Teeth Whitening and Hydrogen Peroxide | Sherwood Dental Care (2024)

Does gargling with hydrogen peroxide whiten teeth and would it affect any fillings that I have?

Teeth Whitening and Hydrogen Peroxide | Sherwood Dental Care (1)The short answer is “No, it will not whiten your teeth and it will not harm well-fitting permanent fillings.”

What are my options for Teeth Whitening?

Interestingly, many take home whitening gels are 10% carbamide peroxide gel which breaks down to 3% hydrogen peroxide in your mouth. It is the 3% hydrogen peroxide that does the bulk of the whitening. Over the counter hydrogen peroxide solutions are also usually 3% hydrogen peroxide.

Unfortunately, with over the counter hydrogen peroxide solution it is virtually impossible to keep active hydrogen peroxide on your teeth for long enough to whiten them. Generally at this concentration you would need to have your teeth in contact with the 3% hydrogen peroxide for about 5 hours a day for about 2-3 weeks to have meaningful tooth whitening, which is very difficult to do with a watery liquid. Your body makes an enzyme called hydrogen peroxidase which quickly inactivates hydrogen peroxide.

10% carbamide peroxide whitening gel is designed to keep releasing hydrogen peroxide and hold it against your teeth for 5+ hours. Whitening gels also generally have a desensitizing agent since hydrogen peroxide in contact with your teeth for that long can temporarily make them sensitive.

There are substantially higher concentrations of whitening gel available, but often temporary sensitivity can be a problem. The advantage of higher concentrations is they allow you to whiten your teeth in less time (faster).

Rather than gargle with hydrogen peroxide you could get Mentadent toothpaste which has hydrogen peroxide in it, but again don’t expect any meaningful whitening.

Before you get your chemistry kits out, you can buy whitening touch-up kits in our office (if you have trays) with Zoom whitening gel (which I feel is the best money can buy) currently for $19 if you are a patient. You can have molds made and custom trays made with whitening gel currently for $98.

Probably the best over the counter option is Crest Whitening Strips which do work, but are not as effective as custom whitening trays.

Teeth Whitening and Hydrogen Peroxide | Sherwood Dental Care (2024)

FAQs

How much hydrogen peroxide is enough to whiten teeth? ›

Using hydrogen peroxide as a rinse

Mix equal amounts hydrogen peroxide with water, such as 1/2 cup to 1/2 cup. Swish this mixture around your mouth for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stop and spit out the solution if it's hurting your mouth and try not to swallow any of the mixture.

Do dentists use hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth? ›

Teeth-whitening products often use hydrogen peroxide to remove stains and dissolve chemical compounds that yellow your teeth. Those products are available over the counter, or you can receive treatments at a dentist's office. In-office techniques use higher concentrations than OTC products.

How do you whiten your teeth with hydrogen peroxide and water? ›

How Do You Use Hydrogen Peroxide for Teeth Whitening?
  1. Use equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and water and mix them together. Usually, half of a cup is the recommended amount.
  2. For half a minute, gargle the mixture in your mouth.
  3. If you are experiencing pain, you should immediately stop and spit it out.

How fast does baking soda whiten teeth? ›

As the baking soda only removes stains from the surface level of the teeth and not the enamel it can be passable at removing light stains such as coffee and food, but you might not notice a big difference for four to six weeks.

Do baking soda and peroxide whiten teeth? ›

Baking soda is abrasive and helps remove stains from the surface of your teeth which makes them appear whiter. However, baking soda does not help remove the old stains. Therefore mixing it with hydrogen peroxide helps whiten your teeth. The mixture forms a paste which stays on your teeth while brushing them.

Should you brush your teeth before or after hydrogen peroxide? ›

Hydrogen peroxide

This compound is an effective way to combat gum disease. However, it should only be used once per day. There are some precautions that you should take before using hydrogen peroxide on your teeth. You should brush your teeth thoroughly after using the product.

What is the fastest teeth whitening at home? ›

Using hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a mild bleach that can help to whiten stained teeth . For optimal whitening, a person can try brushing with a mix of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide for 1–2 minutes twice a day for a week. They should only do this occasionally.

How to whiten teeth in 2 minutes? ›

Baking-powder eliminates stains on the surface of your teeth and lemon juice as we already said has multiple components that lighten teeth. Just mix a teaspoon of baking powder and a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and brush your teeth with the paste this mixture will work wonders in just two minutes.

What is better than hydrogen peroxide for teeth whitening? ›

The good news is, one doesn't work better than the other. A journal published by American Dental Association showed that while carbamide peroxide shows slightly more dramatic results at first, products containing both ingredients produce exactly the same results.

What is the strongest hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening gel? ›

There are four strengths available: - 6% Hydrogen Peroxide: the strongest EU accepted gel, wear from as little as 30-90 minutes a day - 16% Carbamide Peroxide: high strength gel, wear from as little as 1-2 hours a day - 10% Carbamide Peroxide: the original strength for overnight gels, wear for 2-4 hours a day or ...

Does hydrogen peroxide remove tartar? ›

No, hydrogen peroxide doesn't dissolve tartar, but it can help remove the plaque that hardens into tartar.

How long does it take for hydrogen peroxide to start whitening teeth? ›

Generally at this concentration you would need to have your teeth in contact with the 3% hydrogen peroxide for about 5 hours a day for about 2-3 weeks to have meaningful tooth whitening, which is very difficult to do with a watery liquid.

How to make teeth whiter in 3 minutes without hydrogen peroxide? ›

Rub banana, orange, or lemon peels:

To perform this “trick,” take a banana, orange, or lemon peel and gently rub it on your teeth. Keep rubbing it for about 2 minutes, then thoroughly wash your mouth and brush your teeth. The peels of these fruits contain citric acid, which theoretically helps in teeth whitening.

Do you rinse your mouth with water after using hydrogen peroxide? ›

You should limit your hydrogen peroxide usage to one treatment at a time to reduce the risk of harm. It is typically safe to swallow small amounts of low concentration hydrogen peroxide, but an even better practice is to spit and rinse after use to limit the amount of time that the compound is on your teeth.

How long does it take to whiten teeth with hydrogen peroxide mouthwash? ›

Whitening mouthwash: Hydrogen peroxide is typically found in whitening mouthwashes. Teeth whitening results from a whitening mouthwash may be noticed in about three months. Daily whitening mouthwash can help erase light levels of surface discoloration.

How do TikTokers get their teeth so white? ›

How Do TikTokers Get White Teeth? TikTok is a great place to get tips and tricks for achieving the perfect smile. Many of these trends involve using at-home remedies such as baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, or even charcoal to whiten teeth.

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