Whiten Your Teeth Safely With Hydrogen Peroxide

2 April 2015 by Jeremiah Barnett

Hydrogen Peroxide is one of the two components most commonly used for teeth whitening. While it is very effective in removing stubborn stains from teeth, it can also be dangerous if used improperly. Learning about how hydrogen peroxide works and how it is used to whiten teeth will enable you to whiten your teeth yourself, or at your dentist, without worrying about unpleasant side effects.

Hydrogen Peroxide the chemical

Hydrogen Peroxide is composed of two atoms of oxygen and two atoms of hydrogen. It is a liquid chemical, and functions as an oxidizer – it breaks down into oxygen.
Hydrogen is a bleaching agent, which is used not only to whiten teeth, but also to lighten hair color and sterilize open wounds.

Hydrogen Peroxide the whitener

Hydrogen Peroxide works as a whitener by breaking down into oxygen and water. The concentrated oxygen released gets rid of stains on your teeth by breaking apart the chemical bonds in the stain pigments at a molecular level.
The oxygen penetrates the dentin and porous makeup of your teeth enamel and thereby cleans tooth stains from the inside out.

Hydrogen Peroxide vs. Carbamide Peroxide

Carbamide Peroxide is another common tooth whitening agent, which actually breaks down into Hydrogen Peroxide.
A Carbamide Peroxide whitening gel has only one third of the strength of an equal amount of Hydrogen Peroxide based gel, and is therefore a safer product to use for home use.

Home vs. Dentist Use

Whitening treatments done by your dentist may cost several hundred dollars, but you dentist will employ special measures to ensure that side effects are minimized. A full session should take less than one hour.
Whitening treatments done at home are relatively cheap, and can be done at your convenience – but it may be harder to avoid side effects. In addition, more treatments may be required and it might take you longer to treat your own teeth.

Avoiding Side Effects

When using any Hydrogen Peroxide based gel at home, do not use more than the recommended amount. Also, remember to follow the directions on the packaging exactly.
Using a product with a lower concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide can minimize burns and irritation of the gums.

Using Hydrogen Peroxide whitening products wisely will get you the white teeth you desire, without causing unnecessary damage to your gums or other soft mouth tissue. In order to make sure that you qualify to use Hydrogen Peroxide to whiten your teeth, talk to your local dentist today (such as Clendenon Kirby DDS).

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About Me

When I reached the end of the era of natural teeth, it was time to make a decision. Would I go with dentures or dental implants? After discussing the issue with my dentist, I finally settled on the implants. The decision did not come easily. Like many forms of cosmetic dentistry, implants do not fall into the great-teeth-in-an-hour category. It was when I realized that the implants would offer benefits that I could not get with dentures that things finally began to fall in place. If you are about to face a similar decision, let me help you. I'll share what I learned about implants and why I decided they were right for me. From there, you can weigh the pros and cons, and make a decision that is right for you.