When you take into account just how far in home teeth whitening products that we take for granted today, have advanced from their rather humble beginnings, it can make you very  thankful for what you do not have to put into your mouth simply to get a bright white smile. Even though it may look that way, we have not always had products such as brushed on bleaching gels, whitening toothpastes or whitening strips available. Before the oral healthcare marketplace mushroomed into the leading industry that it is today, getting that elusive smile was not always such a simple task.

Without the invention of the toothbrush, in home teeth whitening would not be where it is now. The first teeth cleaning implements, from hundreds of years ago, bore very little resemblance to what we refer to as a toothbrush nowadays. The first one was fashioned out of a twig with a chafed end to scrape the tooth. Everybody from royalty to peasants all utilized a piece of yard debris as a means to rid their mouth and teeth of excess food and buildup. This early form of toothbrush eventually evolved into something resembling the implement we use today. Instead of a frayed twig, a piece of shaped wood with boar bristles attached to one end, became the in thing to brush your pearly whites with. Very little beats the taste of a mouthful of pig hair first thing in the morning.

Needing to have whiter teeth is not anything new and has always been fashionable. The early barber, who used to double up as the local dentist, would literally file the surface of the tooth down and then apply a solution of Nitric Acid. This process would certainly be effective at giving brilliant white teeth, but it also came with a high price tag. The combination of filing away and acid would destroy the enamel protection resulting in rapid decay and the eventual loss of the teeth.

Think about that fresh minty taste of your toothpaste. The majority of whitening toothpastes now include baking soda as an active component. It is still a common practice to brush the teeth with bicarbonate of soda right out of the Arm & Hammer packet. If you do not want that baking soda taste, then you may want to stick with toothpaste. At any rate it no longer contains urine, which was a common component in the 1800’s.

The best home dental whitening system begins with proper tooth care. You do need to brush every day and floss on a regular basis. Regular check-ups at the dentist can assist in keeping your teeth healthy and your gums in great shape. You do not need to brush your teeth with pure bleach. You may ,in addition, want to skip tobacco products, red wine and beverages such as tea, coffee or soda. All of those cause discoloration of the enamel over time. If whiter teeth seem too much hassle, then consider how far individuals had to go in times past to have sparkling white teeth.