Americans have incorporated teeth whitening techniques into their daily beauty regimens. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, almost 90% of dental patients sought a tooth-whitening process. No longer secreted away in the elusive, exclusive domain of “celebrities only,” dazzling white teeth are available to everyone.
Anyone can go to a dentist and pay for professional teeth whitening in DC. Everyone has an opinion on the best way to achieve a dazzling smile, whether DIY or done by a dentist. This “thing” with blinding white teeth is just another vain obsession about our appearance in today’s wannabe-TV-star world of today. Or is it?
Oh, Those Crazy Bronze Age Sexpots
It turns that out our ancestors were just as obsessed with a sexy smile as we are today. Around 4,000 years ago, our Egyptian ancestors mixed wine vinegar and powdered rocks into a gritty acidic concoction and then used sticks to brush it onto their teeth. After a few years of brushing their teeth this way, those beauty-obsessed Egyptians must have been thrilled that the few teeth they had left were super white, by God!
If that sounds hideous to you, imagine the ancient status-obsessed Romans. They used goat’s milk mixed with urine for teeth whitening. The older the urine, the better it was for this process. Apparently, the ammonia in urine was effective at whitening. (This mixture probably was not the best breath freshener, but who cared as long as you looked rich and beautiful!)
What Teeth Whitening Technique Is Best for You?
The first step is to figure out the cause of your tooth discoloration. Be aware that tooth discoloration is part of the normal aging process. As you age, the enamel on your teeth wears away, exposing more of the yellowish dentin underneath. That process, combined with consuming staining food and drinks, smoking, and certain medications, all causes tooth discoloration.
Because of the variety of causes, a whitening process that works for one person may not be effective for another. For staining caused by external factors such as diet and smoking, many dentists will admit that today’s over-the-counter products are pretty effective. If used as directed, you will probably notice whiter teeth. For the best results, however, you may want to consult your dentist. With professional advice, you can pinpoint the cause of your tooth discoloration, determine your overall dental health, and understand the costs associated with various techniques. Then you can design the most effective Washington DC teeth whitening process for your needs.
