The Risks of At-Home Hydrogen Peroxide Teeth Whitening

Posted on 04. Sep, 2010 by admin in Teeth Whitening Methods, Teeth Whitening Reviews

Do you want to have whiter teeth?

Stained or yellowing teeth can be a real turn-off and is enough reason for people to avoid you. However, this problem can be easily remedied nowadays with all the available teeth whitening products you can get your hands on. You don’t even have to go to the dentist’s to have your teeth whitened; you can whiten your own teeth at the comfort of your own home.

Are do-it-yourself teeth whitening methods safe enough?

Many at-home teeth whitening procedures are considered safe enough but the truth is, these methods may actually be harmful to your teeth and the overall health of your mouth. Why is this?

One of the most active ingredients of cheap do-it-yourself teeth whitening remedies is hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening can actually be too harsh for your teeth.

When the side-effects of hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening methods may not be seen on your first two tries, in the long run it could cause a lot of damage to your teeth and gums. This cannot be helped because hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening, like any other methods, require you to keep doing the process until the desired whiteness of the teeth is achieved.

What are the potential risks of do-it-yourself hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening?

• Tooth sensitivity to temperature changes and gum pain are the most common side-effects. These are not really dangerous but the pain it causes can disrupt daily activities.

• A less typical effect is throat soreness. This happens when the user accidentally swallows the hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening solution and/or keeping it in the mouth longer than recommended.

• Too much use of hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening is harmful as it can really damage the teeth’s enamel as well as the tissue within your mouth. Limit your usage to daily treatments for 2 weeks at a time.

• Mouth and gum irritation can also be caused by hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening because you are using a highly reactive chemical. This effect can be temporary at times.

• Your gum tissue can be ‘eaten’ by hydrogen peroxide if you have cuts in your mouth.

• Do not swallow hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening solution as it can react badly with your stomach’s natural acids like Vit. K which is responsible in digesting your food.

The above risks of using hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening are not always advised when you try to do your research online. To be on the safe side, talk to your dentist for a better way to whiten your teeth without causing any risks to your dental health.

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