Teeth Whitening: Q&A

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Is It Safe to Swish with Hydrogen Peroxide to Whiten Teeth?

I've heard people saying that swishing with hydrogen peroxide can get your teeth really white. Will it actually whiten the teeth? Is it safe?

6 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon
+4

Can I Swish With Peroxide To Whiten

You should never rinse with hydrogen peroxide to whiten your teeth! This will not only not whiten your teeth, but you can do significant damage to your gums and lining of your mouth. You can also disrupt the normal flora of bacteria in your mouth. If you want to whiten please see your dentist for options.
+4

Swishing wit hHydrogen Peroxide for Whitening

The short answer - NO! Please do not shich with Peroxide to whiten you teeth. Teeth Bleaching agents state they have hydrogen peroxide in them but it is somewhat of a different delivery system. Peroxide will clean you mouth but not whiten you teeth. Also, please do not use Bleach to do this either. I have seen it before and it is very dangerous as you could imagine. Teeth bleaching at the dentist office is somewhat cheap these days compared to what it used... more
+3

Swishing with hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth

I have some patients that swish with 3% hydrogen peroxide as a part of their hygiene program. This can whiten the teeth over time but may take months to years to notice a difference. If you are serious about whitening your teeth talk with your dentist and decide what is the best method for you. Professional teeth whitening is still the best most predictable way to bright white smile.

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+2

Hydrogen Peroxide rinses are Slow and may not be safe

Hydrogen peroxide will whiten teeth, but it takes a long (think months to years) time. Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidant. Many people spend a lot of money on anti-oxidants to reduce cellular damage, why risk putting an oxidant on the soft delicate tissues of your mouth. Yes, dental whitening products do contain hydrogen peroxide but it is packaged in such a way to contact teeth only, quickly and effectively. Why take a risk when we have great, inexpensive... more
+2

Rinsing with hydrogen peroxide is unsafe.

Absolutely not! Hydrogen peroxide out of the bottle is not only ineffective in whitening teeth, but can damage your gums and the lining of your mouth. Whitening products that contain hydrogen peroxide are specially formulated so as not to cause harm. Ask your dentist what would work best for you.
+2

Peroxide rinses for teeth whitening

Whitening of the teeth is a popular treatment with vast variety of whitening products available on the market nowadays. Majority of over-the-counter whitening products when used without professional supervision can harm the teeth and gum. Peroxide rinses are not effective for teeth whitening and can cause gum necrosis and major shift in oral microflora. Ask your dentist for professional whitening system to achieve stable safe long-term results.
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Comments (4)

I've been using basic peroxide for years. Same stuff you'd put on a cut, bought at a drugstore. Instead of wetting my toothbrush with water, I use peroxide. That way it is diluted enough to be less irritating, concentrated enough to actually bleach, and rinsed out after 2 minutes. It took a few months to see any difference, but it is effective. My dentist has never said anything, but then again, he's not a cosmetic dentist.

  • Reply

Did reading what the other dentists shared about this make you reconsider, or do you still plan to use peroxide for teeth whitening at this point?

  • Reply

I do this a couple times a week for like 20 seconds before i brush my teeth at night and it actually made a big difference, so i don't know why everyone is saying it takes years, i noticed within a week. I've been to my dentist twice since i started doing it and they never said anything about my gums or teeth being unhealthy, they actually said my mouth looked very healthy and I have perfect teeth.

  • Reply

So it seems swishing with peroxide is not the way to go. I tend to go with white strips myself. If you have found a method you really like, I would love to hear about it!

  • Reply

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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.

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