There has been increasing anxiety over whether tooth whiteners and other oral hygiene products containing hydrogen peroxide can cause oral cancers, but a comprehensive study published in the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry has found that there is nothing to worry about. The clinical study of over 4,000 human subjects found that hydrogen peroxide (the active ingredient in many tooth whiteners and mouthwash brands) does not increase the risk of mouth cancers if used as directed. This is because both concentrations and exposure times to the ingredient are low, said University of Toronto researcher Dr. Ian Monroe.
Similar to the way in which higher incidences of lung cancer have been linked to smokers exposed to asbestos, Dr. Monroe also considered whether smokers using tooth whiteners might run a higher risk of developing oral cancers. But the study found that smokers who used tooth whiteners were at no higher risk of developing cancers than non-smokers. Dr. Monroe considers this to lend further weight to his findings that bleaching products do not lead to oral cancers.
Source: Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry
