Teeth Whitening Evolution Ancient to Modern (2024)

FAQs

Teeth Whitening Evolution Ancient to Modern? ›

In the late 1800s, dentists started using chlorine as a bleaching agent to remove the yellowish tinge from teeth. The approach was a popular teeth whitening method until about 1900. Post-1900, the use of hydrogen peroxide came into practice.

4,000 years ago – Pumice stone & wine vinegar

It seems that the Egyptians viewed white teeth as a sign of beauty and wealth. So to make sure their pearly whites were dazzling, they created a lightening concoction made of wine vinegar paste mixed with ground pumice stones.

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

Often times, they would use a special toothpaste that was comprised of wine-vinegar, pumice stone, and ground oxen hooves. The way people kept their teeth clean back in the day was with a “chew stick.” This was a twig with a frayed end that people would rub against their teeth.

As early as 4000 years ago, people wanted a whiter smile. The ancient Egyptians mixed ground pumice stone with wine vinegar to form a paste. The ancient Romans used urine for its ammonia properties. (Thankfully we have come along way!)

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.

Native Americans cleaned their teeth by using chewsticks and chewing on fresh herbs to cleanse their teeth and gums. Chewsticks were twigs that had two uses: one end was frayed by a rock and used for brushing, while the other end was sharpened and used as a tooth pick.

The ancient Romans also loved white smiles. They used chew sticks to get rid of plaque on their teeth. There are even documents to indicate that they used urine (due to its ammonia content) to keep dental stains at bay. Nomadic peoples of ancient Europe also had their own take on teeth whitening.

Post-1900, the use of hydrogen peroxide came into practice. Around 1960, dentist William Klusimer invented different peroxide-based whitening agents widely used till 1970. From 1989 onward, carbamide peroxide became a teeth whitening agent with virtually no side effects.

Your teeth may appear more yellow due to the contrast between the deeper intrinsic stains and the whiter surface. Tip: To learn the cause of intrinsic stains and discuss possible treatments, consult with a dentist.

Did ancient Romans whiten their teeth? ›

Specifically, they used frayed sticks as toothbrushes and abrasive powders as toothpaste. Some ingredients used in the powders included ashes, seashells, eggshells, pumice, and hooves. Romans also used urine as a mouthwash to clean and whiten their teeth. The cleansing properties came from the urine's ammonia.

It has been observed that the Egyptians used burnt eggshells, powder of ox's hooves, and ashes, combined using a pumice stone to make a powder they'd rub their teeth and gums with.

Some of the early techniques in these cultures included chewing on bark or sticks with frayed ends, feathers, fish bones and porcupine quills. They used materials like silver, jade and gold to repair or decorate their teeth.

The Miswak stick is a natural twig found on the Salvadora Persica tree. It is predominantly used in the Eastern world and in various locations in Africa. 100% organic and used by many for thousands of years, the Miswak stick has many great components including: double the fluoride found in your average toothpaste.

The typical oral hygiene routine for a person in ancient China was to gargle salt water or tea. It became common in the Tang dynasty to soak a willow twig in water before bed and chew on it in the morning. The willow fibers would protrude like a comb and scrub the teeth clean.

Ancient Times

The result was probably a little bit more abrasive than our modern-day Colgate or Crest. But the Egyptians were not alone in the consistency of their toothpaste-like concoctions; the Greeks and Romans' version used crushed bones and oyster shells and flavored it with charcoal powder and bark.

Fibrous foods – Ancient humans ate mostly fibrous foods. These are both beneficial for digestion and helpful to the teeth – the fibers act as natural toothbrushes and scrub away food particles, bacteria and plaque from the teeth. A variety of nutrients – Your diet should be rich in a variety of nutrients and minerals.

Ancient Times

There were a number of societies around 500 BC that were experimenting with toothpaste-like substances. Although toothbrushes hadn't quite been invented yet, Egyptians used a paste made of soot, gum arabic (a naturally-occurring gum made from the hardened sap of an acacia tree), and water.

Often, they would use water and a rough cloth, scrubbing their teeth. Salt and charcoal were often rubbed across the teeth and then rinsed away. However, the most common way of taking care of teeth involved taking a birch twig and fraying the end, making a primitive brush. Dental powders were also used.

Ancient humans had lower loads of harmful disease-causing bacteria and a significantly lower risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease. However, once farming populations expand, there's a massive change. Huge amounts of gum disease and cavities start cropping up," says Alan Cooper, Ph.