Youth-obsessed folks beware: That existing teeth whitening toothpaste may make your smile appear brighter - but researchers have recently discovered that the key whitening ingredient hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) brings about gray hair.
Teeth whitening agents may be responsible for a increase in the amount of young men and women greying prematurely by adding to the body's own store of H2O2. When our bodies suffer a surge in H2O2 manufacturing (typically induced by elevated stress levels), the excess can accumulate within the hair follicles. This surge in the manufacturing of hydrogen peroxide deactivates the body's store of catalase, Tyrosinase, MSRA, and MSRB, which are all key enzymes that happen to be directly responsible for repairing and protecting hair follicles. Once these enzymes have broken down, meloncyte death can occur, permitting the hydrogen peroxide to bleach the hair follicles as they mature - much like what your favourite teeth whitening product does to your pearly whites.
Common teeth whitening applications include a great deal of hydrogen peroxide as a way to achieve the perennial bleached-white look, scientists believe that this outside supply of H2O2 finds its way into our bodies and blood stream where it accumulates and adds to the body's overall store of H2O2.
While that whitening toothpaste may appear to incorporate innocuous amounts of hydrogen peroxide, it only takes 0.001 Mole or 0.04 grams of H2O2 to start the process of deactivate all those all-important enzymes. It really should be noted that some whitening products boast a hydrogen peroxide concentration of up to 6%, that is a lot more than sufficient to deactivate any of the essential enzymes that shield the well-being of hair follicles. This might spell disaster for those of us who are currently susceptible to higher levels of hydrogen peroxide, especially those who have stressful lifestyles.
It's an ironic twist within a looks-obsessed culture that prizes an everlasting youthful appearance.
Despite the definitive link between hydrogen peroxide and graying hair, cosmetic dentistry - such as teeth whitening services - are growing even more popular as more men and women than ever search for oral perfection. In fact, in a recent study by the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, one-third of the UK population was "concerned by the look of their teeth," while 27% believe that cosmetic dentistry services like teeth whitening are vital to an improved quality of life. And as the teeth whitening industry is estimated to be expanding roughly 15 to 20 percent each year, researchers are predicting an epidemic of premature graying hair.
Frankly, that epidemic might already be with us today. A recently posted write-up profiled a an analysis by hair experts John Frieda that documented an astounding 200% increase in gray hair in women under 30 years. In that study, almost one-third(30%) of British women under 30 were found succumbing to premature graying hair - up from 18% reported just two decades prior. The hair-care brand concluded that this rising epidemic is directly caused by higher levels of stress due to progressively busy lifestyles; however, as one could argue that stress has always been a part of the modern lifestyle, it's worthwhile investigating the function of teeth whitening products in this sudden explosion in graying hair. Furthermore, because women are likely to be more attentive to their oral hygiene than men, the twenty-something female's diligence to achieving a whiter smile could be at the cost of a youthful head of hair.
In case you presently have premature gray hairs, it's essential to avoid the routine usage of oral hygiene products that has hydrogen peroxide as the key whitening ingredient. Be certain to examine the active ingredients in any oral healthcare product you buy, and skip those that list hydrogen peroxide - no matter how tiny the concentration might seem, because with routine usage, hydrogen peroxide will accumulate overtime in hair follicles.
After all, a slightly dingy smile might not be ideal - but premature graying hair is certainly a more difficult cosmetic problem to grapple with.
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