“I don’t like that I can see some of my fillings. Sometimes when I’m going out, I realize I haven’t brushed my teeth and I get disappointed and mad because it feels more gross. I feel best about my teeth after I’ve washed, flossed and mouth-washed them because it makes them more white. Routine makes them feel cleaner, I’m a vain person! I’ve been thinking about getting white strips because I think it’ll make me look better when I smile because they’re prettier, prettier for everyone,” (Subject 10, female, 20)

Tooth Coloration and Discoloration

Teeth are, of course, naturally white. It is worth noting, however, that the teeth of the human race display a wide variety of intrinsic baseline color and therefore a wide variety in shades of white. It is therefore reasonable to assume that, combined with both the wide range in human skin coloration and the varying degrees of dental care, this variety increases exponentially.

“My skin is very pale, and I don’t have a lot of contrast between my skin and my teeth, so I’m conscious about the whiteness of my teeth” (Subject 10, female, 20).

‘Darker’ shades of white that exist naturally are often misconceived as unnatural discolorations, and are thus almost instantly associated with certain habits and ideas. A similar case can be made for teeth that appear whiter or brighter due to being contrasted with darker skin, and vice versa.

The discoloration of one’s teeth occurs with ageing, and is often related to the consumption of chromogenic agents such as tea, coffee, wine and tobacco products such as cigarettes. Discoloration can also be caused by the use of certain medicinal products, such as the antibiotic tetracycline which causes blue-grey or yellow-brain tooth staining. It is for this reason that tetracycline is not often prescribed to children below the age of eight (as the development of tooth enamel and its coloration occurs below this age) or to pregnant woman. Discoloration may also be caused when a child has an excessive intake of fluoride, present in most toothpastes, resulting in ‘fluorosis’ which results in the appearance of chalky-white patches, yellow stains or even pitting.

The discoloration of single teeth, meanwhile, is most usually caused when that tooth alone is exposed to certain events or changes, resulting in it attaining a slightly darker color. Such occurrences vary from trauma such as when a tooth is damaged during a fall (usually the darkened color is derived from nerve damage within the tooth) to when a tooth undergoes the root canal treatment (darkening in color over the years).

“If I’m talking to someone and they smile and I see yellow teeth… I don’t know. I don’t think badly of the person. I think they need to brush {even though} I know enamel has different colors,” (Subject 8, female, 18)

Our observation of teeth as having varying shades of white, either naturally or simply when their color is contrasted with that of the skin, thus creates a means by which people can relate the various shades of white and discoloration to the various aspects of a person’s life. These include that person’s perceived effort or ability to take care of their teeth (for both health and romantic reasons) and their habits. With such impressions in tow, one may then link the whiteness of a person’s teeth to the expectations of certain modes of upbringing and social location (the confinement of an individual to their race, class, wealth and age).

Mohammed’s Toothbrush

The Miswak was a natural toothbrush used in the Middle East before and during the foundation of the Islamic religion, recommended and used by the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) himself. It was made from the twigs of such trees as the olive tree, walnut tree, arak tree, peelo tree and the Salvadore Persica, as well as any other trees with ‘bitter’ roots.

As well as cleaning the teeth, preventing or healing tooth decay, providing a pleasant odor and strengthening the gums, use of the miswak (also often termed the siwak) was said to increase the strength of one’s prayers (salaah) by seventy times. The miswak was most commonly used before entering someone’s house, before and after sleeping, and before going on long journeys. In that sense, the process of cleaning one’s mouth and giving it a pleasant odor (the miswak was often soaked in rose water both for the smell and to soften it) can be seen as being of benefit to the practice of socializing. Oral hygiene thus represents respect for those one interacts with, as well as being a purifying process.

While this aspect of cleansing in oral hygiene remains in modern society, it is often not in such a spiritual sense. Nor is it as much a sign of respect. Cleaning of the teeth is not so much a show of respect to other as it is a means of attracting them. The concept of cleansing, meanwhile, while still personal, is much more related to giving one confidence in social terms than to giving one inner peace of mind of purification.

It is interesting how this ancient means of cleaning the teeth has altered in its significance due to its use by a prophet. The miswak, despite being merely a collection of twigs, has found commercial value in its association with Mohammed (PBUH), being manufactured and sold in packages across the Middle East world. No longer really a means of cleaning one’s teeth, the miswak is now seen in terms of novelty by tourists and tradition by Arabs collectively (whether Muslim, Christian or Jewish). The process of cleaning one’s teeth has been almost totally disassociated from Mohammed (PBUH), Islam and the miswak.

Toothpaste and… Sex Appeal

Below is a link to a 1969 advertisement for Ultra Bright toothpaste, featuring model/actress Cybil Shepherd. The ad very blatantly relates the use of toothpaste to increasing one’s chances of engaging in sexual activity.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2990223301006638300&q=toothpaste+commercial

“Ultra Bright / Gives your mouth / Sex appeal!”

Toothpaste and its equivalents have existed as far back as ancient Rome, where urine-based mixtures were seen to be used as a means of cleaning and whitening the teeth (urine contains ammonia, which is apparently effective in the whitening process). In 400 AD Egypt, meanwhile, a powdered mixture of salt, pepper, mint leaves and iris flowers appears to have been used as a means of cleaning (scrubbing) teeth, though it is unsure whether water was used in conjunction with this mixture.

The powdered equivalent of toothpaste (creatively termed ‘tooth powder’) eventually found its way into Western culture, though it did not become popular until the nineteenth century. Consisting of such ingredients as ground chalk, charcoal and brick, the somewhat unhealthy powder was eventually recognized as being somewhat harmful to the health. It was not until 1896 that the first commercial toothpaste was produced in collapsible tubes by Colgate, though this paste did not become very popular until after World War I. Since then, toothpaste has become an essential commodity in Western culture, finding use at least once a day.

But why do we use it? Having been conditioned to brush our teeth with toothpaste and a toothbrush since early childhood, it is hard for us to take a step back and consider exactly why. We all recognize, of course, that keeping our teeth healthy is important, but I would like to consider whether we actually consider this when brushing. Many of the people I interviewed, particularly male interviewees, noted that they do indeed look at their teeth in the mirror after brushing primarily to see if there has been any change in whiteness.

“I’m not happy with the yellowness of my teeth. It’s one of those things where I think I should brush more often but I think or pretend I don’t have time. Yellow teeth look unhygienic,” (Subject 13, female, 19)

While the urine-based tooth products used by the Romans may not have particularly benefited the smell of their breath, the fact that they added to the whiteness of teeth no doubt played a major role in their actually being used. White equals cleanliness, whether they are clean or not.

"Teeth whitening is no longer a trend but a reality. While whitening systems remain popular, whitening toothpastes are experiencing rapid growth. Both Procter & Gamble's Crest Vivid White, which hit shelves last month, and Colgate's Simply White, launched in December, promises pearlier whites in 14 days," (Facenda)

“I’m not put off by yellow teeth as long as I know they’re clean,” (Subject 9, male, 18)

Very noble, but how does one know that they are clean? If you can’t tell based on appearance, then how else?

“I brush my teeth twice a day. Part of it is I’ve been conditioned to do it. I later saw the benefits. But there’s also satisfaction, peace of mind of knowing that you’re teeth are clean. It’s like bookends. You start your day clean and end it clean. Obviously I’ll brush them more than twice if I have to,” (Subject 5, male, 19)

Of course, there is also the personal factor; brushing teeth just makes a person feel good, partly due to early conditioning. However, in my own experience at least, brushing one’s teeth offers the bearer of those teeth greater confidence in their social interactions. One tends to speak more when they feel that their teeth look good, and that their breath smells good. One is also more likely to be able to engage in romantic activity with more cleanly-looking teeth and better-smelling breath.

So, why do we brush our teeth? Because it feels good, because we know it is a healthy practice, or because we know others will appreciate it?

The Toothbrush

The first mass-produced toothbrush was created in England by William Addis in 1780, though mass-production did not reach the United States until 1885 and its use was not popular in the country until the 1940s. The rise in the routine use of the toothbrush is largely contributed to the US military (in which soldiers were conditioned to be hygienic, and brush their teeth regularly) and, rather bizarrely, World War II. It created a means by which the military could create a sense of regularity, order and control, at least in the health-related and visual sense. As such, the very idea of creating a regulated notion of how clean and white teeth should be can be seen as contributing to the modern infatuation of achieving the ‘perfect’ (or, rather, required) color.

Cosmetic Dentistry

“…most cosmetic interventions do not qualify as medical interventions proper because they do not restore or maintain the patient's health (defined as the patient's integrity) by any objective standards. Rather, cosmetic interventions are intended to enhance a person's physical appearance; more specifically, they intend to fulfill the client's subjective perception of an enhanced appearance,” (Jos V.M. Welie, “Do You Have a Healthy Smile?”)

“Unfortunately, there is no standard to judge the number of "shades whiter." When manufacturers make this claim, find out the criteria they use, when the measurements are taken, how the "shade" is measured, whether the shade is derived from a controlled scientific study or if subjective criteria are used. "Shades whiter" is more a marketing tool than a scientific measurement,” (“A Perfect Smile”, Popular Science 2004)

Apart from tooth bleaching, which merely perfects the color of one's teeth (though the process has been known to do the opposite, i.e. exaggerating more-yellow areas through the enhancement of others), there are various processes by which people may improve the very structure of their smiles.

Veneers, which cost between $1000 and $2000 per tooth, enhance the shape of teeth. Typically, the process involves the dentist grinding down the enamel of one's tooth before attaching a custom-made porcelian shell with glue. The porcelain also improves the tooth's whiteness. The process of bonding, meanwhile, costs only $300 to $700, though it cannot be used to reshape the tooth. Instead, bonding involves the 'freehand' application of a resin-substance by a dentist, and is usually used to repair chipped teeth.

Whitening Processes

The process of whitening one’s teeth has developed from a practice of cosmetic dentistry to one of the several regular beautifying rituals in people’s everyday lives. Not only are many toothpastes marketed as ‘having whitening effects’, but over-the-counter appliances such as Crest White Strips have seen a surge in sales.

“We may not have cured cancer, but we now have an infinite supply of every kind of whitener imaginable, all on the drugstore shelf. There are strips, pastes, pens, and I've even seen the injection package I used to have to get from {my hygienist},” (Kathleen Clary Miller, “A Smile So Bright You Gotta Wear Shades”, Newsweek)

Unfortunately, these are often not particularly beneficial to the health of individual teeth, and are not even guaranteed to work (at least as one desires). Below is a link to a short video relating the benefits and dangers of using ‘over-the-counter’ tooth-whitening products, and how whitening can result in tooth damage as well as the opposite of beautification.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3051469152179542181&q=teeth

Teeth Bleaching

The white fluorosis stains referred to earlier as being the product of excess exposure to fluoride during the formative years of teeth may be masked by bleaching teeth to a lighter shade of white. Yet, as related in the video above, tooth-bleaching may often expose or exaggerate certain faults or discolorations.

At-Home Tray-Based Teeth Whitening, and Crest Whitestrips

Tray-Based Teeth Whiteners as Crest Whitestrips are easy to purchase and use, offering minimal side effects and quick results, though the extent to which they work varies from person to person. The active ingredients involved in whitening are, in the former, carbamide peroxide and, in the latter, hydrogen peroxide. Crest strips, however, are known to sometimes give people sharp pain in their gums.

“Artificial whitening stuff isn’t good for your teeth. It just destroys the enamel. People get white teeth but I wouldn’t recommend it. I’ve used Crest white strips… they worked but I didn’t stick with them. I’ve also used Fluoride trays but they’re really expensive {and} a lot more hassle” (Subject 13, female, 19)

Why are people so willing to waste so much hard-earned money and often experience pain to have ‘whiter’ teeth? Does having pure-white, perfect teeth indicate the use of such products and therefore both wealth and high tolerance?

Snap-On Teeth!!

The video below shows a bride-to-be trying on and getting used to a set of non-harmful, snap-on teeth for her wedding day. Has it really come this far? The image of perfection has (perhaps inevitably) transcended from being merely associated with advertising and celebrities (i.e. as a driving force in society to achieve one’s capabilities) to real life. Have improvements in medical technology created a world where the notion of being imperfect by society’s standards in any way is absolutely impossible?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3972699054252194208&q=teeth

False Teeth

False teeth, in some form or another, have existed in society for a great length of time. Queen Elizabeth I was known for stuffing rags in her mouth to maintain a full face when some of her teeth were pulled due to rotting. In late eighteenth century England, removed teeth were replaced sometimes with complete sets of wooden teeth (though the mention of such unromantic features would never be found in a Jane Austen novel). It is no surprise, therefore, that false teeth have become somewhat of a necessity for the elders of Western society. Often, even when healthy teeth remain in the jaw, they are pulled to make way for compete sets of false teeth.

Is it disturbing that the very idea of perfection and remaining young has encroached on the significance of old age, once considered of great stature? Did old people not once respect the very idea that they were old? Nowadays, old women in particular will go around with dyed hair and wearing layer upon layer of make-up. As such, why do they go to such lengths to make themselves appear younger, knowing that they will be unsuccessful? Furthermore, is it wrong for them to do so? Perhaps this is merely an advancement in society, where old people can live as they used to as opposed to giving into age. But my point remains, when and why did being young and reckless become so much more significant than being old and experienced?

Next: White Teeth in the Media

Back to White Teeth by Kareem Yasin