Nitric Acid and Teeth Whitening

Nitric Acid and Teeth Whitening

Have you ever wanted to put ammonia, urine or Nitric Acid on your teeth? That answer would probably be a resounding “No!” You are not alone. But once upon a time, that was the accepted method used to getting a white smile and as a mark of nobility and wealth. Whitening kits had quite an illustrious beginning.

And it is not as easy to get white teeth as they show us on tv commercials!

Actually illustrious may not be the desired word. It may be more akin to “barbaric” or simply “disgusting.” But without those humble, albeit creepy, beginnings, we would not have the teeth whitening products that now sit on supermarket and pharmacy shelves.

Getting a whiter, brighter smile actually started with the toothbrush, except it was not in the form found in today’s market. It was a stick. It would be chewed at one end to fray it, and then brushed over the teeth. The first toothpaste was comprised of ground pumice stone and vinegar made with wine. Later, the Romans developed a paste that contained urine. Talk about having a dirty mouth! But the elements have real science to them. It is the ammonia that helped clean and whiten teeth.

The small shop of the local barber is becoming a thing of the past. At one point he, because most barbers were not women a hundred years ago, would be the one you turned to if you had a problem with a tooth. He even offered teeth whitening procedures. He would file the teeth and then apply Nitric Acid to produce whiter teeth. Of course, the end result was good, but the acid that was used destroyed the enamel on the teeth, which soon resulted in them rotting away. Thankfully, whitening kits can now be purchased over the counter and are safe.

Many people elect to try to whiten their teeth at home with different varieties of a whitening gel. Most formulas contain a whitening agent, either bleach or baking soda, and work by applying a thin coat. The coating is left on for a set amount of time. The process is not immediate and may only lighten the teeth a few shades. For up to fourteen shades in whitening, a person would have to turn to a dental whitening regime, such as zoom whitening, at the dentist’s office.

Toothpaste has come along way since the ammonia and urine days. You do not have to use a tooth whitening kit that contains such harsh and disgusting elements just to have whiter teeth. Whitening kits are safe when used properly and if you follow the directions. One of the key directions is starting with a clean mouth after brushing. You can stick with mint toothpaste if it makes you feel better and you will also have nice breath.