Whitening Teeth with Hydrogen Peroxide: Is It Safe?

One of the primary reasons for the massive popularity of whitening the teeth with hydrogen peroxide is the fact that it can be very cheap, a DIY and an equally effective alternative to the methods that the specialists suggest. Quite often, hydrogen peroxide is the main ingredient that is responsible for the whitening effect in many commercial and home-based products that are made to serve as easy self-made methods for smile enhancement.

However, at the end, there is still a question that remains in people’s minds whether it is a safe practice to whitening the teeth with hydrogen peroxide? The short reply is that it is so, but only if the necessary precautions are followed. Any person who uses hydrogen peroxide needs to be very cautious as it can give a great result of the cleaning of the teeth but in the case of the opposite situation, it can cause trouble.

How Does Hydrogen Peroxide Whiten Teeth?

In fact, whitening the teeth with hydrogen peroxide along with the bleach that comes from the hydrogen peroxide itself. The procedure goes this way. The breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen, with the oxygen gatherers’ assistance, cleaves off the stains formed on the enamel of the teeth.

The higher the content of the hydrogen peroxide in the solution, the more visible the lightening of the discoloration.As mentioned before, the same action is the reason for which the necessary caution must be displayed.

As good as whitening the teeth with hydrogen peroxide works, it can be very harmful for your oral health if you are not careful. High usage frequency or too high a concentration can contribute to enamel erosion, inflammation of the gums, and sensitiveness of the teeth.

The Risks of Whitening Teeth with Hydrogen Peroxide

One can say that whitening the teeth with hydrogen peroxide is an efficient method but it is not free of risks. Among them, the biggest concerns with using hydrogen peroxide as a whitening agent are the following:

• Enamel Erosion: One of the most negative consequences of the abuse of hydrogen peroxide especially if it is at high concentration is the production of the enamel on the teeth of the user. Consequently, the enamel will more easily get holes, be sensitive, and get colored by this.
• Gum Irritation: Using hydrogen peroxide for the gums is not only recommended to be done carefully because the same could cause your gums to become irritated. 
• Tooth Sensitivity: Users of hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening, particularly at home using high concentrations of whiteners have reportedly experienced increased sensitivity in their teeth that lasts long after the treatment especially when they consume hot or cold foods. 
• Ineffective Whitening: If you do not use hydrogen peroxide as planned, you will not get the expected results, especially in the case of deep or stubborn stains. The result of dissatisfaction will be the turning of more wrong behaviors regarding the usage of this substance.

In case you have a plan to lighten your teeth with hydrogen peroxide, using the right concentration (usually 3%) and proper application whitening the teeth with hydrogen peroxide method would be the best way to reduce these risks.

How to Safely Whiten Teeth with Hydrogen Peroxide?

Steps you should take and at the same time ensure your safety when whitening your teeth with hydrogen peroxide are:

• Pick the proper concentration: A concentration of 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide is most suitable for use at home while bleaching teeth. Any higher than that is not only too strong for your teeth but also for your gums, which in turn can cause burns.
• Always dilute it: Don’t ever put hydrogen peroxide in your mouth if it is not first diluted. To make it less strong and so that your gums don’t get irritated, mix it with an equal amount of water.
• Limit the time of exposure: Do not keep your teeth in contact with hydrogen peroxide for a long time. One or two minutes is quite enough for the hydrogen peroxide to break the stains. Under no circumstance should you swallow it.
• Just Incorporate It Into Your Normal Oral Hygiene Program: The diluted hydrogen peroxide solution should indeed be swished in the mouth, not swallowed. After this stage, you should rinse your mouth with water to get rid of any leftover residue.
• Do not do too much: Use peroxide in small quantities and no more than 2-3 times a week so that enamel is not harmed. Still, using fluoride toothpaste for brushing is the healthiest way to maintain teeth.
• Please consult the dentist: Before you start using hydrogen peroxide or any other product, dentist the. They will be able to check whether your mouth is healthy, decide the most effective whitening treatments, and ensure that your teeth are not harmed.

Alternatives to Whitening Teeth with Hydrogen Peroxide

In case you are scared of the risk of whitening the teeth with hydrogen peroxide, straightforward solutions are the following: safe alternatives of whitening that hardly would cause any damages.

• Whitening Toothpaste: These toothpastes main function is to remove external stains of teeth and whitening toothpaste is actually more enamel-friendly than hydrogen peroxide.
• Whitening Strips: One more way of using whitening strips is to buy them over the counter without a prescription; they contain carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. They are products that have dosage for a safe treatment which gives less risk of side effects.
• Professional Whitening: The dentist can carry out professional whitening treatments that are more controlled and safer for your teeth.

Whitening the teeth with hydrogen peroxide might be a good solution for teeth whitening and can work for some people, still, it is always better to consider other less risky methods first

FAQs About Whitening Teeth with Hydrogen Peroxide