What does hydrogen peroxide and baking soda do

Brushing teeth with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are among the popular DIY whitening methods that you will hear from many influencers online and even written about in lifestyle articles. 

Beyond their remarkable bleaching features, the remaining question is if these substances are safe to use on our teeth. As a trusted cosmetic and teeth whitening dentist in Charlotte, Dr. Ramsey with Build-A-Smile will share the safety concerns of using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide on your teeth.   

Baking soda and hydrogen as bleaching agents

Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate bleaches our teeth through an oxidative process. It is a substance that forms an alkaline solution when mixed with water. When the alkaline solution gets in contact with our teeth, free radicals from the solution target the stains and begin the bleaching process.  

What’s good about brushing with baking soda is it also serves other purposes aside from whitening. It also:

• Help prevent plaque buildup on your teeth that contributes to lower risks of developing tooth decay and gum disease.
• Balances the acidity levels of food residue that helps fight bad breath.
• Speeds up the healing process of mouth ulcers.

On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide begins a chemical process by breaking down the stains and dissolving them through an oxidation process. It ranks as the best tooth whitener due to its bleaching capacity without damaging your teeth and putting your oral health at risk. 

Risks of DIY teeth whitening using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide

While baking soda and hydrogen peroxide have several benefits, they can also pose some risks due to excessive use. According to the American Dental Association, going beyond the ideal 3.6% concentration of hydrogen peroxide can be damaging to your teeth. 

Baking soda is also mildly abrasive, where excessive use can scratch-off delicate parts of our teeth. Other risks associated with these substances include:

• Gum irritation: The abrasive nature of baking soda and the extreme acidity from hydrogen peroxide solution can irritate and damage the gums. It is the reason why in dental practices, dentists use a protective gel or rubber on the gums to protect them from high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide during a teeth whitening treatment. 
• Enamel damage: Our teeth may look and feel sturdy, but they can’t heal themselves. Scratches from aggressive brushing with baking soda can cause small openings on the tooth surface and lead to tooth decay. 

Prolonged use of highly-concentrated hydrogen peroxide on your teeth can remove minerals from the tooth enamel, which exposes the dentin and causes extreme tooth sensitivity.

• Affects dental bonding: Restorations on a chipped or a cracked tooth that is fixed with a composite resin or dental bond are not as strong as our actual tooth. They can get easily worn out if scratched with baking soda and become more susceptible to breakage.
   
• Cause extreme teeth sensitivity: Frequent use of highly-concentrated hydrogen peroxide removes minerals from the tooth enamel and exposes the inner layer of your teeth or dentin. 

Though sensitive teeth are a usual after-effect of professional teeth whitening treatments, the level of tooth damage cannot be gauged in DIY whitening since it is not supervised by a dental professional.  

Why risk your teeth if you can have a safe whitening treatment at Build-A-Smile?

A DIY teeth whitening gone wrong may lead to irreversible tooth damage. Experience a guided approach to teeth whitening with the help of our dental professionals at Build-A-Smile. We will discuss with you what to expect during your appointment and the dos and don’ts post-treatment.

Hydrogen peroxide has been used for many years by everyone from surgeons to moms. It has known antiseptic properties so has been used as a cleanser to prevent infection.

In addition to its medical uses, hydrogen peroxide is used for cleaning everything from disinfecting dish sponges to removing mold from tiles. While the advice to use hydrogen peroxide on sores and wounds is no longer recommended, as it can lead to a longer healing time, it can still be useful for cleaning at home. 

In addition to using hydrogen peroxide for cleaning, many people use baking soda, either on its own or to accompany hydrogen peroxide. Baking soda is the best know for leavening bread and cakes but it is also good for removing dirt and mold in your home. 

Table Of Contents

• Is Hydrogen Peroxide Safe to Use?
• Clean Grout and Tile 
• Clean Dishwasher
• Sanitize Toilet Bowl
• Clean your sink
• Clean the Garbage Can
• Shine mirrors
• Cleans a dirty Sponge
• Disinfect Cutting Boards
• Whiten porcelain
• Remove stains
• Treat garden vegetables
• Clean out the litter box
• Clean the oven
• Clean carpets and rugs
• Clean the shower
• Conclusion

There may be affiliate links in this article. You can read more about this in my disclosure.

Is Hydrogen Peroxide Safe to Use?

Hydrogen peroxide is seen as safe to use as when it comes into contact with water it breaks down quickly making it safer than bleach and other chlorine-based chemicals. As hydrogen peroxide can kill bacteria, yeast, mold, and fungi it is a very useful product to have in your cupboards and home. 

As hydrogen peroxide kills yeasts, fungi, bacteria, viruses, and mold spores. It is important, however, to ensure that use you both hydrogen peroxide and baking soda carefully so that you do not come to any harm and you do not ruin anything that you are cleaning.

We take a look at 15 things that you can clean with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide as an alternative to bleach and your usual detergents. 

Before cleaning, it is advisable to wear protective equipment, such as goggles and masks, especially if you have an allergy or you are cleaning away mold which can irritate your respiratory system. 

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Clean Grout and Tile 

If your bathroom is looking a little lackluster but you don’t want to completely renovate you can spruce up your tiles by cleaning them with a mixture of 1 part baking soda and 1 part hydrogen peroxide. Simply mix in a cup until a paste is made and apply to both the tiles and the grout.

You can use a spoon or an old toothbrush to apply the mixture to the grout or dab on with a cloth if you are putting it on tiles. Wait 10 minutes then wash off with a cloth or scrub with a brush, being careful not to press too hard as it may disturb the grout.

Give the area a good rinse and you should see tiles that sparkle like new.

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Clean Dishwasher

Although your dishwasher is used to clean your dishes and pots it can harbor germs and fungi and one study found that 47% of dishwashers contained black yeast which is harmful to our health. In order to get rid of any mildew or mold in your dishwasher, you should put it on a cleaning cycle every couple of weeks.

You should also target the traps and crevices that are difficult to get to and any rubber seals which are renowned for harvesting mold. There are lots of commercial cleaning products on the market for your dishwasher but you can use trusty old baking soda and hydrogen peroxide by creating a spray that includes equal parts of the two products.

You can spray the problematic areas, leave for 30 minutes then put your dishwasher on a cleaning cycle as normal. 

Sanitize Toilet Bowl

Hydrogen peroxide can be used to disinfect problematic household items, such as the toilet bowl and toilet seat. You can use it to wipe down any surface in the bathroom to create a clean and hygienic place for you to do what you need to do in the toilet without the risk of being exposed to bacteria and germs. 

Clean your sink

Many people swear by using baking soda to clean your sink, whether it is very dirty or you just want to keep on top of it so germs stay away. You need to wet your sink with warm water and then apply baking soda and leave to soak for 10 minutes.

You can use baking soda on its own or add a 3% hydrogen peroxide if you want a stronger mixture to clean. Once you have allowed it to soak for 10 minutes you can scrub with a soft brush or a rough cloth.

Be careful to check the manufacturer instructions for your sink to make sure the material is compatible with these ingredients.

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Clean the Garbage Can

The garbage can is one of the dirtiest and smelliest items in your home and sometimes it feels that no amount of washing will make it look and smell clean.

Next time you wash your garbage can take another set by adding a 1:1 solution of water and hydrogen peroxide and leave it in the sun for a number of hours to let the mixture wash away the germs.

Rinse again and use as normal. 

Shine mirrors

Use a 1:1 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle you can use to clean mirrors and glass surfaces. Simply spray and then use a paper towel or lint-free cloth to wipe away.

There is no need to leave the mixture to soak in when you are cleaning these surfaces.  

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Cleans a dirty Sponge

Sponges should not be used for long periods of time as they can harbor germs no matter how clean they look. You can, however, put them into a bowl of hydrogen peroxide and allow them to soak for 15 minutes.

This will clean them thoroughly and they will last a little while longer. Make sure you rinse thoroughly before using.

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Disinfect Cutting Boards

Your chopping/cutting board will soak up lots of germs and bacteria, particularly if you have been cutting meat and fish. To clean them effectible you can spray with a 1 part water and 1 part hydrogen peroxide mix and allow them to sit for a few mites before washing as you usually would. 

Whiten porcelain

Porcelain in your bathroom or kitchen can become tired-looking and yellow as it is used often. To brighten up your porcelain scrub the wet surface with baking soda and 3% hydrogen peroxide and rinse thoroughly afterward. 

Remove stains

Instead of investing in expensive stain removers, you can use hydrogen peroxide as it is cheaper and can be more effective at getting rid of problem stains such as red wine, oil, and berry juice.

Yes, should ensure that you dab the hydrogen peroxide onto a cloth and try in a part of the material that is hidden to ensure that the material does not stain. 

Treat garden vegetables

Hydrogen peroxide is used outdoors as well as indoors as it is great for treating powdery mold and fungal infections that your vegetables may succumb to. Mix 4 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide with a pint of water and add to a spray bottle.

Spray gently onto the vegetables but be careful not to add too much or use a higher concentration as it may burn the plant. 

Clean out the litter box

Hydrogen peroxide is very effective at eliminating odors and fully disinfecting cat litter trays. Once you have emptied the litter, clean the container with hot water and soap then spray with full-strength hydrogen peroxide.

Allow the peroxide to sit for 15-20 minutes before rinsing and then drying out and adding fresh litter. 

Clean the oven

Possibly the most difficult chore in the home is cleaning the oven as it can quickly accumulate dirt and grease that can become very grim if you do not keep on top of it. To avoid harsh chemicals you can make homemade baking soda and water paste to brush the surfaces on your oven, both inside and outside.

You can also spray the oven with vinegar spray for an extra layer of cleanliness. 

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Clean carpets and rugs

A mixture of half a pint of boiling water and 2 teaspoons of baking soda along with a teaspoon of fabric softener can be applied to carpets and rugs to help clean stubborn stains and ingrained dirt. Leave for 20-30 minutes then wash off then dry hot out and vacuum. 

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Clean the shower

We have spoken about cleaning tiles and grout with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide but you can also use it on showers to get rid of limescale is which builds up in the showerhead and any pipes. You can add baking soda and peroxide to a cloth and rub it over the showerhead.

Allow it to sit for a few minutes then wash off. You can use this process for the shower screen and the tray too.

Conclusion

Here you can see that there are lots of ways to use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to clean some of the dirtiest parts of your home and say no to harsh detergents and bleach. 

Is it safe to mix hydrogen peroxide and baking soda?

Is it OK to brush your teeth with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide?

How long does it take to whiten teeth with baking soda and peroxide?