10/10/2025
Having brighter, whiter teeth dates back to Egyptian times when it was a symbol of higher status. Often times, they would use a special toothpaste that was comprised of wine-vinegar, pumice stone, and ground oxen hooves.
Fast forward to whitening in modern times.
In the late 1800s, dentists started using chlorine as a way of restoring teeth back to a whiter color. This was a popular method used all across Europe until the early 1900s. At this point, the use of hydrogen peroxide became more popular. In the year 1960, a dentist known as William Klusimer invented peroxide-based whitening agents, and they were popular until about 1970. However, when peroxide-based formulas were made stronger, this was too harsh on the gum tissue.
All sorts of other techniques were experimented with, including the use of heating lamps. However, heat from these lamps was far too intense and would overheat the dental pulps, the inner layer of the tooth, sometimes causing the need for endodontic therapy. In 1989, carbamide peroxide was introduced as a whitening agent. This treatment was effective and had less negative side effects.
Teeth whitening has come a long way, but now it can be done in the comfort of your own home with take-home whitening kits from your dentist.
