Marco Island Dental Blog

Most people know that tooth color and symmetry are critical components of a great smile. Those with straight teeth alignment and pearly white coloration tend to have the best smiles. However, many people don’t realize that the gum line’s appearance and positioning can also play a crucial role in smile aesthetics. For example, gums that cover too much of the teeth can make them look unusually small; in some cases, creating the appearance of children’s teeth in an adult’s mouth. Gums can also recede too far, making teeth appear unusually large. This can also expose the teeth’s roots, making them more susceptible to tooth decay and periodontal disease.

People have been whitening their teeth since at least the time of the Pharos when ancient Egyptians used a mixture of pumice stone and vinegar as a teeth-whitening agent. Those Egyptians were on the right track concerning teeth whitening, as many of today’s toothpaste brands promote whiteness with abrasive additives similar to pumice. The ancient Romans also whitened their teeth, though we don’t believe modern dentistry has adopted the mixture of urine and goat’s milk they used as a whitening agent.