Teeth are undoubtedly a very important part of our external appearance. A beautiful, healthy and, in addition, white smile gives us confidence and makes us feel more attractive. More and more people are choosing to use whitening products, which, according to recent studies, can be harmful to our teeth.
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Although human teeth are not actually pearly white, there is a widespread opinion, especially in North American societies, that perfectly white teeth are a symbol of beauty. For this reason, many people apply products that have a whitening effect themselves or use a cosmetic dentist.
Hydrogen peroxide has a negative effect on teeth
Previous studies have suggested that teeth whitening with whitening products containing hydrogen peroxide may compromise the health of our teeth. Researchers from Stockton University in the United States set out to find out how this chemical harms teeth and what part of the tooth it attacks.
The researchers paid particular attention to how over-the-counter whitening strips damage one of the three layers of teeth.
The most common ingredient in teeth whitening strips is hydrogen peroxide, which is their main active ingredient. This substance is an oxidant that most associate with a colour lightening agent. At the same time, it is also the main agent that is used to lighten hair.
White teeth, photo: panthermedia
Overuse of bleach to change hair colour can cause significant damage to the hair and scalp. Now Kelly Keenan, professor of chemistry at Stockton University, explains that hydrogen peroxide can penetrate enamel and infiltrate dentin, which contains around 90-95 per cent of collagen protein.
Threat to dental health
The tooth is made up of enamel, dentin and cementum. The first is the thin, hard tissue found on the surface of the tooth. With the end of the tooth-growth stage, enamel automatically ceases to be produced. Dentin is located just below the enamel and is made up of organic substances, largely collagen fibres. Cement, on the other hand, is mainly connective tissue that helps to hold the tooth securely in place.
The results of the study suggest that hydrogen peroxide damages dentin, the middle layer of teeth.
- Our results showed that treatment with concentrations of hydrogen peroxide similar to those found in whitening strips is enough to make the original collagen protein disappear, which is probably due to the formation of many smaller fragments , said one of the study's authors.
The collagen that is found in dentin is fragmented when exposed to hydrogen peroxide, which in turn leads to a loss of collagen mass in this layer of the tooth.
The team of researchers is not yet 100 per cent certain whether the damage is permanent and whether there is any way to reverse the side effects caused by tooth whitening. In addition to clarifying this issue, the researchers in future would also like to find out whether hydrogen peroxide affects not only collagen, but also other proteins in dentin.
