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.
The first ever toothbrushes were used in 3000 BC. These comprised of small branches that were scuffed at one end. People rubbed them on their teeth to get rid of food particles and other debris. In the 1400s the first toothbrush was invented by the Chinese. These had bamboo handles and hog hair bristles. They caught the attention of European traders who introduced them to many cultures.
It was only when French bacteriologist, Louis Pasteur, discovered germs that people realized that an animal’s bristles could cause infection. While many efforts were made to invent a more hygienic substitute, it was only in 1935 when Wallace Corothers discovered nylon that the answer was found.
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 year of acclaim in the dental world when the Squibb Company launched the very first electric toothbrush which was approved by the American Dental Association. Technology increased rapidly and, over the ensuing years, the electric toothbrush developed rapidly. Today we have battery operated ones, cordless ones and even sonic ones.
The first records of teeth whitening show that the Egyptians were the first to attempt this process. As far back as 2000 BC they would rub their teeth with a mix of wine vinegar and ground pumice stone. Not very pleasant! But even worse were the Romans who used human urine to whiten their teeth.
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.
During the 1800s Italian dentists discovered that fluoride could remove discolorations on teeth. This began a move in the 1840s to get children to suck sweetened fluoride lozenges. The results were so good that fluoride was added to drinking water and put in toothpastes and mouthwashes because it also reduced tooth decay. Unfortunately it was later learned that fluoride actually caused discoloration of the teeth in adult years.
Mankind is now living in the 21st Century and we are just as obsessed with sparkling white teeth in our efforts for that perfect smile. In fact the number of whitening or bleaching procedures done in the last 5 years has increased by a staggering 300 percent. This information was released by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
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.
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