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The researchers found that teeth whitening strips not only damage the enamel, but can also penetrate the dentin. An experiment has shown that the hydrogen peroxide present in these products reduces collagen and other proteins of the two upper layers of the teeth. ( Claudio Scott | pixabay )
Americans spend $ 1.4 billion a year on over-the-counter teeth whitening, but research has shown that these products do more than whiten cigarette and coffee stains.
According to the researchers, the whitening strips erode the underlying dentin layer located under the tooth enamel. They discovered that hydrogen peroxide, a common active ingredient found in products, eliminated collagen and other proteins from teeth.
They presented their findings at the 2019 meeting of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, to be held this week in Florida.
Beyond the surface
Previous research has highlighted that over-the-counter bleaching strips can damage the outer layer of the tooth: the enamel. However, it is known that hydrogen peroxide infiltrates into the enamel and penetrates deeper into the dentine, the layer that makes up the bulk of the tooth. Dentin contains a lot more protein, most of which is collagen, than enamel.
To test the effects of hydrogen peroxide on the deep layer of the tooth, the researchers treated the extraction of human teeth using over-the-counter bleaching strips. The researchers also simulated a human mouth by submerging extracted teeth in artificial saliva.
After an hour, the researchers tested the level of collagen and other proteins contained in the human teeth samples. They discovered that tooth whitening products break down the main dentin proteins into smaller fragments.
"Our results showed that a treatment with hydrogen peroxide concentrations similar to those found in the whitening strips is enough to remove the original collagen protein, which is probably due to the formation of many smaller fragments, "said Kelly Keenan, badociate professor of chemistry at Stockton University. She led the study.
Are tooth whiteners bad?
However, James Sconzo, the chief of dentistry at the New York Methodist Presbyterian Hospital in Brooklyn, is not too worried. He stated that he had not found any higher rate of damage and rot in people who whitened their teeth.
He added that the health of the mouth presented a more serious and serious threat than teeth whitening, such as sugary sports drinks.
The researchers also admitted that the study did not show if the collagen of the tooth could regenerate after treatment. Therefore, they can not say for now whether the damage done by over-the-counter money launderers is permanent.
The team hopes to continue to study the effects of hydrogen peroxide in collagen and other proteins present in teeth.
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