Is Whitening Teeth with Hydrogen Peroxide Harmful for Tooth Enamel?

When whitening the teeth with hydrogen peroxide many people wonder how often one can whiten teeth. Is the repetitive use of hydrogen peroxide harmful?

While everyone desires a perfectly white smile, they certainly don’t want to be causing damage to the teeth in achieving a desirable smile. Studies are revealing that hydrogen peroxide may or may not be harmful to the teeth; it all depends on its concentration levels.

Researchers have discovered that hydrogen peroxide does not affect the surface of tooth enamel even with repetitive use. Dentists using hydrogen peroxide that consists of 38 percent hydrogen peroxide had noted no changes in the structure of the enamel after using repeated whitening applications.

In contrast, there are studies that suggest that hydrogen peroxide, in high concentrations, can change the enamel of one’s teeth by increasing the actual porosity of the teeth.

Further, the use of hydrogen peroxide in higher concentrations than 38 percent have been found to result in calcium loos in the teeth and demineralization too; this makes some whitening systems potentially harmful to the delicate tooth tissues and gums.

The studies on using hydrogen peroxide where extensive and the end result found that having visits at the dentist office once every week for four weeks time and having a whitening session does not have any kind of effect on tooth structure, on the porosity of the teeth, or on enamel’s roughness.

In contrast, not all over the counter whitening systems may be safe since some contain a product known as carbamide peroxide; this peroxide, in high concentrations can definitely affect the enamel of one’s teeth and effect tooth porosity.

Bear in mind that any whitening session has its potential side effects. Some people experience gum sensitivity after whitening the teeth and some people’s teeth become quite sensitive after tooth whitening.

The latter side effects can occur with a whitening session in the dental office or via the use of over the counter applications. If you are set on using over the counter applications, seek out products that have 38 percent hydrogen peroxide or less, and try to avoid products containing carbamide peroxide.