Hydrogen peroxide and charcoal-based mouthwashes improve enamel color: Study

A new study published in the BMC Oral Health showed that whitening mouthwashes containing charcoal and hydrogen peroxide both lighten enamel’s color without degrading its roughness. One of the most common conservative methods for addressing naturally stained teeth is still tooth whitening. Over-the-counter whitening solutions are commonly preferred by patients because of their ease of application, affordability, and accessibility through pharmacies, supermarkets, and internet shopping. To help with oral hygiene, mouthwash is used to stop halitosis which is made up of water, salts, coloring agents, antimicrobials, and occasionally alcohol. The hydrogen peroxide content in whitening mouth washes is usually modest, ranging from 1.5 to 6%. This study by Mayada Sultan compared the surface roughness, color, and color stability of enamel to see how hydrogen peroxide-based whitening mouthwashes performed. Because of its white seal technology, the whitening mouthwashes utilized in this study can prevent further stains.

In this investigation, a total of 21 permanent central incisor teeth that were pulled due to periodontal disease were utilized. The roots of the teeth were sectioned, and the crowns were set in blocks of self-curing acrylic resin. The specimens were randomly assigned to 3 groups (n = 7) depending on the whitening mouthwash that was tested: the control group (DW) (distilled water), the OW” group (Colgate Optic White) (peroxide-based mouthwash), and the CP” group (Colgate® Plax Charcoal) (charcoal-based mouthwash). For a total of 12 continuous weeks, the specimens in the ‖OW” and ‖CP” groups were submerged in 20 milliliters of the mouthwash under test for one minute, twice a day (in the morning and the evening). Surface roughness (Ra) was measured using a white light interferometer, and color change was evaluated with a VITA Easyshade spectrophotometer. Black tea solution was used to stain the specimens, and color stability was evaluated by measuring the color after 24 hours of immersion.

The color change findings showed that there was no discernible difference in the ability of the two whitening mouthwashes to restore color when compared to the control group. The control group had the greatest mean Ra value in terms of surface roughness, followed by the OW” group and the CP” group, which had the lowest mean Ra value. In terms of color stability following staining, the control group outperformed the CP” and OW” groups by a substantial margin. Overall, given the constraints of the current in vitro investigation, it is possible to draw the conclusion that mouthwashes containing charcoal and hydrogen peroxide lighten enamel while having no negative effects on its surface roughness.

Reference:

Sultan, M. S. (2024). Effect of hydrogen peroxide versus charcoal-based whitening mouthwashes on color, surface roughness, and color stability of enamel. In BMC Oral Health (Vol. 24, Issue 1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-024-04631-w