Illegal teeth whitening: what the BBC found, and how to whiten safely

A BBC investigation into illegal teeth whitening in England found bleaching gels being sold and applied that contained up to 53% hydrogen peroxide. The legal limit for a dentist is 6%. The legal limit for anything you can buy over the counter is 0.1%. One woman featured in the report paid £65 for a treatment in a beauty salon and lost four teeth. If you are thinking about whitening in Stevenage, here is what the law actually says, how to tell a safe treatment from a dangerous one, and what a properly supervised whitening involves.

What the law says about teeth whitening in the UK

Teeth whitening is classed as the practice of dentistry. Under the Dentists Act 1984, only a dentist or a dental hygienist, therapist or clinical dental technician working to a dentist's prescription may carry it out. All of those people are registered with the General Dental Council, and you can check any of them on the GDC register in about thirty seconds.

Separately, the cosmetic products regulations cap the strength of the whitening agent. A dental professional may use products containing up to 6% hydrogen peroxide (or the equivalent in carbamide peroxide, which breaks down into hydrogen peroxide in the mouth). Products sold directly to the public may contain no more than 0.1%, which is why chemist-bought strips and pens rarely do much.

What the BBC investigation found

The BBC North West investigation sent samples of gels being used by unregistered whitening providers for laboratory analysis. The strongest contained around 53% hydrogen peroxide, nearly nine times the professional limit and more than 500 times the consumer limit. The gels were being bought through social media and applied in salons, private homes and, in some cases, car parks. Some providers displayed certificates from “training courses” that have no legal standing.

The consequences reported ranged from chemical burns to the gums and lips, through severe sensitivity, to permanent damage to the tooth surface. The General Dental Council prosecutes illegal whitening and refers product breaches to Trading Standards, but enforcement lags well behind the trade. The Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners has since called for tighter regulation.

Why the strength is only half the problem

It would be easy to conclude that the risk is purely about concentration. It is not. The reason whitening is restricted to dental professionals is that the person applying the gel needs to be able to assess your mouth first. A dentist checks for:

• Untreated decay or cracked teeth, where peroxide can reach the nerve and cause severe pain
• Gum disease or receding gums, where exposed root surfaces will not whiten and may be very sensitive
• Existing crowns, veneers or fillings, which do not change colour and may end up mismatched
• The cause of the discolouration, because tetracycline staining, fluorosis and a dead tooth all respond differently

None of that happens in a salon. The gel goes on, the light goes on, and any underlying problem is discovered afterwards, usually at an emergency appointment.

Safe teeth whitening in Stevenage: what we do

At Bowling Green Dental Surgery, Dr Alan de Vos examines your teeth before any whitening is agreed, and the whitening itself is carried out with professional-strength products within the legal limit. We offer two options:

• Home whitening kit, £350. Custom-made trays from a digital scan of your teeth, with professional gel you wear at home for a couple of hours a day or overnight over two to three weeks. This is the option most patients choose and the one that gives the most controllable result.
• In-office whitening, £590. A single appointment in the surgery for a faster start, with the home kit included to build on and maintain the result.

Most patients see a noticeable improvement of several shades. Results vary with the starting colour of the teeth and the cause of the staining, and Dr Alan will give you an honest view of what is achievable before you spend anything. If whitening is not the right answer, for example where a single dark tooth needs a different approach, he will say so. Our whitening cost guide explains the options in more detail, and full details are on the teeth whitening page.

If you have already had a bad experience

If you have had whitening somewhere that turned out not to be legitimate and your teeth or gums are painful, call us. An emergency appointment is £81 and we will see you the same day where possible. Burns to the gum usually heal, and sensitivity usually settles, but a tooth that has been damaged needs to be looked at rather than left. You may also want to report the provider to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice, which is what the government asks people to do.