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Carbamide Peroxide Dangers

A bright smile is a key that will open many doors, but so many of the things we put in our mouths--coffee, tea, red wine, certain antibiotics, cigarettes--can dull that pearly glow. In the past, you had to pay a fortune for caps or veneers to fix stained teeth, but since the mid-1990's home bleaching kits have become popular. The American Dental Association has even endorsed one of these kits, but that doesn't mean that this process is completely without risks.

  1. What Is Carbamide Peroxide?

    • Carbamide peroxide is an oxidizing chemical made up of hydrogen peroxide and urea. In its pure form it appears as white crystal powder, or white crystals. It is caustic, and an irritant to eyes, skin and respiratory system.

      Most home bleaching kits have a 10% to 15% concentration of carbamide peroxide.

    How Does it Work?

    • Hydrogen peroxide is the active ingredient in carbamide peroxide, and it oxidizes the stains on the surface of your teeth. The more concentrated the formula and the longer it stays on your teeth, the more it bleaches them, and the whiter they become.

      Usually, tooth whitening gels have concentrations of 10% to 35%. Concentrations higher than 35% can cause chemical burns.

    Normal Use

    • Even after following their dentist's recommendations, some people have sudden, severe tooth pain called "zingers". All you can do in this case is check back with your dentist to make sure you do not have a cavity or a cracked or damaged tooth. Over-the-counter (meaning non-prescription) analgesics like aspirin or Tylenol will ease the pain, which usually does not last more than a few minutes.

    Overuse

    • Using an over-the-counter bleaching agent for two weeks once or twice a year should not cause any damage to your teeth.The problem is that your teeth won't stay that white forever, and many people are overusing these bleaching products. A 10% carbomide peroxide solution is not safe to use on your teeth every day, or even every week. Overuse can lead to odd, bluish enamel, irritated gums, uneven whiteness and tooth sensitivity. If the solution gets inside of your tooth through a crack or cavity, you may end up enduring a root canal.

    Addiction

    • Just as some people fall prey to anorexia nervosa in their quest for a perfect body, people suffering from or prone to body dismorphic disorder (BDD) can become so consumed with achieving perfectly white teeth that they misuse bleaching kits leading to the side effects discussed in section 4 of this article.

      One study, done by Katharine A. Phillips, MD, a professor of psychiatry at Brown Medical School, showed that out of 200 people with BDD, nearly one third of them became so obsessed with whitening their teeth that they continued bleaching despite side effects including pain.

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