Thanks to my coffee habit, teeth whitening products have wiggled their way into my budget. For the last few years, I’ve been forking over cash for my favorite Crest Whitestrips at about $40 a box. It felt like a small price to pay in order to keep a bright white smile and have my yummy homemade coffee – caffè americano – too.
But, my plans to live more frugally and become debt free have opened my mind to looking at all kinds of alternative ways to save money, most recently using hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth.
My hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening experiment:
I was skeptical about how hydrogen peroxide would work to whiten my teeth, so I did a little research online and some comparison shopping in the stores. hydrogen peroxide was in the products I was already using and whole lot cheaper to buy on its own. So IF it was safe, I had nothing to lose.
Is it safe to whiten your teeth with hydrogen peroxide?
Most of the products I could find use hydrogen peroxide as the bleaching agent in their product. The bottle even listed it’s uses on the front label as, “treatment of minor cuts and abrasions,” and “a gargle or rinse.”
The American Dental Association has given their ADA Seal of Acceptance for many dentist-dispensed and over the counter home tooth whitening bleaches and products. But they pass the buck as far as liability on these statements by saying that, “Patients should be cautioned that not enough information is available to support unsupervised long-term and/or repeated use of bleaching products.”
Some dentists caution against using hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth, saying that it’s too rough on your gums and the lining of your mouth, could damage tooth enamel, and it could take months before you see results. Strange this is, I found out the Crest Strips I was using had a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide that the stuff you buy in the bottle (more below.)
Surprised? It seems like there are contradictory opinions on what’s healthy and what isn’t with just about everything relating to health and beauty.
How effective is hydrogen peroxide rinse at whitening teeth?
There are two factors in how effective a product will whiten; the concentration of hydrogen peroxide, and how long it’s in contact with your teeth.
After doing a little bit of research, I discovered the Crest Whitestrips I was using have a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide than the bottle I purchased, about 6% vs 3%. They also stay on your teeth for 30 minutes, giving the peroxide more time to work. Hydrogen peroxide as a rinse, on the other side doesn’t sit on the teeth. It’s swished around your whole mouth, making it react with saliva and become less effective.
A whitening kit will give you faster results, but if you’re not on a deadline to brighten your smile, hydrogen peroxide sounds like it could eventually do the trick for a lot less money.
How to whiten your teeth with hydrogen peroxide:
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Brush your teeth
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Swish with 1-2 Tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide for 1 minute.
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Swish with water for another minute or more to rinse away all the hydrogen peroxide.
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Repeat daily until you see desired results.
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After you’ve achieved the whiteness you desire, move to a once a week maintenance routine.
Note: Some people recommend that you brush your teeth with a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide occasionally to receive more whitening effect, but many dentists say it’s too abrasive.
Precautions to take when using hydrogen peroxide to whiten your teeth:
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See your dentist before beginning any whitening program. Peroxide won’t whiten dental work like crowns, and I doubt you’re looking to obtain a two toned smile.
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Swallowing peroxide can cause upset stomach and diarrhea, and is fatal in large doses.
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Tooth sensitivity is normal and occurs with almost any whitening program. You may want to try using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth.
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The peroxide may sting while you’re swishing it around the inside of your mouth.
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Be cautious of DIY Teeth Whitening tips you read online. Even natural products in your home that can be acidic could damage tooth enamel.
Tips to prevent staining and keep your teeth white:
Avoid smoking and brush your teeth right after eating or drinking foods that cause staining: coffee, red wine, berries, chocolate, tea. You could stop eating them, but how fun is that?
I’m not a dentist and I don’t play one on TV, but after reading the information out there I think I’ll stick to my OTC whitening kit occasionally to brighten my smile. Even though I would save a lot of money replacing the kit with a cheap-o bottle of hydrogen peroxide to whiten my teeth, I could end up spending a whole lot more on dental work in the long run. My next experiment… Oil pulling!
Have you tried whitening your teeth with hydrogen peroxide? How did it work?
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Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
I am using h2o2 to whiten my teeth but I use it with baking soda.. Which do you think is better, with or without baking soda??
This is pretty funny. You say, “Be cautious of DIY Teeth Whitening tips you read online. Even natural products in your home that can be acidic could damage tooth enamel.” Yet you are giving DIY Teeth Whitening tips using a natural product.
Dentists actually caution against using hydrogen peroxide to whiten your teeth at home.
Dentists use hydrgen just in a stronger strenth and charge crazy for wich you can do at home slowly .Been doing this since the 80 ‘s cleaned for a dentist thats how I learned this .No problems with my teeth .
This was a fabulous article, I will be trying soon! Thank you so much!
-Amanda from Seattle
I actually asked my dentist about this and he said “sure, go right ahead if you can stand the taste!” So, it’s safe.
Good to know!
The reason dentists say hydrogen peroxide from a bottle isn’t recommended is because they don’t want you taking money out of their own pockets/away from their own whitening services. Hydrogen peroxide is already in toothpaste and white strips, products approved by FDA so it would be ignorant to say that hydrogen peroxide is not safe.
I forgot to add, H2O2 is a weak acid. People worrying about hydrogen peroxide probably eat fruits, lemon water, coffee or sodas which are much worse. I found that the whitening strips actually hurt my gums whereas when I purchased H2o2 in a spray bottle and do 2 squirts onto my toothpaste works great and doesn’t hurt my gums.
The opposite is true.
Hydrogen peroxide is a weak BASE.
it is ALKALINE.
Just look it up!
Never mind you are correct
Hydrogen peroxide has a ph below 7, therefore it is an ACID.
Thanks for sharing the precautions one should take while sing hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth. Actually, the percentage of hydrogen peroxide is very less in the solution we use at home where as the percentage is usually high which is used in the dental offices. That’s why it is prescribed to visit a dental office for teeth whitening to get the best results.
My dentist actually recommended hydrogen peroxide to me!
That’s good to know! Did s/he offer any specific instructions?
I think I’m going to get this hydrogen peroxide… I need to whiten my teeth that got yellow especially the incisors
I recommend if you use Hydrogen peroxide use the food grade one found in your health stores. This is made without toxins which nonfood grade may contain. Especially because you are using it inside your body not outside for disinfection purposes. I have been using it for two weeks once a week leaving it on for 5-10 min. With a 50-50 dilution of filtered water. I have noticed a slow but sustantial whitening and no sensitivity. I am in my 60’s and my teeth have yellowed from drinking a lot of black tea over the years.
I found it works to brush on some hydrogen peroxide with a qtip and let it sit for three mins or so. It works much better than swishing it…plus putting HP on your gums isn’t great via the swishing. Just apply it with a qtip to your teeth..
Shared and following – many thanks for this. http://www.larosedentalhealth.com/number-one-question-must-ask-dental-surgery/
I have tried the coconut oil route and I didn’t really see any differences but most people swear by it. Great advice here.
I’ve been using 40v peroxide/developer along with my toothpaste
(From the beauty supply (I’m licensed))
Used it for 7-8 years. I went for a cleaning today my hygienist said my teeth looked great. Very little to no
Plaque (peroxide cut thru it ) dentist was thrilled my teeth looked so good
And NO I didn’t tell them my secret
40v=12% professional cleaning peroxide is 25-40%
When you say hydrogen peroxide you do mean the hydrogen peroxide in the dark brown bottle in the at home medicine ile in stores correct? (Sorry I know ile is totally not spelled right but it’s 5am and I have gone competely brain dead for some reason lol) but I just wanted to be one hundred percent sure that that is what you are talking about before I go and do it. And another question I do have extremely sensitive teeth honestly my teeth are in bad shape but I rinsed my mouth with hydrogen peroxide before for an infection in my tooth and my teeth were not sensitive to it at all but other stuff like whitening strips really hurt my teeth So with my teeth being in such bad shape it should still be safe to use correct?
Great advice! I’ve been using hydrogen peroxide also! See a brighter smile too! I used to blonde my hair with 49v developer. I wonder the whiteness you could achieve using it on your teeth! Must be amazing? Could the beauty stylist show us a picture of her teeth? And does she mix the 40v with her toothpaste or uses it separately! I bet it does cut through the plaque! It helps whiten my hair from jet black to beach blonde!
I was using 40v developer to blonde my hair with bleach powder for a beach blonde look!
I drink coffee and have tried just about every tooth whitening product in the market including having my dentist fit me for a mouth form and squeezing expensive gel into it. Nothing worked. The other day I tried hydrogen peroxide and was amazed at the immediate results I got. I am an RN and I do remember hearing you should dilute and that frequent use could cause yeast growth in your mouth but for now I’m
Sold. $1.00 for a large bottle
That’s fantastic! So glad it worked for you.
YEAH BE CAUTIOUS …….few are ok …better take doctors advise….
i will try….thank you so much…
Whitening Agent: Hydrogen peroxide is known for its teeth-whitening properties. It is a bleaching agent that can help break down and remove surface stains on teeth, leading to a brighter and whiter appearance.
Concentration Matters: Hydrogen peroxide https://www.bestghostwriters.net/ for teeth whitening is typically available in different concentrations. It’s important to use a safe and recommended concentration, such as the one found in over-the-counter whitening products, to avoid potential side effects.
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