Is Hydrogen peroxide Safe for Teeth - Everything You Need to Know (2024)

FAQs

Is Hydrogen peroxide Safe for Teeth - Everything You Need to Know? ›

While hydrogen peroxide may help whiten the teeth in certain situations, there are some important safety issues to consider. Hydrogen peroxide can cause damage to the enamel of the teeth if a person uses the solution incorrectly.

Choose the right concentration: A low concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide (around 3% to 6%) is safe to use for teeth whitening usually without any side effects. Hydrogen Peroxide can produce certain side effects like gum or tooth sensitivity if used often in high concentration.

Toothpastes and mouth rinses that contain small amounts of hydrogen peroxide and are used once or twice per day do not seem to harm the inside of the mouth ,when used up to 6 months for toothpastes or 24 months for mouth rinses.

Apply the created paste onto your teeth using a toothbrush. Let the paste remain on your teeth for about two minutes. Properly rinse off the paste from your teeth by gargling water around inside your mouth. Ensure that no remnants of the paste is left anywhere inside your mouth.

The law surrounding tooth whitening remains unchanged and it is illegal for tooth whitening products which contain more than 6% hydrogen peroxide or for any associated products which release greater than 6% hydrogen peroxide to be supplied or administered for cosmetic purposes.

Plaque is a sticky film containing bacteria. Failure to remove this results in hardened tartar. Using hydrogen peroxide in caring for teeth and gums eliminates harmful bacteria. This cuts down the formation of plaque and tartar.

It is not recommended that you leave hydrogen peroxide on your teeth overnight as it could cause erosion to your tooth enamel or irritation to your gums.

Due to its various health risks, most dentists don't recommend using hydrogen peroxide frequently.

Avoid doing so for as long as you experience pain. This happens because peroxide can cause significant damage to the protective enamel of teeth if used too often or in too-high concentrations. More serious side effects of hydrogen peroxide whitening include inflammation of the teeth roots in the gums.

Some kinds of toothpaste and mouth washing products contain small concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Avoid using pure hydrogen peroxide on your teeth or for other uses at home. Consider using safer options like gel or whitening strips. They are more effective at whitening teeth than toothpaste or mouthwash.

Does hydrogen peroxide damage tooth enamel? ›

While hydrogen peroxide may help whiten the teeth in certain situations, there are some important safety issues to consider. Hydrogen peroxide can cause damage to the enamel of the teeth if a person uses the solution incorrectly.

Today, most dentists use hydrogen and carbamide peroxide gels between 10-40%, which are chemically activated or by different light sources, such as halogen light, laser or plasma arc [9], See (Table ​1).

Boutique Whitening by Day is a 6% hydrogen peroxide gel. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down very quickly and most of the whitening e ect takes place in the first half an hour, but in order to get the full e ect of the gel, we recommend at least 1.5 hours of wear time.

Creams containing these substances are illegal to be sold in the UK and Europe, because of the damaging and unpleasant side effects that can occur from prolonged use. to contain illegal and dangerous levels of hydrogen peroxide, in as much as 300 times the safe, legal limit.

Generally at this concentration you would need to have your teeth in contact with the 3% hydrogen peroxide for about 5 hours a day for about 2-3 weeks to have meaningful tooth whitening, which is very difficult to do with a watery liquid.

Recently, a court ruling resulted in a ban on peroxide-containing tooth whiteners in the United Kingdom. While the decision was based on the classification of whiteners, there were issues with specious concerns about the safety, particularly carcinogenicity, of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).

However, since hydrogen peroxide can sting, people with sensitive teeth and gums should discontinue using this paste if they experience pain or discomfort. Note: Use the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide mixture for only one or two weeks at a time to protect tooth enamel.

In addition to its antiseptic and healing properties, hydrogen peroxide also works as bleach and helps to remove stains - making it an effective teeth whitener. For these reasons, hydrogen peroxide has been used in dentistry for over 80 years.

Whitening toothpaste is generally safe to use. However, if you use it for long periods, it may damage enamel and irritate your gums and teeth. Do not use whitening toothpaste more often than the label indicates—for example, once or twice daily for six weeks—or as a dentist advises.

Brush with this paste and thoroughly rinse! Use this paste in moderation; no more than 2-3 times a week. Too much baking soda can break down enamel, which may lead to sensitivity. Remember that this paste does not have any added fluoride benefit.