According to research conducted by IMC Research, seventy percent of people with bad teeth say it has had a negative impact on their life ("Bad teeth can impact mental"). From fourth grade through high school, parents and children struggle with the decision of whether or not to whiten their teeth. Due to the cultural over-emphasis on the perfect smile, people's excessive use of whitening products leads to many oral problems and as a result the ADA needs to campaign for awareness of the risks of teeth whitening. There is so much pressure to be perfect in our society, and this trend is starting to impact younger generations. Teeth whitening has existed for a long time, starting about 4,000 years ago with the ancient Egyptians, who created a mixture of paste even in their society, it was a sign of wealth and beauty to have white teeth. In the 17th century, barbers took care of hair and teeth and used acid to whiten teeth. The trend soon shifted towards fluoride, but soon after, the negative effects of too much fluoride were discovered. According to Jean Arthur, a dentist in Providence, Rhode Island, dentists have accidentally stumbled upon the use of peroxide for whitening. Today, the use of peroxide for teeth whitening is very popular (Vernon Sparks). Although whitening is becoming more and 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 there are some toxicological effects that 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 n... in the center of the card... the perfect smile. Works Cited “Bad Teeth Can Take a Mental Impact.” Dentistry. FMC, June 25, 2012. Web. February 25, 2014. "Holistic Dentist Says Don't Be Fooled by Teeth Whitening Strips!" RevolutionTooth, May 11, 2013. Web. February 25, 2014. Jacobson, Malia. “Teeth Whitening: Facts About Teens and Whitening.” Metro Parent, Metro Parent Publishing Group, May 15, 2013. Web. March 2, 2014. Komaroff, Anthony L., M.D. “Is It 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.” Family Gentle Dental Care, February 6, 2008. Network. March 2, 2014. Vernon Sparks, Lisa. "A History of Teeth Whitening." Seattle Times. The SeattleTimes Company, November 15, 2010. Web. March 2. 2014.