Want to make your teeth last longer? University of Rochester Medical Center researchers find that tooth whitening with hydrogen peroxide does little damage to the teeth as compared to the acidity of orange juice.
“The acid is so strong that the tooth is literally washed away,” said Ren, whose findings were recently published in Journal of Dentistry. “The orange juice decreased enamel hardness by 84 percent.” No significant change in hardness or surface enamel was found from whitening.
Before you get all carried away, this does not mean you should stop drinking orange juice. This is only a comparison designed to show that the professional over the counter teeth whitening kits which contain a 6% hydrogen peroxide solution are safe for your teeth. Also, as a practical matter, you should avoid brushing your teeth immediately after drinking orange juice or eating any acidic foods because the enamel is temporarily weakened.
