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

FAQs

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

Hydrogen peroxide works to dissolve or break down stains so teeth are gradually and safely whitened without damaging your teeth. Since hydrogen peroxide is so strong, it is usually diluted with a whitening agent (baking soda) to protect the teeth and gums from damage.

When used carefully, it can be an effective way to whiten your teeth. But if used incorrectly — in concentrations that are too high or if used too often — it can cause serious and sometimes expensive tooth damage. If you choose to whiten your teeth with hydrogen peroxide, do so cautiously.

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.

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

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.

Usually store-bought hydrogen peroxide has a concentration of about 3%, so it's safe for your mouth. At only 3% hydrogen peroxide and 97% water, it's so unstable that it can just turn into water over time.

It is an ingredient in many teeth whitening solutions for use both at home and in the dentist's office. A simple hydrogen peroxide mouthwash may help remove mild stains. However, a person should avoid leaving hydrogen peroxide solutions on their teeth for extended periods.

The fact that dental professionals choose peroxide over saltwater should tell you one thing: saltwater gargles are fine in a pinch, but hydrogen peroxide rinses are actually preferable. Peroxide rinses mix water with 3% hydrogen peroxide to help clean, brighten, and prevent gum damage.

Although hydrogen peroxide can be beneficial for certain situations, you should only use it a few times a month. Rinsing with undiluted hydrogen peroxide can burn your organs and cause internal bleeding.

Hydrogen peroxide can also exert a direct cytotoxic effect via lipid peroxidation. Ingestion of hydrogen peroxide may cause irritation of the gastrointestinal tract with nausea, vomiting, haematemesis and foaming at the mouth; the foam may obstruct the respiratory tract or result in pulmonary aspiration.

Can hydrogen peroxide permanently damage gums? ›

Hydrogen peroxide is used widely in professionally and self-administered products. Hydrogen peroxide is a highly reactive substance which can damage oral soft tissues and hard tissues when present in high concentrations and with exposures of prolonged duration.

While bleaching your teeth with hydrogen peroxide can whiten them, it can also cause side effects: Tooth Sensitivity: One common side effect of hydrogen peroxide is increased tooth sensitivity. This is because the peroxide can penetrate the dentin (the inner layer of your teeth) and irritate the nerve endings.

Stop using this medication and tell your doctor if you have signs of a skin infection (such as heat, tenderness, pus). A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.

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.

Hydrogen peroxide is something almost everyone has in their cabinet. It has many household and first-aid uses, but it's best known for preventing infections in cuts and for being an effective mouthwash. This simple first aid staple is one of the best remedies for an infected tooth.

However, combining hydrogen peroxide from your medicine cabinet with toothpaste to make a homemade teeth whitener is not recommended. Peroxide in toothpaste and other dental products bleaches teeth to make them whiter. However, the concentration of peroxide in these products is low and carefully controlled.