The truth behind ‘dangerous’ home tooth whitening kits

teeth whitening hull

Bright white teeth are on everyone’s wish lists these days, with a social media driven society and celebrities flashing their pearly whites it’s easy to understand why people want quick results at a fraction of the cost of in surgery treatments, but is it worth it at the risk of your oral health and even risking losing your teeth? The answer is most certainly NO! Which? Magazine recently researched 36 teeth whitening products available across the 4 main online marketplaces eBay, Amazon, Ali Express and Wish and their findings were truly shocking…

The figures…..

Products sold over the counter should contain no more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide, while the legal limit for application by professional dentists is 6 %

Of the 36 products tested, 21 contained more than the legal amount of hydrogen peroxide (0.1%) permitted for home use.

11 of the 36 contained more than 6% hydrogen, the legal limit for dental surgery use.

20 products contained more than 10 times the amount, with the six most dangerous containing 100 times too much hydrogen peroxide to be legally sold.

The two most dangerous whiteners contained more than 30% or 300 times the permissible amount for home use products, whilst some of the products contained no hydrogen peroxide whatsoever!

Some of the products contained chlorine dioxide, the same acid used to clean swimming pools; whilst this chemical certainly removes stains from your teeth it also strips away the enamel from the teeth too leaving them exposed and often irreparable.

 

Dr Paul Woodhouse of the British Dental Association told Which? ‘using high levels of hydrogen peroxide in your mouth is like playing with fire – you risk burning your gums and permanently causing damage to your teeth’.

‘The pain from burns on your gums will be excruciating and high levels of the chemical could leave your gum with recession. Prolonged contact with high levels of hydrogen peroxide can also weaken the structure of your tooth, which could then need expensive root canal treatment to repair the damage’.

 

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation told Which? that an increasing number of people are looking at online DIY teeth whitening products; ‘this is worrying as solutions of hydrogen peroxide used are often above the 0.1% legal limit and this can lead to permanent damage to your teeth and gums. That’s why we only recommend visiting a qualified dentist for tooth whitening as they are professionally trained and will help you to get the results you’re looking for safely’.

 

Sue Davies, head of consumer protection at Which? said ‘it’s worrying that our tests have revealed so many of these products sold on online marketplaces – and often hyped on social media – are breaking legal limits for hydrogen peroxide and putting the health of users at risk’.

 

The products investigated have now been removed from sale!

Don’t buy teeth whitening products from online marketplaces – Which? News

So, how can we help….?

Teeth Whitening FACTS and TIPS

– Whitening isn’t permanent and can last for a few months to a few years.

– If there is a medical justification whitening can be done on the NHS

– Teeth whitening providers in the UK should be registered with the General Dental Council. Dental hygienists and therapists can carry out teeth whitening on the prescription of a dentist if they have the necessary skills.

– Some beauty salons offer teeth whitening but this is illegal if there’s no dental professional present.

 

This is why smile consultations here at Kingswood Parks are so important to assess the suitability of your teeth and gums and to advise you on the safest course of treatment to give you the white smile you desire.

Your oral health and safety is our number 1 priority!

Our clinicians can check suitability prior to booking you in for in-surgery or at home whitening:

Teeth Whitening in Hull- Kingswood Parks Dental (kingswoodparksclinics.co.uk)

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