Hydrogen Peroxide Teeth Whitening

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical substance with the composition H2O2. The liquid is pale blue but appears colorless when diluted. This useful and versatile substance is employed as an antiseptic, disinfectant, oxidizer and even as a propellant for rockets! Owing to these properties, it is an ingredient in tooth pastes, disinfectants and mouth washes. However, hydrogen peroxide is best known as a powerful bleaching agent.

At Home Teeth Whitening
Hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening can be carried out in a few different ways. There are many at home teeth whitening kits that contain hydrogen peroxide as an active ingredient. However, if you find them expensive, you could also create your own remedy (using hydrogen peroxide) at home. To do this, you need to start by picking up a bottle of hydrogen peroxide from a pharmacy. It is usually sold in dark brown opaque bottles in drugstores. Ensure that you pick a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, which is the maximum potency that is generally accepted for safe biological use. Most people who use hydrogen peroxide for teeth whitening employ a concoction of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Some add a little mint flavored toothpaste to make it more pleasant. The function of the baking soda here is to help remove plaque by abrasion. Mix both the substances together to form a thick paste, which has to be scrubbed on the teeth for a few minutes, once or twice a week. However, as hydrogen peroxide is a powerful, potentially dangerous chemical, be very careful not to swallow any of it. Complete the process with a quick brush, using your regular toothpaste.

Another use of hydrogen peroxide for teeth whitening is as a mouthwash. Some mix 1 part water with 2 parts hydrogen peroxide to form a solution that they gargle with once or twice a day. This usage is not recommended for more than 2 weeks at a stretch.

If these options do not work for you, or you are scared to try them, consider an over the counter teeth whitening product. Trays and strips are fairly effective as they keep the peroxide solution on the teeth for a sufficient period of time. These usually come with a recommended usage time of around 30 minutes daily, with results usually achieved in a week. However, they do have their disadvantages: the trays are designed to fit the average-size mouth, thus do not offer a custom fit, which may lead to the peroxide solution leaking out and causing tooth and gum irritation. Many of the available whitening strips have the tendency to slip and slide. To minimize irritation, one is advised not to brush their teeth for up to half an hour before application. Paint-on whiteners are another over the counter option, which allows one to treat specific teeth or spots.

These at home teeth whitening options are suitable for those individuals who have a healthy mouth and have visited the dentist in the past year. It is not recommended for people with teeth sensitive to cold or people with crowns or fillings on their front teeth and those whose enamel seems more gray than yellow. Before commencing, it is good to have realistic expectations and to assess one's whitening potential. This can be done by holding a sheet of white printer paper next to your teeth. If your teeth appear yellow, then bleaching is likely to help and you should see your teeth turn a few shades lighter with treatment. However, if they appear grayish, the cause of discoloration lies inside the teeth, eliminating the possibility of improvement from surface treatment.

Hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening must be used exercising a lot of caution. Most people complain of tooth or gum irritation from using this whitening treatment, though the discomfort is usually temporary. Whichever teeth whitening method you employ, it is important to use it in consultation with your dentist.