Since 1 November 2012, a new law has been introduced in the EU for teeth whitening with (hydrogen) peroxide. Dentists are allowed to use concentrations of up to 6% hydrogen peroxide in their whitening gel. In addition, a bleaching practice, beauty salon, beauty salon or webshop may use levels of hydrogen peroxide of 0.0 – 0.1%. These laws and regulations apply to all countries of the European Union (EU). Can you whiten teeth without peroxide or should you whiten your teeth with peroxide? In this blog we answer all questions about whitening your teeth with peroxide and without peroxide.
Peroxide for teeth whitening
This new law came into effect years ago. Before this, teeth whitening was a kind of cowboy world: there were no clear agreements. As a result, many whitening salons started to bleach with high concentrations of bleaching agents. This led to many different health complaints. Think of sensitive teeth, sore gums and damaged enamel.
On the other hand, you also hear other sounds. For example, a 2020 study found that teeth whitening with peroxide (16% carbamide peroxide) has no harmful effect on tooth enamel. It is important that you do not use it too often or for too long.
However, European legislation and regulations are a good law to safely whiten your teeth yourself. For these laws and regulations, many people with high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (60-70%) bleached their teeth.
European laws and regulations are better safe than sorry: a hydrogen peroxide concentration of 0.0 – 0.1% is very safe to use. This is a safe way to get whiter teeth.
Safe teeth whitening
European laws and regulations ensure that you can get white teeth safely. That is why beauty salons, beauty salons, web shops and bleaching clinics may only use a maximum of 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. With these minimum contents, the chance of damage is nil. Fleeck uses teeth whitening kits without peroxide or with up to 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. This means that we comply with European laws and regulations. All products are 100% safe and tested in laboratories. All our products are registered with the CPNP, CE and FDA. These quality marks guarantee quality and safety. So you can safely whiten your teeth at Fleeck.
Teeth whitening with (hydrogen) peroxide
You are considering bleaching your teeth with (hydrogen) peroxide. But how exactly does it work? Below the short explanation.
How does hydrogen peroxide work for your teeth?
When bleaching teeth with hydrogen peroxide, the peroxide penetrates the enamel. In addition, it (very slightly) penetrates the dentine. The hydrogen peroxide chemically reacts with the tooth discoloration. This creates water and carbon dioxide. So your teeth are bleached by hydrogen peroxide and UV light. In addition, you should not let the whitening gel with peroxide come into contact with gums.
Fleeck has therefore designed bits that only hug your teeth and not your gums. This way you do not suffer from sensitive teeth or gums. You may have turned your teeth with Opalescence; they use a high content of peroxide. In another article more about teeth whitening alternatives with Opalescence.
Bleaching teeth with sodium perborate
A dentist can whiten your teeth with sodium perborate. Only the dentist can do this. It is an internal way of bleaching. This way you can bleach a dead tooth. The dentist inserts sodium perborate with a dead tooth and let it sit for several days. In this way, the tooth bleaches from the inside. This whitening method can only be done by a dentist and is not safe to do yourself. The dentist can help you well with this internal way of bleaching.
Teeth bleach without (hydrogen) peroxide
As said: In the European Union (since 2012) beauty salons and bleaching practices are allowed to use a whitening gel with a maximum of 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. Some bleaching practices use peroxide-free whitening gels. At Fleeck we have our own safe formula.
How does teeth whitening without (hydrogen) peroxide work at Fleeck?
The Fleeck whitening gel contains a number of important substances:
- Glycerin – moisturizes your teeth and prevents bacteria and dirt from getting on your teeth
- Disodium EDTA – strengthens the effect of antioxidants and thus has a protective and bleaching effect on your teeth Sodium Chlorite – consists of sodium, chlorine and oxygen. Has a bleaching and disinfectant effect on your teeth.
- Sodium Fluoride – protects your teeth against cavities and protects your teeth by remineralization. If you eat something sour or sweet, the acidity of your teeth decreases and this can be harmful to your enamel.
- Sodium Fluoride – counteracts that reaction and ensures that your teeth maintain good acidity. This way your tooth enamel is well protected during teeth whitening.
This way you can whiten your teeth safely and effectively. In another blog more about how teeth whitening works.
Teeth whitening without peroxide: benefits and disadvantages
We have made a handy overview for you with the advantages and disadvantages of teeth whitening without peroxide at Fleeck.
The advantages:
- Remove stubborn discolourations carefully
- Fast result; you can get whiter teeth within 30 minutes
- Ideal if you are sensitive to (hydrogen) peroxide; no sensitive teeth
- The price for teeth whitening is a lot cheaper than at the dentist
The cons:
- You have a slightly faster decline in result compared to peroxide
- bleaching If you drink a lot of coffee every day (4-5 cups) and drink a wine regularly (4-6 glasses per week), it is better to whiten your teeth with peroxide
- You have to repeat the treatment more often. That is why you can whiten your teeth several times with Fleeck whitening sets.
Teeth whitening with natural acids
There are many tips online about how to whiten your teeth with (vinegar) acids or how to whiten your teeth with baking soda. We would like to warn you: this is not a safe way of whitening teeth. Teeth whitening is harmful to your enamel and you soon use too much. In addition, you can read the most wild stories about teeth whitening with a strawberry or teeth whitening with vinegar.
Experts and dentists agree:
Eat a strawberry, but don’t rub it against your teeth to whiten them. The natural sugars and acids have the opposite effect: your teeth become yellower in the long term. And teeth whitening with (apple cider) vinegar? Do this through your salad, but don’t bleach your teeth with vinegar. This can have a harmful effect on your enamel.
Is it best to whiten with peroxide or without peroxide teeth?
We understand this question: you want to know how to whiten your teeth. This depends on your lifestyle and the consumption of dyes. Red wine, coffee and, for example, tobacco contain many dyes. Roughly you can say:
- If you drink coffee regularly (4-5 cups per day), drink wine regularly (6-7 glasses per week) and / or smoke, it is better to whiten your teeth with peroxide
- If you occasionally drink coffee (<5 cups per day), occasionally drink wine (<6 glasses per week) and / or (almost) do not smoke, it is better to whiten your teeth without peroxide.
Of course it is also better to whiten your teeth without peroxide if you are sensitive to peroxide. In addition, you can also achieve great results if you regularly drink coffee with a bleaching set without peroxide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can whiten your teeth without peroxide. The non-peroxide whitening gel removes tooth discoloration and is safe to use.
Yes you can whiten your own teeth with peroxide; to a concentration of 0.1% (hydrogen) peroxide. So pay close attention to the concentration and safety of the whitening gel.
(Hydrogen) peroxide penetrates into your tooth enamel or dentine. This can make your teeth sensitive. In very low concentrations, this effect is nil. This way you can safely whiten your teeth with a whitening gel of up to 0.1% (hydrogen) peroxide.
Experts and dentists do not recommend whitening with baking soda themselves. This is because baking soda is an abrasive and you quickly use too much baking soda yourself.
