If someone today was handed a little stick and told to brush their teeth with it, would they know what to do? Probably not. Our ancestors knew. For 5,000 years, people would fray the end of a small stick and brush their teeth with it. It apparently worked pretty well, too.
Until fairly recently, there were no dentists as we know them. It was common for people to lose teeth early because of accident or illness. Women would sometimes lose teeth during childbirth or nursing. Not being able to eat properly (imagine having to suck on a piece of meat because chewing was impossible) led to malnutrition.
Go forward in time and some of those people who managed to keep their teeth decided that they wanted whiter teeth. Movie stars weren’t the first to do whatever it took to get that brilliant smile back. The ancient Egyptians would use a chew stick to brush a mixture of wine vinegar and powdered pumice stone onto their teeth.
Probably the worst whitening technique ever was developed about a thousand years ago. Barber-surgeons would file down their patients teeth and then dab on nitric acid. This highly corrosive whitener did a good job at brightening the teeth, but it also destroyed the enamel, causing serious decay, leading to tooth loss. For hundreds of years, people wanted white teeth badly enough to continue with this destructive treatment.
Fortunately, it’s possible now to safely whiten teeth several shades in about an hour. Your Dentist in Cherry Hill NJ, using the Zoom!® whitening system, will first use a shield to protect teeth and gums. A whitening solution is applied and then activated with the special Zoom!® light. After a short fluoride treatment to keep teeth healthy, the whitening treatment is finished and teeth are now 6-10 shades whiter!
The Office of Rosen & Dworkin, P.A. provides Zoom!® whitening for their patients. This Dentist in Cherry Hill NJ also offers general dentistry as well as cosmetic and restorative dentistry using the latest innovative technology in a family-friendly atmosphere. Their goal is healthy, bright smiles for all of their patients. Browse their website to learn more about all of the services that they offer and then schedule an appointment to brighten your smile.
