Youth-obsessed folks beware: That latest teeth whitening toothpaste may make your smile appear brighter - but researchers have recently realized that the key whitening ingredient hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) brings about gray hair.
Teeth whitening agents may be responsible for a boost in the number of young men and women greying prematurely by adding to the body's own store of H2O2. When our bodies face a surge in H2O2 manufacturing (typically caused by greater stress levels), the surplus can accumulate within the hair follicles. This surge in the production of hydrogen peroxide deactivates the body's store of catalase, Tyrosinase, MSRA, and MSRB, which are all key enzymes that are directly responsible for repairing and protecting hair follicles. Once these enzymes have deactivated, melanocyte death can occur, permitting the hydrogen peroxide to bleach the hair follicles as they grow - much like what your favourite teeth whitening product does to your pearly whites.
Popular teeth whitening systems contain a great deal of hydrogen peroxide as a way to achieve the perennial bleached-white look, scientists think that this outside source of H2O2 finds its way into our bodies and blood stream where it accumulates and adds to the body's overall store of H2O2.
Despite the fact that whitening toothpaste may seem to have innocuous amounts of hydrogen peroxide, it only takes 0.001 Mole or 0.04 grams of H2O2 to start the process of breaking down those all-important enzymes. It ought to be noted that some whitening products boast a hydrogen peroxide concentration of approximately 6%, this is a lot more than sufficient to deactivate any of the key enzymes that defend the health of hair follicles. This might spell disaster for those people that are presently susceptible to increased levels of hydrogen peroxide, particularly those who lead stressful lifestyles.
It's an ironic twist in a looks-obsessed culture that prizes an everlasting youthful look.
Despite the definitive link involving hydrogen peroxide and graying hair, cosmetic dentistry - such as teeth whitening services - are starting to be even more well-liked as more people than ever search for oral perfection. In fact, in a recent investigation 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 around 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 published write-up profiled a study by hair experts at 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 had been found succumbing to premature graying hair - up from 18% reported just two decades prior. The hair-care brand concluded that this growing epidemic is directly triggered by higher levels of stress due to increasingly 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. Additionally, given that 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.
Should you currently have premature gray hairs, it's important to avoid the routine usage of oral hygiene products that has hydrogen peroxide as the key whitening ingredient. Be certain to read 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.
Frederica Hegney is Moderator of the Grey Defense blog.
Read our blog to learn what causes gray hair and what specific steps you can take to slow, stop or reverse grey hair.
You can also follow her on twitter @GreyHairDefence
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