Please note that adverse reactions such as chemical burns to the oral mucosa have occurred with rinsing for more than two minutes with 3% hydrogen peroxide, and improper use of H2O2 with a concentration >3% can cause epithelial necrosis.
Mix two parts water with one part hydrogen peroxide. Gargle, swishing the solution all around the mouth. Tilt the head back and continue gargling for 30 seconds. Spit the solution out.
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.
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.
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.
ABSOLUTELY NOT! NOWAY! Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) is a clear liquid more viscous than water and is a strong oxidizer. Due to the oxidizing properties, H2O2 is often used as a bleach or cleaner for inanimate objects only.
If you chose to use a hydrogen peroxide mouthwash in the morning or evening, you should gargle after you have finished flossing and brushing your teeth. Make sure that you swish it over all of your teeth, including the very front.
Soft tissue irritation
This condition is also called a chemical burn. It happens when the whitening solution touches your gum tissue during the procedure. In some cases, gums might turn white as a result. Whitening solutions contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.
While hydrogen peroxide may help whiten the teeth in certain situations, there are some important safety issues to consider. Hydrogen peroxide can cause damage to the enamel of the teeth if a person uses the solution incorrectly.
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.
Hydrogen peroxide can be damaging to your gums, your tongue, and your tooth enamel, leading to painful decay that could be costly to repair.
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.
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. Use a soft-bristled brush to apply the hydrogen peroxide, rinse and floss your teeth.
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.
Hydrogen peroxide removes stains from your teeth, making them feel smooth and clean. However, this can be dangerous if you use too much of the product or apply it too often. If you do this more than once a day or week, then there is a chance that your enamel can become eroded.
Hydrogen peroxide rinse is a mild antiseptic used in the mouth to help relieve minor mouth irritation (such as due to canker/cold sores, gingivitis, dentures, orthodontic appliances).
Unlike regular mouthwash, which destroys the balance of microbes in the mouth and often inflames, irritates or harms oral tissues, hydrogen peroxide mouthwash benefits the oral environment.
Because it can kill harmful bacteria and break up plaque, dental professionals have been using hydrogen peroxide since the early 1900s to prevent and treat periodontitis. Along with treating gum disease, killing bacteria also effectively treats bad breath (halitosis).
Hydrogen Peroxide and Vinegar
While these two chemicals can be used in succession as a cleaning duo, do not mix them together. “Combining these two creates peracetic acid or corrosive acid, an irritant that, in high concentrations, can harm the skin, eyes, throat, nose, and lungs,” says Bock.
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.
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.