A sweet smile costs nothing...but gains you a lot…
Teeth whitening, which is a part of cosmetic dentistry was started almost 100 years back. According to ADA, the first material used for teeth whitening was oxalic acid. Other materials that were used later were peroxides and high intensity light. The most recent and popular ones are at- home teeth whitening kits which contain mouth trays with a bleaching agent.
In the last few years there was a noticeable increase in demand of oral healthcare products including teeth whitening agents, toothpastes, oral rinses etc. This is mainly attributed to the changing food habits.
There are natural teeth whiteners known as the grandma’s tips. Lemon juice brushed over teeth is said to be a natural teeth whitening agent, but the citric acid containing in it destroys the calcium in the teeth. The same is the disadvantage of strawberry which is also said to be a natural teeth whitener. Hardwood ash is a natural teeth whitener .The potassium peroxide content in it causes damage to the tooth enamel. These natural teeth whiteners will have only a very less effect on the tooth colour. You also need to have real good patience as it takes a long time for a minimal effect.