Is It Safe to Rinse Your Mouth With Hydrogen Peroxide Everyday? (2024)

Benefits
- What are the benefits of rinsing your mouth with hydrogen peroxide?
How to Use
- How to use hydrogen peroxide safely?
Risks
- Are there any risks of using hydrogen peroxide?
Concentration
- What should you check while buying hydrogen peroxide?
Precautions
- Do you need to take any precautions?
Benefits
- Is peroxide oral rinse worth it?
Comments
More

What are the benefits of rinsing your mouth with hydrogen peroxide?

Hydrogen peroxide is a common household chemical used for cleaning minor cuts and burns as well as disinfecting surfaces. It's safe to use over-the-counter peroxide oral rinse, which has roughly 1.5% to 3% hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide is a common household chemical used for cleaning minor cuts and burns as well as disinfecting surfaces. It's also sold in many drug stores as a mouthwash. If you're planning to buy one, you might be wondering — is hydrogen peroxide safe to put on your teeth?

When used too often and in high concentrations, hydrogen peroxide can cause damage to youroral cavity. This is why you should never rinse your mouth with food-grade hydrogen peroxide, which has a concentration of 35%. However, it's safe to use over-the-counter peroxide oral rinse, which has roughly 1.5% to 3% hydrogen peroxide.

To use hydrogen peroxide safely, use it for short periods at a concentration no stronger than 3%.

Hydrogen peroxide has powerful antiseptic properties. If used in a controlled manner, it can benefit your oral care routine in many ways.

Treating gum diseases

Hydrogen peroxide can help in treating gum diseases due to its antibacterial nature. It can also help to reduce gum inflammation if you gargle with it after brushing and flossing your teeth.

A big advantage of peroxide oral rinse is that it can reach areas in the back of your mouth that your brush and floss can’t reach.

Teeth whitening

Most toothpaste and gels with teeth whitening properties either contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide — a combination of hydrogen peroxide and urea.

How to use hydrogen peroxide safely?

Using peroxide rinse the wrong way can lead to unwanted side effects. The key to safely gargling with hydrogen peroxide is to follow all the guidelines provided by your mouthwash brand. If you have any doubts, ask a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

In the case of some brands, you'd need to mix the peroxide solution with water before using it. For others, you may be able to use it directly.

Where mixing is required, experts recommend gargling with half water and half 3% hydrogen peroxide for 1 minute, not more than four times a day.However, some brands may ask you to mix two parts water with one part peroxide. Always follow the exact directions given on the package.

Most mouthwashes come with a special measuring cap. Use it to measure the hydrogen peroxide solution and make your final mix.

Swish it all around your mouth for the recommended time and spit it out. Never swallow your peroxide rinse, no matter the concentration. Also, make sure to rinse thoroughly every time you use hydrogen peroxide.

Mouthwash at the same time every day to get the most benefit. But limit its use to a few times a week to avoid irritating your gums. Negative reactions like chemical burns can occur to your oral cavity if you gargle with 3% hydrogen peroxide for more than 2 minutes.

SLIDESHOW Mouth Problems: TMJ, Canker Sores, Painful Gums and More See Slideshow

Are there any risks of using hydrogen peroxide?

Hydrogen peroxide can cause damage to the oral cavity when used in high concentrations or for a long time. However, it can also harm other organs if used the wrong way. For example, if you swallow a concentrated peroxide solution — 10% or more — it can cause serious injury to your stomach.

While swallowing a small amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide won’t cause any serious issues, it can still lead to vomiting and stomach upset. Your lungs can get irritated if you accidentally inhale it while making your mouthwash mix. If the chemical gets splashed back on your face, it can also irritate your eyes.

What should you check while buying hydrogen peroxide?

You need to check two things in a hydrogen peroxide product — its grade and concentration. Food-grade hydrogen peroxide has a 35% concentration, while industrial-grade hydrogen peroxide can have a concentration of 50% or more. Store-bought peroxide mouthwashes are diluted to 3% or less. This concentration has no major side effects, and it's best suited for oral care.

For some brands, the concentration is shown in parts per million (ppm). Make sure to ask about its concentration in percentage before buying the product.

If you buy a mouthwash with carbamide peroxide, know that it'll expire earlier than that with hydrogen peroxide. But, refrigeration may increase the shelf-life of your carbamide peroxide mouthwash.

Health News

The More Kids Use Social Media, The More They're Likely to Vape
Is Your Child Ready for Summer Sleepaway Camp?
Most Cancer Treatments Near End of Life Are Useless
Plant-Based Diets Lower Risk of Heart Trouble, Cancer and Death
Spread of Deadlier Mpox Strain in Africa Has CDC Concerned
More Health News »

Do you need to take any precautions?

If you're allergic to hydrogen peroxide, tell your doctor or pharmacist before buying it. It's rare to have serious allergic reactions. But your peroxide solution can have inactive ingredients that can cause symptoms like:

Rash
Swelling or itching of tongue, throat, or face
Trouble breathing
Severe dizziness

Visit your doctor at once if you notice any of these symptoms.

It's unlikely for the peroxide solution to pass into breast milk. Still, ask your doctor how to use hydrogen peroxide safely if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

Is peroxide oral rinse worth it?

Whether it’s worth buying a hydrogen peroxide mouthwash depends on how you use it. It might not make a big difference if your aim is to control the growth of plaque.

You might also not get satisfactory results if you use it for teeth whitening. But if you plan to use it as part of your normal oral care routine along with brushing and flossing, it might help prevent gum disease.

Due to its various health risks, most dentists don’t recommend using hydrogen peroxide frequently. But you can use it sometimes in low concentrations to remove stains from the teeth or control gum-related problems.

In case you’ve any questions or concerns regarding the safe use of hydrogen peroxide, it’s best to talk to a dental professional and get expert advice.

References

SOURCES:

ADA: "Whitening."

Case Reports in Dentistry: "Oral Adverse Reactions Caused by Over-the-Counter Oral Agents."

International Journal of Dental Hygiene: "The effects of hydrogen peroxide mouthwashes on the prevention of plaque and gingival inflammation: a systematic review."

Journal of Applied Oral Science: "Inflammatory response of human dental pulp to at-home and in-office tooth bleaching."

Journal of Periodontology: "Hydrogen Peroxide: A Review of Its Use in Dentistry."

National Capital Poison Center: "Hydrogen Peroxide."

Nature: "Adjunctive antimicrobial chemotherapy based on hydrogen peroxide photolysis for non-surgical treatment of moderate to severe periodontitis: a randomized controlled trial."

Nursing Research: "The effects of hydrogen peroxide rinses on the normal oral mucosa."

The Scientific World Journal: "Efficacy of Mouthwashes Containing Hydrogen Peroxide on Tooth Whitening."

World Journal of Gastroenterology: "Black hairy tongue syndrome."

FAQs

Is It Safe to Rinse Your Mouth With Hydrogen Peroxide Everyday? ›

But limit its use to a few times a week to avoid irritating your gums. Negative reactions like chemical burns can occur to your oral cavity if you gargle with 3% hydrogen peroxide for more than 2 minutes.

What does hydrogen peroxide do for oral health? ›

Using a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide with water (the kind available in most pharmacies), can help remove plaque from the surface of your teeth and reverse the earliest signs of gum disease. You can also try a hydrogen peroxide mouth rinse by swirling a solution made of half water and half 3% hydrogen peroxide.

Tell Me More ›

How often should I use hydrogen peroxide on my teeth? ›

The longer hydrogen peroxide stays in contact with your teeth, gums, or tongue, the more damage it can cause. That is why whitening treatments that contain hydrogen peroxide are only applied for a limited amount of time. Most products recommend a maximum time of 1 – 2 minutes, once or twice a week.

Find Out More ›

Is rinsing with peroxide better than mouthwash? ›

The short answer is, “Yes.” If used properly—and sparingly—H₂O₂ is safe and can improve oral and dental health and even help to fend off viral infections. That doesn't mean that this alternative to traditional, over-the-counter mouthwashes doesn't come without some risks.

Know More ›

Is it better to gargle with hydrogen peroxide or salt water? ›

You use them the same way you would a saltwater rinse. There are actually more benefits to hydrogen peroxide, too. The first is one we mentioned before: it helps to clean up the bacteria in your mouth that leads to gum and tooth decay. A 2012 study found that peroxide is effective at improving gum health.

Learn More ›

Can hydrogen peroxide reverse periodontal disease? ›

Because it can kill harmful bacteria and break up plaque, dental professionals have been using hydrogen peroxide since the early 1900s to prevent and treat periodontitis. Along with treating gum disease, killing bacteria also effectively treats bad breath (halitosis).

Know More ›

Is 3% hydrogen peroxide safe for teeth? ›

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.

Discover More Details ›

What are the side effects of hydrogen peroxide on teeth? ›

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.

Discover More ›

Do you rinse your mouth with water after using hydrogen peroxide? ›

A: Yes you can.

View Details ›

Should I brush my teeth before or after rinsing with hydrogen peroxide? ›

Hydrogen peroxide

This compound is an effective way to combat gum disease. However, it should only be used once per day. There are some precautions that you should take before using hydrogen peroxide on your teeth. You should brush your teeth thoroughly after using the product.

Learn More ›

Do dentists recommend rinsing with hydrogen peroxide? ›

Thankfully, peroxides have been used safely in dentistry since first introduced in 1913 as a treatment for “pyorrhea.”⁴ When used in a controlled manner, peroxides have several oral health uses and benefits.

Read The Full Story ›

How often can you rinse with hydrogen peroxide? ›

Use up to 4 times daily or as directed by your dentist or doctor. Use this product regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time(s) each day.

Show Me More ›

How to make a peroxide mouth rinse? ›

If you want to use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash, you'll want to dilute it with water in a one-to-two ratio (i.e., one part hydrogen peroxide and two parts water). Swish your homemade mouthwash around your mouth as you normally would for not more than 30 seconds.

Discover More ›

Does swishing salt water whiten teeth? ›

Salt acts as a surface abrasive and can definitely make teeth look whiter, but it can really damage your tooth enamel, and unfortunately once your enamel is damaged, it's damaged for life. You may have even heard of some people using charcoal to whiten their teeth.

Know More ›

Does hydrogen peroxide help with gum recession? ›

Hydrogen Peroxide Rinse – A mix of water and hydrogen peroxide can help treat sore, red, or swollen gums. To use hydrogen peroxide for receding gums combine 1/4 cup of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with 1/4 cup of water, swish for 30 seconds, and spit it out. This can be repeated two to three times a week.

Read The Full Story ›

How long to rinse with hydrogen peroxide? ›

Anything stronger is likely to cause irritation. Mix two parts water with one part hydrogen peroxide. Gargle, swishing the solution all around the mouth. Tilt the head back and continue gargling for 30 seconds.

Show Me More ›

Is hydrogen peroxide good for your mouth? ›

Hydrogen peroxide rinse is a mild antiseptic used in the mouth to help relieve minor mouth irritation (such as due to canker/cold sores, gingivitis, dentures, orthodontic appliances). It works by releasing oxygen when it is applied to the affected area.

Keep Reading ›

Is hydrogen peroxide good for your mouth and teeth? ›

Hydrogen peroxide can irritate the gums and may be too harsh on fillings, crowns, and dental implants. Your dentist may suggest its use as an oral rinse if diluted with Listerine or water. Because of its harshness, it should only be used by dental recommendation.

Get More Info ›

Is hydrogen peroxide good for gums and teeth? ›

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.