Having a bright and radiant smile is a desire for many individuals. People often turn to whitening products to whiten their teeth. While there are numerous teeth whitening products with many types of ingredients available in the market, one particular ingredient stands out for its effectiveness: Hydrogen Peroxide. In this article, we will explore how Hydrogen Peroxide effectively whitens teeth, its mechanism of action, and safety considerations.
The Science of Tooth Discolouration
Tooth discolouration refers to the staining or darkening of teeth, which can occur due to a variety of factors. Tooth discolouration can be classified into two main categories: extrinsic and intrinsic staining. Extrinsic stains sit on the tooth surface while intrinsic stains are incorporated into the tooth structure.
Extrinsic discolouration occurs when external elements come into contact with the teeth and stain the outside of the tooth surface. These include factors like regular consumption of highly pigmented foods and beverages such coffee, tea, and red wine, along with activities like smoking, and chewing tobacco.
Intrinsic discolouration originates from stains penetrating or originating in the tooth enamel and dentine and can be caused by dental trauma or injury, medications, and medical conditions or can be due to ageing or the incorporation of stains which originate on the tooth surface due to external sources of pigment like smoking, food and beverages. These stains can become incorporated into the tooth enamel and dentine. Hydrogen Peroxide can break down the stains and increase the whiteness of the teeth.
What is Hydrogen Peroxide?
Hydrogen Peroxide is a chemical compound of hydrogen and oxygen atoms (H2O2). It has mild antiseptic properties and is used commonly in dental treatments. Hydrogen Peroxide based tooth whitening is safe and effective if used correctly and as directed in the instructions on the package.
How does Hydrogen Peroxide effectively whiten teeth?
Hydrogen Peroxide helps in breaking down stains, penetrating the enamel and oxidising stain molecules to effectively whiten the teeth and provide amazing results.
Breaking Down Stains
Stains on teeth can be categorised as extrinsic (surface stains) and intrinsic (stains within the tooth structure). Hydrogen Peroxide tackles both types of stains by breaking down the molecular bonds responsible for discolouration. This process effectively removes or reduces the appearance of stains, revealing whiter teeth.
Penetration into Enamel
Hydrogen Peroxide can penetrate the porous enamel layer of teeth due to its molecular nature. Because of this penetration, Hydrogen Peroxide can get to the dentine layer, which can have stains that are deeply embedded. Hydrogen Peroxide successfully whitens teeth by getting to these deeper layers.
Conclusion
A bright, white smile is something that everyone desires. However, over time, our teeth tend to lose their natural whiteness and become discoloured due to various factors such as smoking, consuming tea or coffee, and poor oral hygiene. Hydrogen Peroxide is a powerful oxidising agent which is used as a teeth whitening agent. It can penetrate the enamel and break down the molecules that cause discolouration, resulting in whiter teeth.
