History of Toothbrushes and Whitening Kits

Whitening kits have come a long way since using ammonia, Nitric Acid and urine as a method to attaining a set of whiter teeth. Dental hygiene and the pursuit of a whiter smile have always seemed to hold a special place in the hearts of those who care about their appearance.

Kings, Queens, Ladies and Lords have all found themselves being scrutinized for their smile. Oral hygiene had some pretty humble beginning, but the tooth whitening system has been a love and hate affair. It just may have been the twigs that started the smile perfectionists towards having a perfect set of pearly whites.

Getting a whiter, brighter smile actually started with the toothbrush, except it was not in the form found in today's market. It was a stick. It would be chewed at one end to fray it, and then brushed over the teeth.

The first toothpaste was comprised of ground pumice stone and vinegar made with wine. Later, the Romans developed a paste that contained urine. Talk about having a dirty mouth! But the elements have real science to them. It is the ammonia that helped clean and whiten teeth.

Thank you modern medicine for eliminating the need for disgusting toothpastes. But what about making the teeth whiter? While most people recognize barber shops as places where men get their hair cut, it was once used as the local dentist.

Individuals seeking a brighter, whiter smile would have the barber file their teeth and coat them with an acid. Whiteness would be the result, but ultimately the acid destroyed the enamel and the individual's teeth would begin to rot. This is definitely a far cry from the whitening kits people store in their bathroom cabinets at home.

Many people elect to try to whiten their teeth at home with different varieties of a whitening gel. Most formulas contain a whitening agent, either bleach or baking soda, and work by applying a thin coat.

The coating is left on for a set amount of time. The process is not immediate and may only lighten the teeth a few shades. For up to fourteen shades in whitening, a person would have to turn to a dental whitening regime, such as zoom whitening, at the dentist's office.

Toothpaste has come along way since the ammonia and urine days. You do not have to use a tooth whitening kit that contains such harsh and disgusting elements just to have whiter teeth. Whitening kits are safe when used properly and if you follow the directions.

One of the key directions is starting with a clean mouth after brushing. You can stick with mint toothpaste if it makes you feel better and you will also have nice breath.