Teeth whitening products — that promise to make your smile brighter — may also be causing tooth damage, a study has found.
Scientists at Stockton University in the US found that hydrogen peroxide, the active ingredient in over-the-counter whitening strips, can damage the protein-rich dentin tissue found beneath the tooth’s protective enamel.
The tooth is made of three layers: the outer tooth enamel, an underlying dentin layer and connective tissue that binds the roots to the gum.
Most studies of whitening strips have focused on tooth enamel, which contains very little protein.
The team focused on dentin, which makes up most of the tooth and has high levels of protein, most of which is collagen.
