If you look at the cosmetic dental treatments available today, you might notice that they are safe, administered in sanitary environments, and only minimally invasive if at all. However, people have tried a wide range of methods to pretty up their smiles over the centuries, and many of them would be downright gross or scary by modern standards. Here’s a brief overview of a few primitive teeth whitening treatments to help you appreciate just how amazingly safe and effective modern cosmetic dental procedures are.
Ancient Teeth Whitening Was Pretty Disgusting
In many cultures throughout history, white and shiny teeth have been seen as signs of health, beauty, and social status, and people have tried many different ways to lift troublesome dental stains. While societies such as ancient Egypt found some success in using poultices to remove discoloration, other societies discovered methods that would make modern dental patients rather queasy.
For example, the ancient Romans had a cheap teeth whitening product that was easily available to people of all ages and social classes as long as they had a source of drinking water nearby. They found that if they used their own urine as mouthwash, the ammonia it contained would remove unsightly discoloration and leave them with whiter teeth. Unfortunately, this method didn’t do much to improve a patient’s breath.
Medieval Teeth Whitening Was Just Plain Terrifying
The people of Medieval Europe were just as eager to achieve white teeth as the ancient Egyptians and Romans, and while they had an effective whitening method, it was simply brutal. Barbers offered whitening services that required them to first remove the outer layers of the patient’s enamel with a file or rasp before bleaching the teeth with nitric acid. While this treatment (violently) removed stains and discoloration from the patient’s teeth and gave them a whiter appearance, it also left them more vulnerable to injury and decay.
Modern Teeth Whitening Is Comfortable, Safe, and Effective
Luckily, today’s dentists can administer safe teeth whitening treatments that deliver magnificent results in brief periods of time. A patient seeking whitening can choose between an in-office procedure that can be completed in about an hour or a take-home kit that takes about two weeks. Both methods are noninvasive, involve absolutely no urine or enamel destruction, and will leave your teeth up to eight shades whiter.
About the Practice
Lakewood Complete Dentistry offers the finest oral health services in Colorado. Led by Dr. Vincenzo Artino, the staff treats each patient with the utmost courtesy as well as old-fashioned customer service. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry as well as teeth whitening. To book your cosmetic dental consultation, contact his office online or dial (303) 238-2800.