Gargling with peroxide: How to do it safely

Gargling with peroxide, Do you know that people can gargle with hydrogen peroxide for some of its benefits. Let’s learn how to do it safely.

The one common medication that is easily available in everyone’s medicine cabinet is hydrogen peroxide. Some people prefer putting the hydrogen peroxide in the cabinet while others prefer placing it under their sink; no matter the location plenty of homes prefer having it since it offers a quick medication solution.

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical solution that combines two elements oxygen and hydrogen. The solution is colorless. The solution contains two atoms of both hydrogen and oxygen. The properties of hydrogen peroxide make it unique since it acquires diverse uses. Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a bleaching agent, rocket fuel among other uses.

However, the most significant use of hydrogen peroxide lies in its medical uses. Most people prefer using it for household purposes. Over the counter mixtures often contain only 3% of hydrogen peroxide with a high concentration of water. Therefore, using a concentration of hydrogen peroxide that is higher than 3% is dangerous.

Hydrogen peroxide has a propensity of breaking down rapidly when put in bright light; this is the reason the compound is sold in dark brown and opaque bottles. Since this compound contains some medicinal aspects, people use it to treat some minor cuts and treat or bleach their teeth. People also use hydrogen peroxide as mouthwash.

Which brings a few questions in mind, can you gargle with hydrogen peroxide? Is gargling with peroxide safe? A majority of experts note that gargling with peroxide is a safe and effective way of getting rid of oral disorders. But, it is important to remember that hydrogen peroxide has mild acidic properties.

The acidic property of the hydrogen peroxide makes the solution dangerous when it is exposed to certain body parts like the eye. When it is inhaled, it causes breathing problems, vomiting, and abdominal pains among other issues. Nevertheless, despite the harm it can cause, it still is an inexpensive and excellent product to use for a mouth cleanse.

The mouth is a breeding ground for plenty of bacteria and gargling with peroxide helps to not only get rid of the bacteria but also ensure you have good oral hygiene.

Benefits of gargling with peroxide:

Healthier gums and teeth:

Using hydrogen peroxide as mouthwash regularly helps in protecting your gums and teeth against canker sores. The hydrogen peroxide solution lowers the chances of your teeth and gums getting an infection. When you combine the hydrogen peroxide solution with flossing and brushing, you also reduce the chances of your gums swelling.

The solution also makes the gums healthier allowing you to chew or bite down on hard foods. When gargling with peroxide ensure that you wash your gum and front teeth as well.

Relief from tooth infections and toothaches:

In case of a toothache or a tooth infection, gargling with peroxide helps remove the bacteria, fungi, and virus that cause the infection. The use of hydrogen peroxide is more effective in comparison to other mouthwash products present in the market. Gargling with peroxide for 10 minutes at least thrice a day ensures you cure a toothache and tooth infection you have.

Gargling with peroxide for approximately 10 minutes also helps provide relief from pain the infection causes. It can also work like pain reliever after a tooth removal or a root canal procedure. To get rid of a tooth infection or a toothache gargle hydrogen peroxide and the results will be better and much fast, unlike using a painkiller.

Sparkling teeth:

Apart from being having mouthwash properties, hydrogen peroxide has mild bleaching properties that give the teeth, a sparkling white color. The interesting fact about its bleaching properties is that a majority of teeth whitening products available in the local drug stores contain hydrogen peroxide as the main composition.

Therefore, for the perfect sparkling teeth, use hydrogen peroxide solution and discard the dental trays or the whitening strips. Using hydrogen peroxide twice or thrice in a week will ensure that you no longer have to visit your dentist for a tooth whitening procedure.

Relief from a sore throat:

Gargling with peroxide helps to give relief from a sore throat. The main cause of a sore throat is a bacterial infection. Hydrogen peroxide acts as an antibacterial infection and helps to cure a sore throat condition.

The reason gargling with peroxide helps to cure a sore throat faster than medication is that it forms a foam, which connects with the mucus in your throat. Once the mucus and foam connect, it makes it easy for the body to fight the infection. Therefore, you get relief from a sore throat or a throat infection instantly.

It can be used as a dental hygiene product:

Dental hygiene is essential not only to maintain healthy teeth and gums but to ensure you have a fresh odor as well. Instead of using conventional toothpaste, you can use hydrogen peroxide as a dental hygiene product instead. You can alternatively opt to dip your toothbrush into a solution with a 3% concentration of hydrogen peroxide.

Soaking your toothbrush inside a 3% solution for some hours within the week allows you to disinfect the toothbrush as well as get rid of the germs and bacteria that may be present in the toothbrush.

Improves oral health:

According to research, gargling with peroxide helps improve oral health. Hydrogen peroxide also aids in the reduction of gum inflammation when combined with regular flossing and brushing. However, to get the most from gargling with peroxide, ensure you swish the solution around the front part of your mouth and ensure it also reaches your teeth and gums.

According to scientific research, hydrogen peroxide solution can get into the tooth enamel and dentine. It can access the inner layer of the tooth known as the pulp. Hence, it acts as a perfect mouthwash component for a majority of mouthwash products.

Side effects of Gargling with Peroxide:

Despite the various benefits peroxide has, it does, however, come with some side effects. These side effects include:

• Irritation of teeth and gums mainly because the hydrogen peroxide solution is highly reactive because of its chemical composition.
• The overuse of hydrogen peroxide can cause tooth sensitivity and gum pain.
• Hydrogen peroxide is highly reactive making it easy for the solution to pass the tooth’s enamel and it reacts with your pulp and dentin.
• Hydrogen peroxide can irritate the tissues inside your mouth or make them sensitive.
• Excessive use of hydrogen peroxide as a whitening agent can make the teeth quite sensitive.
• When you swallow the solution while gargling it can cause soreness.
• Excessive use of hydrogen peroxide makes the teeth brittle, and it can lead to the discoloration of your teeth.

How to Safely Gargle with Peroxide:

When gargling with peroxide, ensure you dilute the solution with 50% water. To accomplish this fill a cup halfway with hydrogen peroxide and the top the remain half portion of the cup with water. Although the 93% concentration of hydrogen peroxide concentration of most products, a 50% concentration is not highly acidic.

However, you can also opt to mix 3% concentration of hydrogen peroxide with a 97% concentration of water. Diluting hydrogen peroxide with water helps reduce its concentration and its burning sensation on any part of a tooth cavity in case you have any. When gargling, ensure you swish the mixture in your for approximately 30 to 60 seconds.

Ensure you do not swallow the mixture. Once you gargle a few times, make sure you rinse your mouth with clean water and spit. The clean water removes the foam from the hydrogen peroxide forms when gargling. Safely gargling with peroxide ensures you do not poison yourself in the process and it will help you enjoy the benefits hydrogen peroxide has to offer.

When using hydrogen peroxide for tooth whitening purposes first pour the hydrogen peroxide into a small cup, approximately 2 oz. This amount is sufficient to help to whiten your teeth without diluting the solution. However, if you are sensitive to the foam hydrogen peroxide creates dilute the solution with 1 oz of water.

Swish the solution in your mouth and ensure you reach the front teeth. Repeat this procedure several times and then rinse your mouth. You will begin to see the results after a few days.

When using hydrogen peroxide to cure a sore throat infection, ensure you dilute the hydrogen peroxide accordingly. Swish the solution and later gargle it, and hold the solution in your mouth for some seconds.

Tilt your head backwards and use the top part of your mouth to create a gargle like motion. Repeating this twice or thrice in a week will help cure your sore throat infection.

However, remember that before you use hydrogen peroxide, it is essential to read the instructions and consult a doctor. The side effects of hydrogen peroxide are a danger especially to the durability and health of your teeth. Nevertheless, gargling with peroxide safely ensures you take care of your teeth and health.