Is it okay to put peroxide in your mouth?

With the plethora of information available online, it can be challenging to sift through the rumors and myths that surround certain oral hygiene practices. One trend that has stood out recently is using peroxide as a mouthwash (1). Some people advocate putting hydrogen peroxide or other forms of peroxide in your mouth daily to whiten teeth or kill bacteria. However, the question remains: Is it okay for your dental health? In this article, we will explore whether or not using peroxide as a mouthwash is safe and effective.

What Is Peroxide?

Before we get into answering our central question, let’s take a moment to define what exactly we are talking about with “peroxide.” Essentially, these compounds are types of chemicals where one molecule has an extra oxygen atom compared to similar molecules (2). The compound family includes hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), carbamide peroxide (CH6N4O3), and sodium percarbonate (Na2CO3). Hydrogen peroxide is most commonly used for home dental remedies because it breaks down easily into water and oxygen.

Pros

Advocates claim there are many benefits associated with using hydrogen peroxide for oral care:

Whitening Effect

One primary reason people use hydrogen peroxide at home as a rinse is its ability to reduce surface stains on teeth (3). As you age, damage from smoking cigarettes drinking red wine or coffee leads some discolorations on your enamel before exposing yellowish Dentin below [^18]. By getting rid of superficial decay one may experience fuller enamels exposure .

Kills Bacteria/Viruses/Fungi

Oral tissue contains several microscopic organisms including fungi viruses Streptococcus bacteria amongst others which can cause uncomfortable infections when they grow uncontrollably; some proponents attest H2O2 mitigates the risk of infection (4).

Inexpensive

One cost-effective benefit of using hydrogen peroxide over store-bought antifungal or whitening products is how cheap it is to purchase and use at home (5).

Cons

While proponents might claim that hydrogen peroxide has numerous benefits for your mouth, detractors point out some significant drawbacks:

High Concentration

While H2O2 concentrations as low as 1% are often used in various dental treatments, commercially available forms of hydrogen peroxide range from around 3%-35%[p12]. These high-concentration portions can be damaging to oral tissue in terms of chemical burns ranging anywhere from canker sores and ulcers; which are small areas where skin on a mucous membrane has been removed exposing nerves ([p14]).

Weak Evidence Base

There isn’t much scientific evidence supporting common uses like Teeth Whitening or treating gingivitis successfully with H2O2 rinses ([^15]). Many commercial toothpaste brands including Crest[,] have replaced traditional abrasives with Hydrogen Peroxide stating formulas such PDQ–”Healthy Gums Receding”. There’s no data correlating any clinical studies suggesting consumers should change their routine unless under the advice & care provided by an RDA one should always opt regular check-ups rather than hearsay .

The Verdict: Can Using Peroxide be Recommended?

The answer here lies somewhere in the middle between enthusiastic support and dismissing it altogether. Generally, when highly concentrated chemicals get involved,[url= ‘https://www.dictionary.com/browse/professional?s=t’]professional[/url] teeth cleaning appointments with licensed hygienists every six months negates most risks associated with self-treatment beyond daily brushing/flossing (([quoted material omitted]). However this may not prevent circumstances underlying sedation dentistry where complications involving synthetic sweeteners and the use of Hydrogen Peroxide-based agents assist in reducing bacteria that can leak into bloodstream when a sealant is placed on surface of teeth.

Overall, there’s no reason to consistently put peroxide in your mouth each day. Diluting hydrogen peroxide with one part H2O before using it as a rinse may be advantageous (7). But most dentists say avoiding high-concentration peroxides such as carbamide altogether or just periodically using OTC products with H2O2 will reduce risks and create better oral health long-term.([^2653]). Good luck testing different methods from my perspective they all have plus & negative experiences!

Conclusion

No matter what dental trend you choose to follow, good oral hygiene cannot be overstated (8). Brush twice daily for two minutes each time; floss regularly, especially after eating sugar or other complex carbs that stick in your mouth; maintain regular check-ups at any dentist office; avoid cigarette smoking and unnecessary alcohol consumption (much like anything else, everything is okay moderately!). Whether you opt for traditional fluoride treatments cost-friendly solutions like activated charcoal powders instead – sticking within guidelines implemented by dental industry pros combined with self-initiated research makes ongoing evaluation worthwhile!

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