In the oral healthcare marketplace of today, home teeth whitening systems have become a leading industry. Whitening chewing gum alone is estimated to bring in an astounding seventeen million dollars per annum in sales, and that is just for one brand name. When you include additional products like brushed on bleaching gels, whitening toothpastes and whitening strips, it is easy to see just how big and lucrative the market has grown into. Oral care as we know it today, has not always been that way though and is far removed from its rather humble beginnings. The lengths which some folks would go to in the past just to get a natural smile can make you very grateful for the modern conveniences that we take for granted nowadays.

Without the invention of the toothbrush, in home teeth whitening would not be where it is now. Early 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 frayed end to scrape the tooth. Everybody from royalty to peasants all used a bit of yard debris as a way to rid their mouth and teeth of excess food and buildup. This crude type of toothbrush eventually evolved into something resembling the implement we use now. 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. Nothing beats the taste of a mouthful of pig hair first thing in the morning.

The need to have whiter teeth is by no means the latest fashion craze since it has been around for many years. Hundreds of years ago, the local barbers shop would also be the place to go if you needed anything doing to your teeth. To give you the dazzling white teeth that you desired, the barber come tooth doctor would file the tooth surface down and then apply a Nitric Acid solution. While this process would certainly work in the short term, the teeth would begin crumbling rapidly because of the lack of tooth enamel protection that would be destroyed by the process.

Think of that fresh minty taste sensation of your toothpaste. Most whitening toothpastes nowadays contain baking soda as an active component. It is still a popular 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 least it no longer includes urine, which was a popular ingredient in the 1800’s.

If it is said once, it will be said a hundred times over your life-time. Home teeth whitening all starts out with following a proper oral hygiene routine. Keeping away from tobacco products, red wine and beverages like coffee and tea are also good ideas if your goal is to have pearly whites. Do not take for granted how simple it is for modern man to have brighter teeth. At least you do not have to brush with a toothbrush made of pig hair.

The danger in teeth whitening procedures?

Most people are concerned about making their teeth white but how many of those are ever thought about the potential danger in teeth whitening procedures. Your mouth tissue and teeth could potentially be at risk.

By and large the potential risk can be minimized and nothing to be worried about but worth looking into.

3 Potential Dangers in Whitening Your Teeth

1) For those people who have sensitive gums and soft mouth tissue, they could respond negatively to the chemicals solutions such as carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide that are normally used in tooth whitening procedures.

Warning! Be very careful if you want to try using these chemicals at home. Be sure that the chemicals are only in contact with your teeth but not other mouth tissue.

Normally if the procedures is done at the dentist office the risk could be greatly minimized. The dentist using the professional tools and equipment could prevent your mouth tissue from the chemicals used in the procedure.

Some teeth whitening home kits do provide some protection tools such as mouth guard. Mouth guard does not work very well since it doesn't fit everyone. It may work with some people but not with everyone.

2) People with sensitive teeth could be affected by the chemical used during the treatment. This reaction is normally very noticeable when eating food while they too are hot or too cold such as ice cream.

3) The chemicals used (carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide) in the whitening procedures could also be potentially dangerous if swallowed. Some people will have a reaction of stomach upset, nausea and vomiting.

Some case studies have shown that the use of hydrogen peroxide for teeth whitening has been associated with the development of tongue cancer. There is no statistical data to quantify the claims but it is always wise to be on the safe side.