The history of teeth whitening – general facts that dentists need to know.
An animated look back at the pharaohs and teeth whitening
It’s easy to get carried away by today’s science and what we can offer our patients now. I’ll make a radical statement that “history can be overlooked and less time is spent reading about the past.” With that in mind, I spent some time reading various writings on the history of teeth whitening, extracting the most compelling archives. Then, in a brief chronological order, I connected the dots by applying 21st century dental reflection on the past and making the connection between how we got to where we are today.
You might think that wanting a whiter smile might seem very 21st century, but the reality is that The Egyptians' aspirations for a whiter smile were exactly the same as 4,000 years ago. A whiter smile was described as a sign of beauty and wealth.
Questions and answers – How did the Egyptians convey their messages? Painted walls, stone, or papyrus seemed to be the standard forms of media communication at the time, somewhat limited and varied compared to the flooded channels we continue to get used to today.
Fortunately for today's dentition, the way teeth are whitened has evolved somewhat. It all started with the desire to make teeth whiter and clean external stains; for this they used chewing sticks (it's funny to think that chewing sticks were the equivalent of our polishing and airing systems available today). For the actual method of teeth whitening, the Egyptians used pumice stone and vinegar, and the Romans used ammonia from urine. No doubt, both methods would be considered slightly unfavorable, resulting in immeasurable damage for a number of reasons.
In the 17th century, it seems you could go to a barbershop to get a haircut and walk out with a whiter smile, because again, they preferred acidic ingredients to achieve a whiter smile. Again, this was rather detrimental to the natural dentition.
Considering the illegality of non-dental professionals, such as beauticians, performing teeth whitening and the fact that this has been publicly highlighted through news channels more recently, it seems ironic that teeth whitening could be perceived as having a 360-degree evolution since the 17th century.
Fast forward to the 21st century, to the 1980s, when peroxide began to be used for teeth whitening. Initially, peroxide was used for its antiseptic properties. Before long, the dental profession and the public became addicted to the effect of using hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide for teeth whitening.
It would seem that The desire to achieve a whiter smile has existed for centuries. Fortunately, there have been changes throughout the history of teeth whitening, and the way teeth are whitened continues to be refined. However, the basic principles of using hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide remain the same.
While the general desire for a whiter smile remains the same, it’s important to point out that the motivation behind wanting a whiter smile may have changed somewhat since the pharaohs were smiling in front of the pyramids and writing on stone and papyrus. The daily/hourly selfie updates on social media have gone crazy, in my humble opinion, and this is a reason huge to reflect on how we view ourselves, or how others view us today, as well as how the dentist can reflect on what is happening around us.
The demand for teeth whitening has increased to such an extent that it has become one of the most frequently requested dental procedures by the public today.
What other questions can we ask ourselves and others that might help provide information about teeth whitening?
How can we, as a profession, orchestrate an optimal environment for the appropriate sharing of evidence-based knowledge that is of public interest, how can history be incorporated into this endeavor?
For the purpose of the question, I will focus my answer on social media, because it plays such an influential role in reaching today's audience. If we were to focus on the topic, the legality of teeth whitening, it makes sense for the entire profession to publish consistent and concise messages with references. Of course, it is possible to customize your image or images.
However, the core message regarding the legality of teeth whitening should remain the same. If you belong to an association/society, it might be possible to work with them to develop some key messages that key people on the team can use. The real beauty is in collaborating with colleagues from across the profession, who may have years of experience but who are not as adept at current communication.
How healthy are the underlying personal dialogues that take place every second of every minute as we consume and analyze others' posts?
I'll briefly answer this question by saying that it's important to think, before you post, why you're doing it, what you're posting, what people might interpret from this post? Does the post offer exactly what I want it to offer?
How can the dental profession ensure that consistent messages are conveyed through social media, positively contributing to oral health and understanding of the teeth whitening process?
Evidence-based, clear messages, short and concise, with references, which all professionals post and which are approved by associations/societies, represent a good point of support to ensure the coherence of information.
How can history be used to capture the public's attention in an educational way?
By incorporating comparisons through certain facts from today back in time, it might be possible to create a slightly different, perhaps slightly humorous, message that you could post.
Let me know if the blog above has sparked any questions in your daily practice that you would like to discuss further. How did looking back in time and where we are today resonate with you as a dentist?
Bibliography
Teeth Whitening: What We Know Now. J Evid Based Dent Pract. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2015 Jun 1. Clifton M. Carey, BA, MS, PhD, Professor.
Source: enlightensmiles.com
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