Hydrogen peroxide is the number-one teeth whitening agent, used in everything from professional chairside treatments to mass-manufactured whitening strips. It’s been used to remove stains from teeth since the 1800s, whitening millions of smiles over the decades. But before you use it on your teeth, you need to know if it’s safe.
As with all chemicals, you can have too much of a good thing, but whitening your teeth with hydrogen peroxide is considered safe and effective with the right approach. Let’s dive into the details, including how it works, staying safe, and potential side effects.
Table of Contents
How Does Hydrogen Peroxide Teeth Whitening Work?
If you’ve ever had hydrogen peroxide applied to a cut, you have seen it work its magic, bubbling up and cleaning out the wound. While this isn’t the preferred method for sanitizing cuts anymore, that same mechanism of action is at play when whitening your teeth.
Basically, hydrogen peroxide uses oxidation to dissolve the external stains on your teeth, opens the pores in the enamel, and gets inside to break up and lift out deeper and intrinsic stains — including those in the dentin.
How to Whiten Your Teeth With Hydrogen Peroxide
When it comes to methods of whitening your teeth with hydrogen peroxide, you have choices!
The most common ways to use hydrogen peroxide to whiten your teeth are:
- Professional and Over-the-Counter Teeth Whitening Treatments: Most in-office whitening treatments and methods in stores and online, like whitening trays, pens, and strips, contain peroxide as their main whitening agent. Depending on the concentration and type, it may be hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.
- Store-Bought Toothpaste and Mouth Rinses: Many dental hygiene products have hydrogen peroxide added. Most are marketed towards whitening, but a few add peroxide as an antiseptic.
It’s also possible to make your own hydrogen peroxide whitening mixture, but you should use extra caution when doing this. If done incorrectly, you can cause serious damage to your enamel and/or a chemical burn on your gums.
Is Teeth Whitening With Hydrogen Peroxide Really Safe?
Hydrogen peroxide can be very safe for teeth whitening as long as it’s used correctly. It’s important to talk to your dentist before you begin any whitening treatment to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy.
The more frequently you use a product with peroxide and the longer the product is left on your teeth, the higher the risk of developing side effects. It’s very easy to overdo it. One way to reduce your risk of developing side effects is to start with the lowest peroxide concentration and use it only for the minimum time recommended.
Commercial whitening products like whitening strips, gels for whitening trays, whitening pens, and in-office treatments are premixed and evaluated for safety. They typically don’t cause many problems because they’re milder than professional whitening products, but can still cause sensitivity.
Common Side Effects
- Teeth Sensitivity: Sensitivity with normal use usually goes away in a day or so, but prolonged contact can cause chronic sensitivity that doesn’t get better. You can also develop hot and cold sensitivity and chronic pain in your teeth if products are used incorrectly.
- Gum Irritation: Overuse can make your gums sensitive and swollen and may cause a chemical burn reaction. This can be very painful and may leave white marks on your gums that will go away as the gum tissue heals. These burns may also appear on your lips and inside of your cheeks.
- Thinning Tooth Enamel: Too frequent or otherwise incorrect use can cause thinning of the enamel. Your teeth may appear more yellow with thin enamel because the dentin shows through.
- Pain in Exposed Roots: If you have gum recession that’s exposed the root surface of your teeth, using a hydrogen peroxide-based whitener may cause pain.
Serious Side Effects
You should avoid swallowing peroxide, but if you accidentally swallow a little bit, you may experience vomiting and stomach aches. Swallowing any more than that can cause stomach bleeding, and breathing problems, and might even be life-threatening.
While rare, it’s possible to have a severe allergic reaction. If you develop a rash, swelling, or itching, you should immediately stop using the product and call your doctor. These side effects can happen regardless of whether you use a DIY peroxide method or an in-office whitening session that your dentist oversees.
Recommended Hydrogen Peroxide Whitening Products
If you’re looking to harness the whitening power of hydrogen peroxide at home, we recommend trying GLO Brilliant’s LED whitening kit or BURST whitening strips. These products deliver impressive results with minimal sensitivity.
Glo Brilliant
GLO Brilliant is an LED system that also uses heat to get the peroxide deeper into your enamel. At $199, it’s more expensive than some other at-home methods we’ve looked at, but the results are also that much more amazing. It’s also only one of a handful of at-home teeth whitening systems with FDA approval and has received two Edison Awards for excellence in product development.
Pros
- Many customers notice a difference after a single session.
- The LED light is designed to last for years, so in the future, you can save money by simply repurchasing the whitening solution.
- Combining heat with LED speeds up the whitening process and can brighten teeth by five shades in just five days.
- The fact that they have FDA approval means the company has put their product to the test and has completed more documentation than most competitors.
Cons
- Each whitening session requires you to apply the gel four times — more than what other products require.
- The battery doesn’t hold a charge well, so you’ll need to charge it daily.
Glo Brilliant - The Bottom Line
To learn more about GLO Brilliant, visit our full review.
BURST Whitening Strips With Coconut Oil
$29.99
If your teeth are sensitive but you still want hydrogen peroxide’s whitening power, try our top choice for sensitive teeth.
BURST Whitening Strips With Coconut Oil was formulated to address several needs, primarily tooth sensitivity from whitening. Combining traditional whitening agents with coconut oil can brighten smiles with minimal discomfort.
Plus, you only need 10–15 minutes of wear for each whitening session, and they can be purchased for as little as $1 per pair.
Pros
- Your time investment is minimal — just 15 minutes or less per day. Some other whitening strips require half an hour or more per session.
- You’ll only pay $1 per whitening session if you subscribe through their website.
- Their balance between traditional ingredients and natural ones offers peace of mind.
Cons
- The adhesive isn’t the best, so the strips sometimes slip.
- Even if it causes minimal tooth sensitivity, the gel can burn the gums.
Burst Whitening Strips - The Bottom Line
To learn more about BURST Whitening Strips With Coconut Oil, visit our full review.
Are There Any Alternatives to Hydrogen Peroxide Whitening?
What if you already have sensitive teeth but want to whiten? Or maybe you’ve experienced tooth sensitivity in the past and don’t want to go through the discomfort again? One alternative is carbamide peroxide. Carbamide peroxide does still contain hydrogen peroxide but in a much weaker concentration. For every 10% of carbamide peroxide, there is 3% hydrogen peroxide. This Journal of Applied Oral Science article shows that it reduces the risk of tooth sensitivity by 67–89% compared to hydrogen peroxide.
If you can’t tolerate hydrogen peroxide at all or have a sensitivity to it, PAP, or phthalimido peroxy caproic acid, is a great peroxide-free option. In a study noted in the Journal of Applied Oral Science PAP was found to whiten just as well as hydrogen peroxide, but without any of the tooth sensitivity associated with its use. It may take longer to whiten using carbamide peroxide products, but it could be a solid option for people who experience too much sensitivity with hydrogen peroxide.
Best Peroxide-Free Whitening Option: Lumineux Whitening Strips
2 for $50
If you’re looking for an all-natural whitening method that’s totally peroxide-free, we recommend Lumineux Oral Essentials Teeth Whitening Strips. Lumineux uses a blend of dead sea salt, coconut oil, and essential oils to gently break up stains in the enamel and lift them out.
Pros
- Instead of the harsher peroxide, Lumineux uses essential oils to pull stains out of the enamel.
- Peroxide-free to prevent sensitivity.
- The formula is so gentle that you can use the strips daily. Whitening kits that use peroxide are too potent for long-term everyday use.
- Customers report zero tooth sensitivity from these strips.
Cons
- The bottom strip is a bit small for some customers.
- The whitening effect isn’t quite as powerful as with peroxide-based formulas.
Lumineux Pen - The Bottom Line
To learn more about Lumineux Teeth Whitening Strips or compare your other whitening options, visit our reviews below.
Final Thoughts
Hydrogen peroxide has been the go-to teeth whitening agent for almost 150 years. When used safely and in the right concentration, it can remove stains from the surface of your teeth and deep inside the enamel.
However, hydrogen peroxide can cause irritation, teeth sensitivity, and even mild chemical burns when not used properly. Fortunately for people who are concerned about potential reactions, there are ways to whiten your teeth without using peroxide that yield very similar results.
Remember that before beginning any whitening process, we recommend seeing your dentist for an exam to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hydrogen peroxide dangerous?
It can be. But if used in its diluted form or in a dentist-approved whitening product, hydrogen peroxide is considered safe and effective for teeth whitening.
How does hydrogen peroxide remove stains?
Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes stains – meaning the oxygen molecules in the peroxide break up the stains, causing them to dissolve.
Which kinds of stains can hydrogen peroxide remove?
Peroxide can remove surface stains caused by food and drink and can penetrate the enamel to dissolve stains.
Will hydrogen peroxide make my teeth sensitive?
It can! If you use a strong concentration for too long, you can develop tooth sensitivity and even chronic tooth pain. If you’re concerned, speak with a dental professional before whitening.
What happens if I swallow a little hydrogen peroxide?
Swallowing a little peroxide (a few drops) should be fine. You might get an upset stomach or vomit. Swallowing any more than that can cause stomach bleeding, and breathing problems, and might even be life-threatening.
Can I avoid sensitive teeth and gum irritation while still using hydrogen peroxide?
Absolutely! Use a low peroxide concentration or dilute the peroxide with water to help prevent sensitivity. Some whitening products have barriers to keep the gel off your cheeks or gums.
Can I be allergic to hydrogen peroxide?
It’s rare, but it’s possible. It may be more likely that you have used the product for too long in one sitting too frequently and developed redness, swelling, and irritation. Using too much too often can also cause a chemical burn.
I have sensitive teeth. Can I still use hydrogen peroxide?
Absolutely! Many teeth whitening brands specialize in hydrogen peroxide-based products for people with sensitive teeth. They usually contain desensitizers to make whitening more comfortable.
Are there ways to whiten my teeth without hydrogen peroxide?
Yes. Many teeth whitening options use carbamide peroxide, a weaker form of hydrogen peroxide that contains ingredients to reduce sensitivity, or PAP, a peroxide-free whitener.
