Hydrogen peroxide solution is available in various concentrations in pharmacies. Users can purchase the over-the-counter agent to whiten their teeth (bleaching) and for various medical applications. Higher concentrated non-stabilized hydrogen peroxide will not be dispensed without presentation of a certificate of use for safety reasons.
What is hydrogen peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide solution is available in various concentrations in pharmacies. It is used in medicine and dentistry as a disinfectant against fungi, bacteria and viruses. Hydrogen peroxide, chemically H2O2, is also called perhydrol and hydrogen superoxide. It is a light blue liquid that is colorless when diluted. The weak acid is a highly effective bleaching and disinfecting agent. It was first produced synthetically in 1818. Solutions containing a maximum of 12% hydrogen peroxide are freely available on the market. Solutions containing more than 5% are specially labeled. Hydrogen peroxide can be used in many ways. In the food industry, it is used as a disinfectant for cleaning PET bottles and other outer packaging. In other industries, it is used to bleach paper, pulp and textiles. In natural medicine it is used for various diseases. In small quantities, it is even produced by the human body itself.
Function, effect and areas of application
H2O2 basically works in all available concentrations. In the household, 3-percent hydrogen peroxide solutions are used for cleaning. Because of its intense oxidative effect, hairdressers use it in low concentrations as a hair bleaching agent and to fix perms. In medicine and dentistry, it is used as a disinfectant against fungi, bacteria and viruses. The solution is used to clean surfaces, instruments (plasma procedures), mucous membranes and hands (to prevent infectious diseases). During dental treatments, it is used to sterilize teeth and gums, mouth and throat. In addition, hydrogen peroxide solution has a preventive effect against gingivitis and bacterial plaque. It stops bleeding during dental operations. As a tooth whitening agent, it is used in the dentist’s office and by the user at home. The user applies the agent as a gel or sticks a whitening strip on the front of his teeth. Custom-made dental trays at the dentist’s office ensure that the bleaching agent does not decay as quickly. Depending on the desired degree of brightness, a more or less highly dosed H2O2 solution is used. H2O2 is found in contact lens cleaners and – also in low concentrations – in mouthwashes and toothpaste. Hydrogen peroxide is a colorless, non-toxic, non-flammable and almost odorless solution that can be diluted with water. It has a higher density and viscosity than water. The melting point of pure H2O2 is -0.43 °C. The boiling point of pure hydrogen peroxide is 150.2 °C. Highly concentrated and in the presence of metals, hydrogen peroxide decomposes immediately to water and oxygen. Therefore, H2O2 sold in retail usually contains stabilizers. Since solutions of 30% decompose rapidly, the user should always prepare them fresh. They are a strong oxidizing agent formed in the body in many biochemical processes, such as the conversion of sugar. In order for it not to be toxic to the organism, it is decomposed by catalases and peroxidases (enzymes) into oxygen and water. In alternative medicine, the solution is used in different concentrations, depending on which diseases are to be treated with it. In the case of skin tumors (basal cell carcinomas), the external application of hydrogen peroxide allows the radiation dose to be reduced by about half. The cancer cells are destroyed by the supply of oxygen. As carbamide peroxide (containing urea) or as a 35 percent solution, it cures psoriasis, acne, skin allergies and other itchy skin conditions. For skin problems, a bath with 500 ml of 30-percent H2O2 solution mixed with 110 liters of water is also recommended. Applied as a gel in ten percent concentration, it helps with athlete’s foot and chicken pox. Three-percent hydrogen peroxide solution can be used against infection with warts viruses. For insect bites, it has an itch-relieving and decongestant effect.Used internally in very low concentration, it stimulates the immune system and prevents infections. In utero and breast cancer, it prevents odor-causing bacteria. To do this, simply apply it to a cotton pad and apply externally. In 10% ointment applied every two days, it helps against circulatory problems in the legs. Foot baths with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution have the same effect. A small amount of highly diluted solution helps against gastritis, typhoid, cholera and preventively against the yellow fever virus.
Risks, side effects and dangers
If the user inhales highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide solution, respiratory burns, mucous membrane inflammation and pulmonary edema occur. Even dilute H2O2 will bleach the skin if the user does not immediately rinse it thoroughly with water. If the solution enters the blood through the skin or stomach, it can cause dizziness, headaches, diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, circulatory problems, and even death by asphyxiation at the appropriate concentration: Foaming in the stomach can cause respiratory arrest. If non-stabilized solutions with a concentration of more than 12 percent are heated or if they have contact with heavy metals, spontaneous explosions may occur. Solutions as low as 6 percent are no longer considered safe if the user wants to use them as bleach. For users who use hydrogen peroxide solutions to whiten their teeth, it sometimes attacks plastic and amalgam fillings. It can also damage dentures. Since small amounts of the substance enter the pulp during bleaching, they can cause inflammation there, at least in sensitive users. In addition, there may be increased temperature sensitivity of the teeth and irritation of the oral cavity, but these usually subside after a few days.
