Totorus

Photo credit by Kaptain Kobold

If you have read the ingredients for over-the-counter teeth whitening products, you might notice that many contain a form of hydrogen peroxide. You might even have come across some home remedies calling for the use of a hydrogen peroxide mixture to help whiten teeth. This might be leaving you to question whether hydrogen peroxide works to whiten teeth.

The oxidizing properties of hydrogen peroxide can help whiten your teeth a bit. Hydrogen peroxide works as a bleaching agent and as such can bleach your teeth to a lighter shade of white. It is important to realize that most teeth whitening products contain a variety of ingredients to help whiten your teeth and make them shine.

When creating your own teeth whitening solution from home, you will generally be instructed to mix together hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Baking soda itself is another good agent to help whiten your teeth and to get them extra clean. Some toothpastes and other teeth whitening products that you can purchase even contain baking soda.

If you are using hydrogen peroxide from home, you will want to mix it with baking soda until you have a thick paste form. You will brush your teeth with this mixture in order to start the whitening process. Some people add flavored toothpaste (such as mint) to the ingredients to make it a little tastier to use for brushing your teeth. It is important to remember that you must never swallow any of the mixture.

When you are using any teeth whitening products that contain hydrogen peroxide, you must never swallow the product. You should also keep in mind that hydrogen peroxide can make your gums more sensitive. If you have too much of a sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide based products, you might need to stop using them. Most people experience minimal problems, if any with the use of hydrogen peroxide based whitening products.

Hydrogen peroxide can help remove stains from your teeth. This is particularly true of stains from coffee and other beverages. Your teeth will look whiter if they do not have yellow or dark stains. This will also help to improve the appearance of your smile and the overall health of your teeth.

You can consult with your dentist if you are hoping to use hydrogen peroxide products to whiten your teeth. They can provide you with advice on which products to use and how to use them safely. Your dentist can also suggest whitening procedures that you can have done in his or her office. Keep in mind that there will be some dentists who will prefer for you to try office whitening techniques rather than over-the-counter products or whitening mixtures that you make at home.

Yes, hydrogen peroxide can be used to help you whiten your teeth. It is most effective when used in combination with other products. Always use caution when using hydrogen peroxide based products to make certain you do not swallow any of the ingredients. You should brush your teeth each morning and every night as well as flossing every day for optimal dental health.