The growing need to achieve the perfect smile has led consumers to try all sorts of products and procedures in order to correct teeth discolorations. Stains due to coffee, cigarettes and foods cause teeth to yellow with time. Products containing hydrogen peroxide help to combat these unwanted blemishes, providing you with a brighter, whiter smile.
Background
According to the December 2006 issue of the "Journal of Dentistry," 34 percent of adult Americans report being dissatisfied with the color of their teeth. In response, manufacturers have filled store shelves with at-home teeth-bleaching products using the ingredient peroxide. Although at-home products contain lower concentrations of peroxide, such as 3 to 6 percent compared to the 25 to 35 percent concentrations in dental offices, the "Journal of Dentistry" article suggests that they work just as well.
Function
Peroxide spreads across tooth enamel, triggering off-white organic and inorganic material within the enamel to turn to a whiter color most users appreciate. The level of whiteness depends on other variables such as light, temperature, concentration of peroxide, duration of use and the presence of certain metals, but in most cases, peroxide efficiently bleaches teeth to a whiter shade with repeated treatment, notes the "Journal of Dentistry."
Timing
The length of time and the number of exposures necessary to attain whiter teeth depend on the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in your whitening product. For example, the "Journal of Dentistry" says that moderately concentrated in-office products produce whiter teeth as quickly as one treatment. In contrast, at-home products require two applications each day for up to 14 days. Also, the level of whiteness depends on the number of treatments. While a whiter smile may appear within a few days, the whitest smile will require continued usage for up to two weeks.
Considerations
Tooth sensitivity can occur if you continuously leave teeth exposed to hydrogen peroxide. The Dimensions of Dental Hygiene website says that hydrogen peroxide remains as an active ingredient for no longer than 30 minutes to an hour. Beyond this time, it can wear down the protective layer of the tooth, known as pulp, causing tooth sensitivity without providing any excess benefit. The website recommends delaying treatments if tooth sensitivity should occur until the pulp has enough time to recover.
Warning
The New Jersey Dental School advises not to use whitening products if you have restored or non-yellow stained teeth, and suggests that peroxide-containing products work best on organically stained teeth. It will also not alter the color of false teeth or teeth damaged beyond staining, such as brown or gray-colored teeth. Furthermore, the "Journal of Dentistry" says that younger adults will experience greater effects of peroxide whitening than older adults.
