Walking around with yellow teeth is no one’s ideal look. Hydrogen peroxide may offer a simple solution. This mild antiseptic has become a popular option for cleaning and whitening teeth, since it’s widely available and inexpensive. Diluting hydrogen peroxide with water and using it as a paste or a rinse from time to time can help you rid your teeth of those pesky stains.
The strong oxidizing agents found in hydrogen peroxide can help whiten teeth. However, this option must be used sparingly to avoid causing damage to your teeth or gums. Always create a mixture of equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water, and be sure to rinse thoroughly after use.
While hydrogen peroxide can certainly be an effective way to whiten your teeth, its misuse can lead to some serious oral damage such as gum irritation, gum inflammation, overall tooth sensitivity, and other issues you want to avoid. Creating a solution of equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water is an effective way to use this substance safely.
Can Hydrogen Peroxide Whiten My Teeth?
In short, yes, using pharmacy-bought hydrogen peroxide can indeed help you whiten your teeth. The hydrogen peroxide bottles available at most grocery or drug stores are diluted to around 3 percent, which is the safe and recommended amount. Here’s a good example of what you’re looking for (on Amazon). A higher percentage can damage your tooth enamel.
So the first important thing to remember is not to consume highly concentrated versions of hydrogen peroxide. Additionally, rinsing your mouth thoroughly after use is very important.
There are two main ways you can use hydrogen peroxide to clean and whiten your teeth: as a rinse, and as a paste.
How to Use Hydrogen Peroxide as a Rinse
To make a teeth-cleaning rinse, mix equal parts of hydrogen peroxide with water. Always maintain a 1:1 ratio. Rinse this mixture around your mouth for anywhere between 30 seconds and 1 minute. It’s important to understand that if the mixture is causing you any pain or discomfort, you should immediately spit it out. Don’t swallow any of the mixture.
How to Use Hydrogen Peroxide as a Paste
For this method, start by pouring a few teaspoons of baking soda into a bowl. Add in a small amount of hydrogen peroxide and mix it with the baking soda using a clean spoon. You’re looking to produce a thick paste, so add more hydrogen peroxide as needed.
Apply the paste to your teeth using a toothbrush and clean in small, circular movements. Once you’re done, leave the paste on your teeth for about 2 minutes. After that, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.
Make sure all the paste has been rinsed out of your mouth.
Is It Safe to Whiten My Teeth With Hydrogen Peroxide?
While hydrogen peroxide can be an inexpensive and effective way of whitening your teeth, it’s important to understand that it must be done with care. This means only using the diluted amounts of hydrogen peroxide available in most pharmacies and grocery stores. Otherwise, mix it with a 1:1 ratio with water.
The health risks associated with unsafe or highly concentrated levels of hydrogen peroxide can be quite serious. To start off, common side effects of overuse may include tooth and gum sensitivity. Along with that, you may also experience inflamed or irritated gums.
If you start to experience any of these symptoms, immediately stop using hydrogen peroxide for any whitening or tooth-related care and consult your dentist about your experience.
To ensure maximum safety, avoid using highly concentrated levels of hydrogen peroxide, never swallow any of the mixture, and always use a diluted version of hydrogen peroxide to start with.
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Get Rid of Teeth Stains?
Various soft teeth stains can be removed with the help of hydrogen peroxide. Since hydrogen peroxide is a weak acid and consists of rather strong oxidizing properties, it can effectively remove the electrons that hold together entire atoms. Removing those atoms causes the staining molecules to simply fall apart.
Although the effect of hydrogen peroxide may sound impressive, it’s crucial to understand that this chemical should not be used regularly nor in high concentrations. Doing so can cause your enamel to deteriorate and cause other issues such as irritated gums and more.
Studies have shown that using diluted treatments of hydrogen peroxide for short periods of time is the safest option, though you may need to to this treatment more often for the best results.
How Often Can I Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Whiten My Teeth?
Hydrogen peroxide should be used as infrequently as possible and, when it is used, it should be done for short periods of time. Extended or frequent use of hydrogen peroxide will start to damage your teeth and the enamel.
When used frequently or for long periods of time, the oxidation process that takes place with hydrogen peroxide can start to damage the cell wall and any other material it comes into contact with, which makes it aggressive and dangerous for your tooth’s enamel.
To avoid the harmful effects of hydrogen peroxide, such as enamel deterioration, gum inflammation and other problems, use hydrogen peroxide infrequently and leave it on your teeth for no longer than 2 minutes.
Is the Hydrogen Peroxide in My Cabinet Safe to Use as a Teeth Whitener?
To determine whether the hydrogen peroxide bottle in your cabinet is safe to use for teeth cleaning, start by examining the bottle. Most hydrogen peroxide sold in pharmacies, drugstores, and grocery stores is already diluted by about 3 percent, which is a safe amount for your homemade rinse or paste.
Since high amounts of hydrogen peroxide will cause damage to your teeth and erode the enamel, dilution is absolutely crucial. Do not use any highly-concentrated versions of hydrogen peroxide.
When making a paste to use for your teeth, it’s important to remember and follow the 1:1 ratio rule. This rule is basically equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water. Diluting helps reduce the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide to the point where it’s safe to use.
After using hydrogen peroxide, always make sure you properly rinse out your mouth.