Homemade hydrogen peroxide mouthwash?
Want to naturally whiten your teeth ? I was hanging out with a friend over the weekend and he started telling me — almost out of the blue — about how awesome hydrogen peroxide was for your mouth and teeth, giving him a pearly bright smile. Oh yes! I remember how the conversation started. I was telling him how I spent $500 last month on the dentist to fill 2 cavities.
He’s been using hydrogen peroxide for a while now, rinsing with it about 2 times per day to strengthen and whiten his teeth, as an alternative to expensive teeth whitening procedures. He said that the peroxide actually fortifies cavities (essentially, repairing them) and hardens the enamel on your teeth to prevent cavities from forming.
It’s funny, because a few months ago I heard a few actors in a movie talking about how hydrogen peroxide is good to gargle with to help fight mouth infections and sore throats.
So, after my friend’s advice and remembering the movie… I decided to look further into the hydrogen peroxide issue today. And from what I found, it’s true.
Hydrogen Peroxide Uses (H2O2)
Hydrogen peroxide (3% hydrogen peroxide) helps with the following:
- Strengthens teeth
- Fight mouth bacteria
- Heal canker sores
- Soak and wash vegetables / fruits in to kill bacteria and neutralize chemicals
- Brush teeth with for extra protection
- Soak toothbrush in for a few seconds to disinfect (daily)
Of course, don’t be surprised if your dentist tells you this is bullshit . Why? Because they don’t want you taking care of your own teeth with “your own” natural remedies. They want you to have cavities and they want your teeth to be black as dirt. Why? Because that makes them more money.
Here’s what you do to whiten teeth naturally with hydrogen peroxide
- Clean your toothbrush with hydrogen peroxide to disinfect it
- Rinse 30 seconds – 1 minute with 3% hydrogen peroxide
- Brush your teeth in up and down motion
You’ll have to experiment with the hydrogen peroxide usage. Some people use it a few times a week, some people use it 2 times a day. Some people rinse for 30 seconds and others hold it in their mouth for 10 minutes. I’m going to start off with aforementioned guidelines once a day and see how it goes. Cheers to that new bright smile! Here’s a teeth whitening kit you may like.
Here’s some additional information and techniques on natural teeth whitening.
Update: 7/5/2009 – I recently read that hydrogen peroxide can weaken the filling in your cavities. I suggest looking into the usage more before using with cavity fillings.
know what else strengthens teeth? xylitol (sweet extract from birch tree). we use it in shakes etc… it is also an ingredient in many toothpastes.
I’ve never had a cavity. Lucky me!
Vitamin C appeared to boost production of hydrogen peroxide, which killed cancer cells and left healthy cells unharmed.
hey dan, i’m not so sure 30% solution is the best for you. i read that at 30%,you run the risk of the peroxide having the opposite effect — stripping the enamel. i’ll have to do more research, but i’m sticking to 3% for now.
Xylitol has also been shown as a great way to fight ear infections in children, it’s used as a sweetener in sugar free gum, it’s commonly found in strawberries and I think raspberries. Some people think that it promotes the growth of microbial cultures which compete with the ones like S. mutans which causes plaque and cavities.
My mother always had us brush with Hydrogen Peroxide when we were going up. If your mouth is really unclean it will foam all over the place. It eventually gets bearable (the taste). But your mouth does feel extra clean afterwards.
You can also by a mouthwash (can’t think of the name right now) but it’s similar to hydrogen peroxide, but it has a minty taste…start with that (it’s still nasty) but at least it’s got some mint flavor.
This is good advice. Straight peroxide is best. The products sold over the counter contain sodium lauryl sulfate which with repeated use causes mouth irritations such as canker sores, ouch!
To Personal Trainer 6/28
You will probably never read this because the date is now 1/1/2010
But Canker sores are caused by a virus.
If Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is contained in the drugstore type of H2O2, that is because it is a stabilizer against reacting with metals.
Use Food Grade: I have a good source.
Email me. clabianco@gmail.com
TO OTHERS: DO NOT USE THE FOOD GRADE AT 35%. IT’S TOO STRONG AND WILL “BURN YOUR SKIN” .
YOU BUY IT AT 35% BUT YOU ADD A PORTION TO WATER IN ORDER TO DILUTE IT TO 3%.
Where can I get this? It is pretty helpful to me, a coffee lover
you can buy this at any health food store or whole foods
you do need to be careful with excessive use of h2o2 since it can lead to oral cancers. It is ok for occassional rinsing or swishing if you have sores but not for daily use.It can also damage the enamel if over used. If your enamel starts to look chalky you may want too lay off of it for awhile and use a fluoride rinse to strengthen the damaged enamel
Oral cancers?!!!! Studies show that is NOT the case:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061116122158.htm
I have had my wisdom teeth coming in for awhile now and I have had at least 2 terrible gum infections where the gums overlap the wisdom teeth. I was swishing with salt water and started an antibiotic which all worked but took almost a week. Within the last couple of days I had another infection and read on my bottle of peroxide to use as an oral rinse. I have been using it the past 2 days and the results are amazing. The pain and swelling is already down considerably!!! I am a believer!
I gargle and rinse with a combination of Scope and hydrogen peroxide. The taste is much more palatable than using peroxide alone. FYI, the best way to prevent cavities is to minimize consumption of sugared drinks, gum, and hard candy. Sugar remains on the teeth for 15-20 minutes. If you sip sugared drinks once or twice an hour, your teeth remain coated with sugar for long periods, which is perfect breeding bacteria in your mouth. If you must consume sugar throughout the day, rinse afterward each time. Just plain water will go a long way toward preventing bacterial growth and subsequent cavities.
This is a great article. I’m a dental Assitant and I am going to start rinsing with peroxide and recommending it to my patients. However brushing in small circles is a more effective way to remove plaque rather than up and down. Why would you accuse dentists of wanting their patients teeth to have cavities and be black as dirt? You are obvioulsy tainted by a bad expierence, but you shouldn’t ruin it for other people. Thanks for your research.
This is awesome. I had heard different things about hydrogen peroxide, both good and bad. I’ll go buy the 3% hydrogen peroxide at the dollar store tomorrow. It sounds like a great an inexpensive way for me, a coffee drinker and smoker, to prevent future stains.
Yeah yeah, I know smoking is bad, but it’s my choice. I know the risks.
Hey Alane. Thanks so much for your comment! Yeah, go get some! It’s great stuff for your teeth. And, hey, if you smoke… just make sure to get plenty of antioxidants in your system — green tea is amazing for that. You may like this article on coffee
Hey Monica, thanks for commenting. Sweet! Start telling your patients. You’re right, maybe I was being morose. Thanks for your insight.
Thanks for all the great comments and input everyone — keep ‘em coming! Maybe I’ll do another article on this subject soon. Green Tea! That’s the secret to great teeth. Drink plenty of it and don’t drink soda, sugary ice-tea, etc..
Hey David, great post. I am going to recommend this to lot of my patients. I love your analysis and I am fine as long as it does not hurt. Thank you very much.
Thanks San Diego Dentist, appreciate you reading the article and commenting. Cheers to your patients!
I also have just started using hydrogen peroxide as an oral rinse and for other uses too. It kills bad breath instantly!
I want to point out that if you can find it, you should look for the food grade peroxide as this is much safer and does not contain the chemical stabilizers that the regular grades contain. You don’t want to ingest any of those other chemicals. If you get 35% solution you should definitely dilute it down to 3% before use. 35% undiluted is hazardous on contact and could be fatal if swallowed full strength.
It should also be noted that if you have mercury amalgam fillings in your mouth, you should NOT use H2O2 as it will leach the metal out and this is quite toxic.
I am a dentist and can honestly say Peroxide is only a good product for SHORT TERM use for canker sores or minor infection. It is an acid!! It can be very irritating to the mucosa and can actually remove enamel, NOT stregthen it. It is an oxidizing agent and will kill bacteria…as well as your own tissue. It is toxic at 35% and should only be used at 3%. Chlorihexidine is the best antiseptic mouthrinse for periodontal conditions and this should only be used for a few months. The best mouthrinse for daily use is Listerine or Crest Oral Health…they both have antimicrobial properties and are safe for daily use. Hydrogen peroxide is a great disinfectant…you can use it to disinfect cutting boards and houshold surfaces, or even your toothbrush.
well will hydrogen peroxide help get rid of gingivitis cause i heard it did, I use hydrogen peroxide a mouthful of 3% sometimes three times usulally once a day and use the paste also with colgate toothpaste my teeth are fine and my gums are alright
Does anyone know if oral h202 will truly leach amalgram fillings making it toxic?
Thanks
I know someone that has been using peroxide twice daily as a prebrush mouthwash for years and has dazzling white teeth. they do not have any damage to their teeth enamel.
I’m thinking of buying hydrogen peroxide tmro. I will mix it with water then rinse because it isn’t as toxic. My teeth are great, but I’d like to have that white shine. I’m an aspiring dental student and have completed a great deal of research on this topic, and now I’m ready to become a guinea pig myself. Science tells us to limit higher quantities, such as the presented method above. It is definitely way too toxic to rinse in your mouth at ^10%! The dentist above is correct, and the reason they don’t want you to do it is bc it’s detrimental to your health, not just the oral region but eventually your GI parts. That’s why it’s best to mix with another fluid such as water.
Remember, moderation is best!
Thank you for discussing this topic.
DO NOT USE 30% THIRTY PER CENT solution of hydrogen peroxide in mouth for rinse. This is very dangerous. Three percent solution is recomended.
Is there any real info. on 3%peroxide and dental fillings and how do you know if you have the fillings that will be toxic?
Man, I would really like to try this, but after read the comments about mercury amalgam fillings, I don’t think I’m gonna… However, I did more research into those fillings, and I think I’m gonna try and get them removed.
Yes peroxide works great!! My grandfather cleans his teeth with it for years and he have all his teeth and there all white!! Im jealous!!lol
Does anyone no why dentist have stopped using the hand scaling tool to remove plaque? Right after seeing a dentist a normally have to redo his/her work and students a SUNY SB also fail to do anything below the gum line. There should be some studies done to see what it actually does but for me it always has helped not hurt. Ozone is another oxidizing agent which is doing wonders for teeth. Also started putting H2O2 below the gum line and that worked as well. I have the poorest enamel coded teeth in the world and I only had one cavity the last trip to the dentist in 5 years down from a record 13 cavities in the follow 5 years and 13 cavities was big money. So there you have it. I am richer in so many ways. Thanks Dave for posting my findings and ideas.
My dentist told me to not us peroxide because it kills both good and bad bacteria in your mouth and your want the good to kill germs. Honestly I don’t believe hardly any doctor or dentist in todays world because of so much greed. Isnt that a shame!
Not sure about what your dentist said, my dentist said nothing about good vs bad bacteria in the mouth or H2O2 being bad in the mouth. I would think you would still have lots of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract, wouldn’t this be more important here than in the mouth? The body has trillions of bacteria. I know what you mean about not knowing whether to believe physicians though, I have the exact same doubts. I do think peroxide is one of those things that they don’t really want to promote in spite of it’s wonderful uses. I use it almost daily as a sanitizer also, and to remove pesticides/chemical residues from fruits and veggies. It kills e.coli!! It is also very economical…. cheaper than most household cleaners.
If you mix about 2-3 Tsp of Hydrogen Peroxide with 2 Tsp baking soda it makes a toothpase like substance that’s easy to brush with. It noticibly whitens your teeth. Just brush, let it sit for around 2 min., then rinse and brush with flouride toothpaste.
I started using 3% hy.peroxide a couple weeks ago. I noticed my teeth were whiter thr first use. Still not sure of any bad affects at this time.Dont swallow it of course. Treat it as you would any mouthwash or toothepaste in that regard. Dont get to agressive with it [brushing] because it may become painfull. I buy my 3% h.p. at the dollar store for about $1.00. I have recently been putting a dab of AIM toothpaste and a dab of ultrabrite on my brush just after I have taken a small swig of hy-peroxide, and then begin to brush with a SOFT tooth brush. Its a great indicator of bacterial areas on your teeth. It continues to bubble even after spitting and rinsing. Some mornings a lot . Usually after eating a lot of sweet stuff the night before. I even use it to brush w/out paste for a clean and smell free mouth. GREAT STUFF.
Can anybody tell me if using Hydrogen Peroxide for pre-brushing can cause damage to bonded teeth? My two upper front teeth were bonded to hide the mismatched color from fillings in between them. I would only use a 3% food grade.
There are several uses for Hydrogen Peroxide. Two you may not be aware of:
1. A fungal affliction called “Black Hairy Tongue”. Two years ago I used to drink a lot of cranberry juice and even after brushing both teeth and tongue I experienced a constant ‘fruity’ taste in my mouth. Took a good look at my tongue in the mirror and found a dark discoloration towards the back. Had no idea what it was and had never heard of “Black Hairy Tongue” before. Googled ‘dark discoloration of tongue’ and there it was.
Cure: 1 part Peroxide to 3 parts water. Brush tongue, gargle with left-over and spit out.
In only 3 days my tongue looked its usual pink self.
2. Early stage Kennel Cough. Mix 3 drops of the 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide with 2 teaspoons of honey for each 8 oz. glass of water and pour in the dog(s) water bowl.
Bad Advice!!!!
I asked an oral surgeon about this. A true scientist that has practiced around the world. I thought it might be a good addition to the water in my Water Pik. Nope! If you have even one cancer cell in your gum tissue, hydrogen peroxide will make it spread.
As for disinfecting, hydrogen peroxide is NOT a disinfectant. It is an evacuation agent. It is no longer recommended as a first aid treatment for cuts unless you are trying to get dirt out.
Iodine, an old dentists remedy for gum problems, is now making a comeback. Several drops in an ounce of water and swish for a minute. Be sure its monoatomic or near that, especially if you are going to swallow it. There is your disinfectant if you want one. But it shouldn’t be necessary unless you have a temporary condition. If you have permanent infection, see a periodontist. Don’t expect that kind of infection to hurt either. Teeth and gums are an open system so infection doesn’t build and swell. It just quietly drains and leaks. Medical and dental policies usually cover this. Many people have it and don’t know. A constant weird taste and occasional gum bleeding may be your only clue.
As for an evacuation agent, don’t use hydrogen peroxide. Use a Water Pik with the Pick Pocket attachment. I would estimate that one half of every dental dollar spent in the US could be saved if people just used this device for 2 minutes every night. This device creates hydro pressure inside the socket and blows out every particle. You can floss and brush until you think until your mouth is sanitary. Then use the Water Pik over a white sink so you can see the debris. You will be amazed. Don’t feel secure because you are maintaining the surface of your teeth. Below the gum line is where the big problems will arise.
Will hydrogen peroxide spread a cancer cell in the mouth if there is a cancer cell?
More Bad Advice?
Hydrogen peroxide as a cure for Black Hairy Tongue???
No. hydrogen peroxide causes this condition. See Mayo Clinic.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/black-hairy-tongue/DS01134/DSECTION=causes
What the hell is monoatomic?
Hydro for deep pockets
“The VitaPick gently bathes the pockets with powerful natural antiseptics such as salt solution and hydrogen peroxide.”
Sounds like iodine and hydrogen peroxide.
just started using 3% hp today, i’ll use it twice a week for two weeks and post results, wish me luck
Hey Herve, looking forward to reading your results :)
I always use h2o2 for gum problems and find it helps in a few days. I had a friend that was upset about seeing her dentist for what she called a “tooth” abcess and the dentist wanted to cut off some of her gum. I told her to try h2h2 it might help. Within three days she was cured and cancelled her appointment. As far as what it may do to teeth… Let’s look at scientific research:
“A SEM evaluation of a 6% hydrogen peroxide tooth whitening gel on dental materials in vitro.”
Author(s):Schemehorn B; González-Cabezas C; Joiner A
Source:Journal Of Dentistry [J Dent] 2004; Vol. 32 Suppl 1, pp. 35-9.
RESULTS: There were no observable differences at 200x and 2000x magnifications between the control and peroxide gel treated sides on any of the materials tested. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant effects of the 6% hydrogen peroxide gel on the surface morphology of any of the dental materials tested.
“Effects of tooth whitening and orange juice on surface properties of dental enamel.”
Author(s):Ren YF; Amin A; Malmstrom H
Source:Journal Of Dentistry [J Dent] 2009 Jun; Vol. 37 (6), pp. 424-31. Date of Electronic Publication: 2009 Feb 23.
Publication Type:Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov’t
RESULTS: Enamel surface hardness decreased by 84% after orange juice immersion but no statistically significant changes were observed in the whitening and control groups. Surface topography changed significantly only in the orange juice group as shown by increased Sa (1.2 microm vs. 2.0 microm), Sz (7.7 microm vs. 10.2 microm) and Sdr (2.8% vs. 6.0%). No such changes were observed in the whitening and control groups. CONCLUSION: In comparison to orange juice challenges, the effects of 6% H2O2 on surface enamel are insignificant. Orange juice erosion markedly decreased hardness and increased roughness of enamel.
I was recommended by my dentist, whilst living in Kuwait to rinse with hydrogen peroixde daily. Bee doing so for almost 3 years, and could not be happier with my oral hygiene status and white smile.
I started using hydrogen peroxide by rinsing it in my mouth for 30 seconds for my first time, I notice white stuff near gum area, is that a good thing or bad? My mouth does feel cleaner and see why people loves this stuff, I just wanted to see if this was temp or not, thanks for any help!
My white spots went away, I will keep an eye on them, I think it was just my gums first reacting to the peroixde for first time. Unless someone has an better explanation then mine =]
The white you see is where your gums were injured. (bleeding, if ever so slightly). Here is a more detailed explanation:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question115.htm
Thanks for the insight :-)
Avoid using hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash. It injures tissue causing dry mouth.
I moved on and stopped using this product hydrogen completely and started using a newer idea that I believe is better. To the best of my knowledge this new improvement is more natural then hydrogen and I believe everyone should shift over to the new idea at once. The shift is to the thyme seed because it is the main active ingredient in Listerine and because (Thymus vulgaris) is made up of 20-54% thymol. The idea is to create a thymol based toothpaste that has different proof levels of thymol i.e 50 proof pure thymol toothpaste is just an product idea. The other idea is to combine many sanitizers and thymol into one super product. Right now thymol is watered down to .06% in Listerine. My solution was I take a bunch of thyme seeds and pure it into a bottle of Trader Joe’s Hand Sanitizer and use it as a brush sanitizer and every once in awhile I add it to toothpaste seeds and all. Naturally the yellow fuzz monster does not return, so that’s good.