps only Bugs Bunny had naturally perfect white incisors.

By the 1940s and 1950s, ether and hydrogen peroxide gels were used to whiten vital teeth, whereas non-vital teeth were whitened using pyrozone and sodium perborate. In the late 1960s, Dr William Klusmeier, an orthodontist from Fort Smith, Arkansas, introduced the first custom tray bleaching.

Cosmetic dentistry

The ancient Romans whitened their teeth using toothpaste made from human urine and goat milk. Dental bridges and crowns were developed in ancient Rome in 500 BCE. This form of dentistry was a craft the Etruscans were skilled at.

If you can believe it, tooth brushing tools date way back to around 3500 BC! The Egyptians had created the cleaning utensil by fraying the ends of a twig, which created the “bristles.” There were even tombs in the ancient Egyptians that had contained these tooth-sticks right alongside their owners.

Before toothbrushes, many used chew sticks, thin twigs they would gnaw on until one end frayed, creating a sort of brush. Chew sticks remain in wide use in some cultures today.

Aging: Most teeth become worn down over the years, and they might turn into a yellowish or grayish-blue color. Tooth decay: The more a tooth deteriorates, the less blood flow it'll receive. Without nutrients to survive, the tooth can break down and turn gray.

Why do old people's teeth get dark? ›

As you grow older, your tooth enamel wears thinner. This exposes more of the underlying dentin, which has a yellowish hue. As a result, your teeth may appear slightly more discolored as you age.

Teeth whitening treatments are for everyone – there's no age limit to having any kind of cosmetic dental treatments, so it doesn't matter if you're 26 or 62 or older, if you want whiter teeth, your age is not going to prevent it from happening.

Dr.

Sands has said that the secret to Kim's beautiful smile is simply undergoing teeth whitening and Invisalign braces. According to Dr. Sands, Kim has teeth whitening twice a year to ensure a dazzlingly white smile. At age twenty-eight she also had Invisalign clear braces to straighten her misaligned smile.

It was seen as a sign of maturity, beauty, and civilization. A common belief is that blackened teeth differentiated humans from animals. Teeth blackening is often done in conjunction with traditions of tooth sharpening and dental evulsion, as well as other body modification customs like tattoos.

Porcelain Veneers

These are very popular amongst celebrities because of their incredible results. Veneers are thin, strong shells that are custom-made from dental porcelain to cover the front surface of your teeth. They can fix small cracks, chips, gaps, and discoloration all at once.

This is likely because we associate straight, white teeth with good hygiene habits, which signal to others that we are intelligent and responsible. So if you're looking to make a good impression, make sure to take care of your teeth!

They also found out that peroxide in combination with a heat lamp would increase the whitening effects of peroxide. In the 1980's trays with peroxide became very popular to whiten teeth. These techniques are still in use today.

There are a few reasons for why whitened teeth are so highly sought after in American society, from attracting partners, to the social construct of power, to adhering to societal ideals, to the growth of the cosmetic dental industry, to preserving dental health, and more. As you'll see, these all tie together.

Many celebrities have a tooth-related secret – their teeth aren't really as white as they look. They are actually covered by thin sheets of resin or porcelain called veneers.