People in the 21st century want to look and feel their best, including their smiles. To renew vibrancy, many individuals have invested in teeth whitening, which can remove stains and create a more youthful appearance. While modern advances have given us much to celebrate, teeth whitening actually dates back several thousand years.
According to research, the ancient Egyptians used a whitening process more than 4000 years ago. Because white teeth indicated beauty and wealth, having a bright smile was important, so they created a whitening paste using ground pumice stone mixed together with wine vinegar. Another ancient culture, the Romans, used urine to whiten their smiles because the ammonia acted as a bleaching agent.
In the 17th century, barbers took care of grooming hair and whitening teeth. The barber would actually file the teeth down and apply an acid to lift stains. Though the teeth looked whiter, this process actually eroded enamel and caused decay. Fluoride and its benefit to teeth were identified in the early 19th century.
Currently, patients have several options for a stunning smile. Dr. Yolanda Cruz offers both in-office and at-home teeth whitening. Zoom in-office whitening takes about an hour and uses a special solution combined with an ultraviolet light to remove discolorations.
With at-home whitening, impressions are made of the patient’s mouth so that custom trays can be created. Patients will then apply a professional-strength bleaching gel to the trays and wear them as directed. Most people notice a change in 10 to 14 days.
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