Tooth sensitivity may occur during treatment along with gum irritation. Because hydrogen peroxide is known to be irritating to tissues, home users must follow directions closely to avoid problems. These preparations are sold for home use and in dental offices. Hydrogen peroxide and its relative, carbamide peroxide, are used in tooth bleaching materials. Though very rare, it can be life threatening and emergent medical attention is required. Some symptoms of gas embolism include difficulty breathing, chest pain, and confusion. Most cases of air embolism caused by hydrogen peroxide have occurred after large ingestions or ingestions of higher concentration products.
For instance, if there is air in a blood vessel that supplies part of the brain, much-needed oxygen and nutrients cannot get to that part of the brain, and a stroke occurs.
They then cause blockage of a blood vessel. A gas embolism occurs when bubbles of air or other gas travel to the blood or circulatory system. Children and adults who swallowed concentrated hydrogen peroxide have suffered severe injury, and some of those people have died as a result.Īnother serious but rare complication that might occur with ingestion or wound irrigation of hydrogen peroxide is a gas embolism. Users often store the hydrogen peroxide in the refrigerator where it can be easily mistaken for something good to drink.
(These recommendations are not based on scientific evidence.) Users are instructed to put a few drops of the concentrated hydrogen peroxide into a glass of water. "Food grade" hydrogen peroxide, which is typically 35%, is sometimes marketed as an alternative therapy for a variety of conditions: allergies, arthritis, HIV, diabetes, emphysema, lupus, shingles, warts, and irregular heart rhythms, among many others. This can be much more serious and result in severe stomach irritation and even burns that require a trip to the emergency room and possible hospital admission. It's different if someone drinks a large amount of household peroxide (this is unlikely to happen accidentally), or if it’s a high-concentration product. Swallowing a small amount (a taste or a sip) of household hydrogen peroxide might cause stomach upset, an episode of vomiting, or throat irritation, but it is not expected to cause any serious symptoms.
Serious problems can occur when a large amount – more than the sip or two you’d expect someone to drink by accident – is swallowed, or if the percentage of hydrogen peroxide in the product is high. A small amount of hydrogen peroxide is not absorbed from the stomach into the body once the stomach settles down, no other problems are expected. If there are enough of these bubbles, they stretch the stomach and the person vomits up the foam. For instance, when in the stomach, the molecule breaks apart into oxygen and water, causing bubbles to form. Another important difference is that hydrogen peroxide is not as stable as water it’s reactive. Unlike water, it has two oxygen atoms instead of one and it’s slightly thicker than water. Hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2) appears very similar to water (H 2O) – it’s tasteless, odorless, and colorless. This is because they likely drank just a sip or two since it’s not very tasty. Your child got into the hydrogen peroxide and is now foaming at the mouth! Even though this looks quite scary, chances are, your child will be perfectly fine.