Is It Safe To Use Baking Soda & Hydrogen Peroxide To Whiten Teeth? (2024)

Nowadays, a bright smile has become a part of most beauty regimens. With that comes the explosion of teeth whitening concoctions online and whitening products in the market.

Brushing teeth with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are among the popular DIY whitening methods that you will hear from many influencers online and even written about in lifestyle articles.

Beyond their remarkable bleaching features, the remaining question is if these substances are safe to use on our teeth. As a trusted cosmetic and teeth whitening dentist in Charlotte, Dr. Ramsey with Build-A-Smile will share the safety concerns of using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide on your teeth.

Baking soda and hydrogen as bleaching agents

Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate bleaches our teeth through an oxidative process. It is a substance that forms an alkaline solution when mixed with water. When the alkaline solution gets in contact with our teeth, free radicals from the solution target the stains and begin the bleaching process.

What’s good about brushing with baking soda is it also serves other purposes aside from whitening. It also:

  • Help prevent plaque buildup on your teeth that contributes to lower risks of developing tooth decay and gum disease.
  • Balances the acidity levels of food residue that helps fight bad breath.
  • Speeds up the healing process of mouth ulcers.

On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide begins a chemical process by breaking down the stains and dissolving them through an oxidation process. It ranks as the best tooth whitener due to its bleaching capacity without damaging your teeth and putting your oral health at risk.

Risks of DIY teeth whitening using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide

While baking soda and hydrogen peroxide have several benefits, they can also pose some risks due to excessive use. According to the American Dental Association, going beyond the ideal 3.6% concentration of hydrogen peroxide can be damaging to your teeth.

Baking soda is also mildly abrasive, where excessive use can scratch-off delicate parts of our teeth. Other risks associated with these substances include:

Is It Safe To Use Baking Soda & Hydrogen Peroxide To Whiten Teeth? (1)

  • Gum irritation: The abrasive nature of baking soda and the extreme acidity from hydrogen peroxide solution can irritate and damage the gums. It is the reason why in dental practices, dentists use a protective gel or rubber on the gums to protect them from high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide during a teeth whitening treatment.
  • Enamel damage: Our teeth may look and feel sturdy, but they can’t heal themselves. Scratches from aggressive brushing with baking soda can cause small openings on the tooth surface and lead to tooth decay.

Prolonged use of highly-concentrated hydrogen peroxide on your teeth can remove minerals from the tooth enamel, which exposes the dentin and causes extreme tooth sensitivity.

Though sensitive teeth are a usual after-effect of professional teeth whitening treatments, the level of tooth damage cannot be gauged in DIY whitening since it is not supervised by a dental professional.

Why risk your teeth if you can have a safe whitening treatment at Build-A-Smile?

A DIY teeth whitening gone wrong may lead to irreversible tooth damage. Experience a guided approach to teeth whitening with the help of our dental professionals at Build-A-Smile. We will discuss with you what to expect during your appointment and the dos and don’ts post-treatment.

We use a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide to bleach deep-seated tooth stains with our Beaming White teeth whitening treatment in Charlotte. Achieve eight up to ten shades of lighter teeth without damaging your teeth by scheduling an appointment now.

Is It Safe To Use Baking Soda & Hydrogen Peroxide To Whiten Teeth? (2024)

FAQs

Is It Safe To Use Baking Soda & Hydrogen Peroxide To Whiten Teeth? ›

Baking soda for yellow teeth

How safe is hydrogen peroxide and baking soda for teeth whitening? ›

The abrasiveness of baking soda can can cause weakened enamel and increase tooth sensitivity. Certain preparations claim to combine the hydrogen peroxide and baking soda in the proper ratio to keep the baking soda from thinning the enamel, but it's not a gamble dentists want you to take regularly.

What happens when you mix hydrogen peroxide and baking soda? ›

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a weak acid and baking soda (NaHCO3) is a base compound. When you combine the two, there is an exothermic reaction that generates carbon dioxide gasses. The reaction helps break apart grease and organic stain molecules to make them easier to remove from surfaces.

Why did my gums turn white after using peroxide and baking soda? ›

When a chemical burn occurs, the area becomes mildly sore, turns white, and will eventually flake off.

How much hydrogen peroxide do dentists use for teeth whitening? ›

In accordance with EU law, over the counter home whitening kits in the UK contain too little hydrogen peroxide (0.1%) to noticeably lighten the teeth. The legal limit for a dentist to use is between 0.1% and 6% hydrogen peroxide.

How often can I use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide on my teeth? ›

Remember, you shouldn't whiten your teeth more than two times per week, whether you're adding hydrogen peroxide, baking soda or both. For everyday use, try a whitening toothpaste that has baking soda already built-in and may also have fluoride to help prevent cavities and strengthen your teeth.

Is it safe to use hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth everyday? ›

The longer hydrogen peroxide stays in contact with your teeth, gums, or tongue, the more damage it can cause. That is why whitening treatments that contain hydrogen peroxide are only applied for a limited amount of time. Most products recommend a maximum time of 1 – 2 minutes, once or twice a week.

How many times a week should you use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide? ›

Use this paste in moderation; no more than 2-3 times a week. Too much baking soda can break down enamel, which may lead to sensitivity. Remember that this paste does not have any added fluoride benefit.

Can I mix hydrogen peroxide and Dawn dish soap? ›

Combine 1 part Dawn dish soap and 2 parts hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. Stir to combine. Dip stain in the mixture and then sprinkle baking soda on it. Scrub with the toothbrush.

How can I naturally whiten my teeth? ›

Seven Ways to Naturally Whiten Teeth
  1. Eat Strawberries. One of the simplest ways to naturally whiten your teeth is just by eating strawberries. ...
  2. Eat Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables. ...
  3. Brush After You Eat or Drink. ...
  4. Rinse with Apple Cider Vinegar. ...
  5. Apply Coconut Oil. ...
  6. Brush Your Tongue. ...
  7. Use Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide.

Does swishing hydrogen peroxide in your mouth whiten your teeth? ›

It is an ingredient in many teeth whitening solutions for use both at home and in the dentist's office. A simple hydrogen peroxide mouthwash may help remove mild stains. However, a person should avoid leaving hydrogen peroxide solutions on their teeth for extended periods.

Why is hydrogen peroxide bad for gums? ›

Hydrogen peroxide is used widely in professionally and self-administered products. Hydrogen peroxide is a highly reactive substance which can damage oral soft tissues and hard tissues when present in high concentrations and with exposures of prolonged duration.

What is the most effective teeth whitening method? ›

Option #1: In-Office Laser Whitening

This is one of the popular teeth whitening methods that some people believe is the most effective way to get a brighter smile. Using lasers and peroxide-based whitening agents in a professional setting, this teeth whitening method provides dramatic, lasting results.

What is the best thing to whiten your teeth with? ›

The following strategies may help whiten teeth:
  1. Making dietary changes. Eliminating foods that mark the teeth can prevent further staining. ...
  2. Trying oil pulling. ...
  3. Brushing with baking soda. ...
  4. Using hydrogen peroxide. ...
  5. Whitening with fruit. ...
  6. Chewing high fiber foods.

Can yellow teeth become white again? ›

Fortunately, there are ways of making your yellow teeth white, from improving your oral hygiene and diet to visiting the dentist and having them professionally whitened. There's no need to feel ashamed of your smile anymore.

Is there a healthy way to whiten teeth? ›

Use Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

Baking soda can help get rid of plaque that's on your teeth while hydrogen peroxide is an antibacterial agent that can whiten your teeth and keep them free of germs. When you mix these two together, you'll create a paste-like substance.

Can you put hydrogen peroxide directly on your teeth for whitening? ›

You can use hydrogen peroxide to whiten your teeth since it has natural bleaching properties. But using it on your teeth carries the risk of getting tooth sensitivity and gum inflammation. Some kinds of toothpaste and mouth washing products contain small concentrations of hydrogen peroxide.

How many days does it take to whiten teeth with hydrogen peroxide? ›

Generally at this concentration you would need to have your teeth in contact with the 3% hydrogen peroxide for about 5 hours a day for about 2-3 weeks to have meaningful tooth whitening, which is very difficult to do with a watery liquid.

What is the best tooth whitening product? ›

The Best Teeth Whitening Kits, According to Dentists
  • OpalescenceGo Prefilled Teeth Whitening Trays, Set of 10. ...
  • Burst Prefilled Whitening Trays, Set of 3. ...
  • PhilipsZoom NiteWhite Kit, Set of 3. ...
  • Dr. ...
  • Colgate Optic White ComfortFit Teeth Whitening Kit. ...
  • Auraglow Teeth Whitening Kit. ...
  • Crest3D Whitestrips, Pack of 22.
Sep 20, 2023

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5905

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Birthday: 1996-05-19

Address: Apt. 114 873 White Lodge, Libbyfurt, CA 93006

Phone: +5983010455207

Job: Legacy Representative

Hobby: Blacksmithing, Urban exploration, Sudoku, Slacklining, Creative writing, Community, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Merrill Bechtelar CPA, I am a clean, agreeable, glorious, magnificent, witty, enchanting, comfortable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.