Is it safe for me swish my mouth with peroxide to whiten my teeth? – Thanks. Lindsey
Lindsey – Most household hydrogen peroxide is 3%—less than 1/3 the strength of whitestrips that are labeled as professional strength. Swishing it around in your mouth may help reduce some surface stains over time, but the swishing period is not long enough to remove stains embedded in your teeth. And the peroxide is not strong enough to break down stubborn stains in teeth. Without supervision from a dentist, higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide can cause gum and tissue damage.
Even the hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide in professional-strength teeth bleaching gel needs to stay in contact with your teeth to break down embedded stains in them. Custom bleaching trays help the gel to penetrate your teeth, and they confine the gel to prevent it from burning your mouth and gums.
If you want to safely and effectively to brighten your smile, speak with your dentist about how teeth whitening can be made affordable for you.
This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.
