Ancient Teeth Whitening Methods
Our ancestors were also concerned about whiter teeth. They used different methods to achieve a shining smile. The ancient Egyptians around 4000 years ago started the process of teeth whitening. They were very much concerned with appearing beautiful and wealthy. Thus they mixed wine vinegar with ground pumice stone in order to create a white paste which they applied to their teeth.
The ancient Romans used urine as bleach to whiten their teeth. It was the ammonia in the urine that contributed to a bright smile.
The Greeks of old times applied strange mixtures and chemicals to their teeth which they extracted from leaves.
During the 17th century people used to go to their barber to whiten their teeth. The barber filed the teeth and rubbed nitric acid to them. Unfortunately this practice, left people with a few or no teeth at all because they decayed.
The Europeans of the Renaissance applied bleach to their teeth. They had whiter teeth for a limited period but as time passed their enamel started to wear away resulting in tooth decay.
In the early 19th century, fluoride was discovered in order to maintain healthy teeth. On the other hand an excessive use of fluoride caused teeth staining.
Applying Bleaching Gel To Brighten Teeth
One of the teeth whitening methods that many people try at home is using a bleaching gel. Bleaching gel is pretty inexpensive and easy to find. Bleaching gels are made from a peroxide solution that can be applied in several different ways. The gel can be applied in a bleaching tray that fits over the teeth, or with a small brush or a toothbrush. It also can be put into a bleaching pen and applied with the pen.
Advantages of Using Bleaching Gel
One of the advantages of using bleaching gel to brighten teeth is the ease of use. Because you can use the gel in a tray, in a pen, or painted directly onto the teeth with a brush it makes it easy for people to apply the gel in whatever method works for them. Bleaching gel works in as little as 10 minutes, which makes it perfect for people who want to brighten their teeth before going out or going to work. Bleaching gel also is not as messy as some other types of tooth whitening products because it is a thick gel. But despite the advantages using bleaching gel is not always the best choice for tooth whitening.
Disadvantages of Using Bleaching Gel
Bleaching gel, like many other peroxide based tooth whiteners, doesn't dramatically whiten teeth. If your teeth have some minor staining or are just looking dull then a bleaching gel will make your teeth look whiter. But if your teeth are discolored or seriously stained the peroxide gel won't have enough power to dramatically whiten your teeth. Another disadvantage is that the gel has to stay on your teeth in order to work which means you can't eat, drink, or do anything that might loosen the gel from the teeth the entire time that you're wearing the gel. Using the gel everyday can weaken the enamel on your teeth and over time it can cause sensitivity or make any existing sensitivity worse.
Danger of Teeth Whitening Using Non-Natural Techniques: Chemical Burns
Whether you use a DIY kit or have teeth whitening done at the dentist if you use a product or have a treatment done that doesn't use natural elements to whiten teeth you could get hurt. Many products that aren't naturally based use harsh chemicals that can destroy the surface of your teeth, ruin the enamel of the tooth, or even cause nasty chemical burns on the gums. Chemical burns on the gums can take weeks to heal and they are very painful.
DIY Kits
The teeth whitening kits that you can buy in stores are notorious for causing chemical burns and the loss of tooth enamel. Because these kits are made to be one size fits all they often don't fit right. When the tray or the strip doesn't fit your teeth exactly right there is a bigger risk that you will get some of the toxic tooth whitening solution on your gums which will cause burns. And the more you use these DIY kits the more damage will be done. Over time these kits strip the enamel from the teeth which can weaken the tooth and cause discoloration or even tooth loss.
Professional Whitening Treatments
Professional whitening treatments aren't much safer than DIY kits. If the dentist performing the treatment hasn't had enough training using a laser during light-accelerated whitening the laser could damage your teeth. If the gel or other whitening agents aren't put on carefully or if the safety shield for your gums slips or isn't applied correctly you could end up with serious chemical burns on your gums. Everyone makes mistakes, so even experienced dentists can cause injuries when performing teeth whitening procedures. It's safer to choose a natural tooth whitener that won't cause chemical burns, tooth loss or other problems when you want to whiten your teeth.
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