Health and Wellness Review

Most Consumers Have Tried Teeth Bleaching

When we asked how many people have tried teeth whitening, just over half of respondents said they have. Whitening toothpaste was the most popular choice for teeth bleaching, but whitening strips were a close second.

Consumers also report having tried non-prescription teeth whiteners from the grocery store or pharmacy. Only 14% said they have gone to a cosmetic dentist for in-office professional bleaching or take-home whitening kits.

Opinions on the best teeth whiteners were across the board. "Professional teeth whitening is best," declared one respondent, while another complained, "Professional whitening at the dentist's office was a total flop!"

Sensitive teeth can also be a problem when it comes to tooth whitening. "I had some sensitivity during some of the whitening treatments," said one person. Warned another, "If it is done wrong, you can have problems with teeth being sensitive, swelling of the lips, and mouth blisters."

"I want someone to invent a whitening agent for crowns," declared one woman. "Many of us baby-boomers need this product!" (Unfortunately for her, the fact remains that dental crowns and bridges cannot be bleached in the same way that teeth are.)

Dental drilling is at least 9,000 years old

Archaeological excavations in Pakistan’s Baluchistan province have unearthed skeletons with clear evidence of dental work. Eleven teeth from nine individuals were found with drilled holes. Wear around the drill site confirms all were alive when their dental work was performed. Decay and other evidence suggests the drilling was done to relieve pain, not for cosmetic or other reasons.

The neatly-drilled holes were likely made with flint-tipped drills, believed to have been inspired by the work of bead-drilling artisans. Researchers used a similar tool to create comparable holes in under one minute. Still, considering the complete lack of anesthetic, it would have been an appallingly painful minute! Let’s take a moment to appreciate modern dentistry, shall we?

Are You Ready To Do Dentistry at Home?

One can’t help but marvel at the brave souls who undertake home dentistry projects. David Kruithoff, a farmhand from Lakeview, Michigan, is a stunning example. He’d lost several teeth, but didn’t want dentures and couldn’t afford implants. So he searched his driveway for stones that looked like teeth, ground them until they fit, and glued them in place.

But it turns out (as Kruithoff discovered) that stones are not good replacement teeth! He eventually switched to a plastic base. He’s been quoted as saying that home dentistry is “a real learn-as-you-go process.” He should know – in addition to replacing his teeth, he also gave himself two root canals without any anesthetic. And, as he hasn’t yet died of starvation or infection, one could argue that his work has been a success…

Spend thousands on dog braces – or just give the puppy a ball

Though it may sound like some obscure practice of the ridiculously rich and famous, canine orthodontics is a legitimate field of veterinary medicine. The orthodontic work is not cosmetic – in fact, dog shows disqualify dogs who have had orthodontic treatment. Instead, the work is performed to reduce pain or improve bite functionality – remember, a dog uses its mouth much the way we use our hands.

Some dog breeds, like the English bulldog, have been selectively bred for their prominent bite. Individual dogs can also suffer bite abnormalities from birth. And although canine orthodontic treatments don’t run cheap, there’s a low-cost alternative that’s fun and easy: ball therapy! One study found success with three-quarters of puppies who held a round ball in their mouths three times a day for 15 minutes.