Teeth Whitening at the Barber?

The history of teeth whitening begins with toothpaste which dates back to 2000 B.C. when Egyptians used powdered pumice stone and wine vinegar, brushed on with a chew stick. A chew stick, you may be wondering, is a small branch with one end frayed.

The eighteenth century was a bit more advanced-you could get a trim and teeth whitening at the same time! In addition to the traditional hair cut, barbers also acted as your modern day dentist. They mostly pulled teeth, but they also whitened teeth. First, they filed down the patients' teeth with a type of metal file and then proceeded to blot them with highly corrosive nitric acid. The acid destroyed the enamel and eventually led to tooth decay. Thank goodness for the modern day pharmacy!