Is Swishing Peroxide Bad For You?
Also Known As: hydrogen peroxide
Short answer
No, swishing with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is not bad for you, if done responsibly. The brown bottle of H2O2 you buy from Walmart or your local drug store is so “watered down” that it more resembles that of water, than it does hydrogen peroxide.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Hydrogen peroxide is a well-known microbial antiseptic that has been used topically for more than 100 years. It was first implemented in dentistry in 1913, as a counter measure to plaque formation on the tooth enamel. Dental professionals use certain aqueous (mixed with water) solutions of H2O2 for dental hygiene, as a means of routine care. Only within the last ten years has it become popular for use as a “mouth rinse”.
A canker sore can place significant burdens on a person. The antibacterial properties of H2O2 help to tremendously shorten the life of canker sores and can even help to limit their reappearance into your life. When treating a canker sore the recommendation is to mix equal parts water and H2O2 and swish for one to two minutes or use a cotton ball to apply the solution directly to the affected area.
Bacteria is able to irritate the nerve in a tooth, causing tooth pain. Rinsing responsibly with hydrogen peroxide can help destroy that bacteria. However, as H2O2 kills the harmful bacteria that causes tooth decay, it also kills other forms of helpful bacteria. This is why rinsing with hydrogen peroxide should be done as directed, to ensure optimal mouth health. Always remember when swishing with H2O2, try not to swallow as it can severely irritate the throat and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Hydrogen peroxide produces very powerful free radical electrons that cause bleaching of the tooth enamel. This means from a cosmetic point of view that H2O2 is a great asset to your beauty. However, research has revealed that H2O2 can penetrate through the dentin into the sub-layers of the tooth known as the dental pulp. Irresponsible use of a hydrogen peroxide can result in damage to the cells that make this area of the tooth. These cells are responsible for depositing new quantities of dental pulp.
Be sure that you are using the diluted version of Hydrogen Peroxide in the little brown bottle. The concentration should be somewhere around 3%. This is the appropriate solution for oral use, though it is not intended for daily use.
Possible short-term side effects
- throat irritation (if swallowed)
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gi tract irritation (if swallowed)
Possible long-term side effects
- cell damage to dental pulp
Benefits
- teeth whitening
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reduces bacteria
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relieves pain
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helps treat canker sores
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Written by DeeAnne Oldham
Published on: 08-11-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by DeeAnne Oldham
Published on: 08-11-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
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