/oss/taxonomy/term/2593/all en /oss/article/health-you-asked/how-does-peroxide-whiten-teeth <p>Ancient Romans, for example, used urine and goat milk to whiten their teeth. This concoction is not as far-fetched as it might first appear. Urine, contains ammonia which is a cleaning agent found in many household products. But today there’s no need to rinse the mouth with urine, which incidentally is usually sterile. Chemistry has given us more effective products.</p> Mon, 21 Jan 2013 02:00:49 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1862 at /oss /oss/article/health-quackery/can-toothpastes-really-whiten-teeth <p>Hippocrates used a powder made from the skeletons of mice. Pliny the Elder used burnt eggshells, and the ancient Arabs resorted to twigs from the Arak shrub. What were they trying to do? Clean their teeth! Long before humans understood the chemical process of tooth decay and its health consequences, they struggled to have white teeth. This isn’t surprising given the allure of a bright white smile and the repulsion caused by a mouthful of decaying teeth.</p> Fri, 02 Nov 2012 04:32:29 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1736 at /oss