How Does Hydrogen Peroxide Work?
Your smile says a lot about you. A bright, white smile says to the world that you care about your teeth and your health. Having a whiter, brighter smile can also give you the confidence that it takes to succeed in life. No kidding. And, it’s a certainty that a bright smile is an attractive smile, and it makes you more appealing.
After all, have you ever seen someone gorgeous with yellow teeth?
A dingy, dirty smile or yellow teeth has the opposite effect. It says, “I don’t care about my appearance or my health”. A dingy smile can also add years to your face, making you appear to be much older than you really are (or revealing your age).
Getting the white smile that makes you look more youthful and vibrant is easiest when you choose to use hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening.
How it Works
Hydrogen peroxide has long been heralded for its antiseptic properties, but it is actually quite effective for teeth whitening as well. Most of the whitening products on the market (and some in the dental office) that are sold on the premise of whitening the teeth will include hydrogen peroxide as an active ingredient on their list labels. Hydrogen peroxide’s whitening action hails from its ability to penetrate into the dentin of the tooth enamel, which is where most stains are found.
Hydrogen peroxide is effective with stains that come from smoking, food and drink, and overall bad oral hygiene. If your teeth are stained from tetracycline use, hydrogen peroxide may be helpful but will require a longer course of treatment to achieve maximum results. (For some great tips on keeping your smile beautiful, please read our article 5 Easy Ways to prevent Teeth Stains).
Products on the market that contain hydrogen peroxide include bleaching strips, whitening pens, bleaching gels, pre-brush rinses, and toothpastes. However, these products may be no more effective than a using hydrogen peroxide
directly from the bottle (around $1 a bottle at any drugstore). Chances are that you have a bottle of hydrogen peroxide already in your medicine chest – the classic brown bottle that you keep around for first aid.
Hydrogen Peroxide – Used in the Dental Office for Whitening
While the dentist isn’t going to drag out a brown bottle of regular hydrogen peroxide when you go in for a professional whitening session, you’re still getting the same ingredient when you have pro whitening procedures – only you’ll be paying a lot more than $1 for it. Most of the whitening procedures that are undertaken in the dental office utilize carbamide peroxide; however, carbamide peroxide breaks down in the mouth to form…hydrogen peroxide!
While the dental strength is, agreeably, stronger, usually anywhere from 10% to 30% (OTC hydrogen peroxide is only 3%), you can achieve the same effect without the high price tag – it just takes more time.
At-Home Hydrogen Peroxide Teeth Whitening
Whitening your teeth at home (especially in today’s economy) is the cost-conscious way to look beautiful. To get the effects of the cosmetic dental office at home, you’ll need to rinse before brushing your teeth with hydrogen peroxide. While many people say to dilute it with water, most dentists agree that it isn’t necessary.
Once you have rinsed (use like regular mouth rinse) simply brush your teeth as you normally would (you might also add toothpaste to your dental hygiene regimen that contains hydrogen peroxide). It’s likely that your favorite toothpaste has a version that contains hydrogen peroxide.
Some folks swear by making their own toothpaste using a blend of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda (the same kind that you use to freshen the refrigerator or bake with). While not the tastiest concoction in the world, this is an effective remedy for whitening teeth. Thoroughly rinse your mouth with water after brushing and take care not to swallow any of the formulation.
