According to a study by IMC Research, seventy percent of people with bad teeth say it has had a negative impact on their lives (“Bad teeth can have a mental impact"). From fourth grade through high school, parents and children struggle to decide whether or not to whiten their teeth. Due to the cultural importance given to the perfect smile, excessive use of whitening products leads to many oral problems and hence the ADA needs to campaign to make people aware of the risks of teeth whitening. There is so much pressure to be perfect in our society, and this trend is starting to affect younger generations. Teeth whitening has been around for a very long time, beginning around 4,000 years ago with the ancient Egyptians, who created a paste mixture even in their society, having white teeth was a sign of wealth and beauty. In the 17th century, barbers took care of hair and teeth and used acid to whiten teeth. The trend quickly shifted toward fluoride, but soon after, the negative effects of too much fluoride were discovered. According to Jean Arthur, a dentist from Providence, Rhode Island, dentists accidentally discovered the use of peroxide for whitening. Today, the use of peroxide for teeth whitening trays is very popular (Vernon Sparks). Although whitening is becoming more popular, the American Dental Association does not fully support teeth whitening. No over-the-counter product has received the American Dental Association (Komaroff) Seal of Acceptance. The Association also stated that some toxicological effects have been linked to cancer. Although these claims have not been fully proven by research, there is indisputable evidence to support this theory (Konig). This is a gray area of ​​whitening, and it's just middle of paper...the perfect smile. Works Cited “Bad teeth can have a mental impact.” Dentistry. FMC, June 25, 2012. Web. February 25, 2014. “Holistic Dentist Says Don't Let Teeth Whitening Strips Fool You! » RevolutionTooth, May 11, 2013. Web. February 25, 2014. Jacobson, Malia. “Teeth Whitening: Facts About Teens and Bleaching.” » Metro Parent, Metro Parent Publishing Group, May 15, 2013. Web. March 2, 2014. Komaroff, Anthony L., MD “Time to Whiten Your Teeth? » Harvard Health Publications. Harvard University, February 16, 2010. Web. February 25, 2014. Konig, Diderique. “Dangers of Teeth Whitening.” Yahoo Health. Yahoo LifestyleNetwork, December 21, 2012. Web. February 25, 2014. Peterson, Dan, DDS “Teenage Dental Health.” Gentle family dental care, February 6, 2008. Internet. March 2, 2014. Vernon Sparks, Lisa. “A History of Teeth Whitening.” Seattle Times. The SeattleTimes Company, November 15, 2010. Web. March 2. 2014.