Is whitening your teeth bad for you?

Some people might be naturally blessed with pearly whites, but many people aren’t happy with the shade of their teeth.

There’s nothing inherently unhealthy about yellower teeth, and staining happens throughout our lives.

Norman and Tegan unpack the long history of teeth whitening (with everything from urine to nitric acid) and discuss where there’s potential for harm.

References: 

• From Gunpowder to Teeth Whitener: The Science Behind Historic Uses of Urine
• Shades of white: what you should know about teeth whitening - The University of Sydney
• White wine can stain teeth - Nature
• Do different bleaching protocols affect the enamel microhardness? - PMC 
• Assessment of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of conventional and whitening kinds of toothpaste on oral mucosa cells: Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
• Accidental ingestion of 35% hydrogen peroxide - PMC

If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!

• How risky is sharing a toothbrush?
• Why are people taping their mouths?