The Negative Effects of Using Hydrogen Peroxide as a Rinse 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.
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. Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve in 7 days or if it worsens.
Many people also use hydrogen peroxide as a mouth rinse because it can help whiten teeth. But Cleveland Clinic and Williams, Daily & Frazier Dental both say gargling with hydrogen peroxide is only safe to use as a mouth rinse if it is diluted with water first.
Because hydrogen peroxide is rapidly decomposed in the body, it is unlikely to cause chronic toxicity. However, repeated exposures to hydrogen peroxide vapor may cause chronic irritation of the respiratory tract and partial or complete lung collapse.
Ultimately there is good evidence for safe daily use of hydrogen peroxide at low concentrations over long periods, however, with high concentrations and prolonged exposure, oral soft and hard tissue damage can occur.
Is Hydrogen Peroxide Safe for Your Teeth? Hydrogen peroxide can be damaging to your gums, your tongue, and your tooth enamel, leading to painful decay that could be costly to repair. Like many chemicals, hydrogen peroxide is only safe in small doses.
“If it's not diluted properly, you can create tooth sensitivity and blanche your gums, although the negative effects typically don't last very long. As for the rumor that rinsing with hydrogen peroxide can cause cancer, that's a myth as it's not a known carcinogen.”
To maximize the effects of hydrogen peroxide – and to use it safely – you must first dilute it. The familiar brown bottle found in stores contains 3% hydrogen peroxide, which is too strong for oral use. Dilute 3% hydrogen peroxide to 1% by mixing two parts water with one part hydrogen peroxide.
Even though it doesn't feature in most mouthwashes, hydrogen peroxide has been used in dentistry for over 80 years. It has been found to prevent plaque and gingivitis and aids in healing mouth and gum infections by preventing the multiplication of anaerobic bacteria.
The concentration approved as safe and effective by the FDA and ADA for tooth whitening (10 percent Carbamide Peroxide) is similar to 3.6 percent hydrogen peroxide.
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.
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.
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.
Take home message: Do not use hydrogen peroxide in your mouth, it's not safe, brush your teeth 3x/day and floss every night before bed. If you are interested in whitening, talk to your dentist for a safer and more predictable option or visit our website for more information.
This is due to the higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide. When the bleaching trays lie on the edges of the gum, some patients' gums turn white in a few seconds and cause sensitivity.
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.
As a mouthwash or gargle dilute one part of the peroxide to two parts of water (e.g. 5ml of peroxide and 10ml of water). Rinse the mouth for two to three minutes. This may be repeated up to three times daily. As a disinfectant this product is suitable for use by adults, children and the elderly.
The American Dental Association gives a thumbs up to whiteners with up to 10% peroxide concentrations. Any higher than 10%, and you're at-risk for destroying your precious enamel.
The solution further destroys the plaque barrier. Once you apply hydrogen peroxide, 10 minutes are enough to regain your healthy smile. Don't wait to have gum disease to use hydrogen peroxide. Applying the solution can reverse early gum infection.
Using hydrogen peroxide in caring for teeth and gums eliminates harmful bacteria. This cuts down the formation of plaque and tartar. This powerful antiseptic can deteriorate the bacteria in plaque. Some dentists use hydrogen peroxide as a more efficient way to remove the plaque and tartar from teeth.
Hydrogen Peroxide Rinses at the Dentist
Hydrogen peroxide is a strong disinfectant that can significantly reduce the number of microorganisms (bacteria) that are released during a dental appointment through splatter or aerosols (the mist created when using water based instruments).
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.