Teeth whitening
White teeth have long been associated with beauty and good health. In addition people with whiter teeth are usually more confident and less self-conscious about smiling. Unsurprisingly therefore teeth whitening is nothing new.
The Egyptians were the first to use toothpaste which was then made from powdered pumice and vinegar while the Romans believed that urine would keep their teeth healthy and white.
In the 17th and 18th centuries barbers actually performed teeth whitening procedures (hence the white on the red and white barber's poll). However the process involved the painful filing down of the teeth followed by the application of highly-corrosive nitric acid. While this did whiten the teeth, it also destroyed the enamel ultimately causing the teeth to decay quicker.
The most common forms of the discolouration of teeth are aging, chemical damage to teeth and staining. Staining is principally caused by cigarettes, coffee, cola, tea and red wine, although certain medications can also cause significant discolouration.