I read online that hydrogen peroxide can disinfect against coronavirus. So, I looked further and found a do-it-yourself mouth rinse recipe that includes hydrogen peroxide. My only concern about rinsing my mouth with it is that I have six porcelain veneers. I know alcohol-based mouthwash can loosen the bonding on veneers, but what about peroxide? Thank you. Cassie from KY
Cassie,
Thank you for your question.
You are right. Alcohol-based mouthwash can weaken the bonding behind porcelain veneers and cause stains. But weakening porcelain veneers’ bonding is not the only concern when choosing a mouthwash.
A Rutger’s School of Dental Medicine study published results on mouthwash and its effect on coronavirus. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency lists hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant for COVID-19.
Still, if you have porcelain veneers, you must be cautious about which toothpaste and mouthwash you use. But even if you do not have porcelain veneers, regularly using hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash can cause other problems.
Is a Peroxide Mouthwash Protection Against COVID?
According to the Rutger’s study on mouthwash, peroxide can provide some protection against COVID. But hydrogen peroxide mouthwash goes beyond killing harmful bacterial. The effects include:
- It kills many harmful microorganisms
- Long-term use kills healthy bacteria, too
- Long-term use causes yeast (candida albicans) to thrive
Regular use of peroxide as a mouthwash can result in an oral yeast infection. Your oral tissue will turn white, peel, turn red, and be painful.
How Is Oral Yeast Infection Treated?
If you get an oral yeast infection, your dentist will recommend taking oral antifungal tablets or lozenges or using a liquid for seven to fourteen days to get rid of the infection. You must complete treatment to prevent the infection from recurring.
Speak with your dentist before choosing a mouthwash.
Dr. Jerome Cha, a Tulsa, OK accredited cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post. Read about what Dr. Cha does to provide some of the best dental care in Tulsa.
