The dangers of teeth whitening kits

Recent research from the Oral Health Foundation has revealed that one in four people would choose at-home DIY teeth whitening kits over a professional tooth whitening service at their dentist. Being sold as a miracle cure for discoloured teeth, the use of these cheaper alternatives is continuing to grow.

While at-home DIY kits may cost just a fraction of a professional teeth whitening service, there are absolutely no guarantees. What’s more, the majority of these kits also come with serious health risks, which include chemical burns, permanent scarring and tooth loss. In some cases, users’ breathing and eating ability have also been affected.

One of the main problems with these illegal kits, usually sold online or via beauty salon counters, is their chemical make-up. All tooth whitening products containing or releasing more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide can only be sold to and used by a registered dental professional. Unfortunately, many illegal teeth whitening kits contain this level of hydrogen peroxide or more and are simply falling into the wrong hands. To offer a tooth whitening treatment using hydrogen peroxide of or above this level is illegal.

About at-home teeth whitening kits, Dr Phil Stemmer, from the Teeth For Life Clinic in London, told the Daily Mail:

“Many over-the-counter bleaches have a very high acidity, which can damage the teeth.

“Some products are also abrasive and while they remove surface stain, they also take out the enamel so that you end up, in effect, spitting teeth down the sink.”

With at-home whitening kits, it’s not always the level of hydrogen peroxide that’s of concern. Abrasive acids can cause major issues too. Furthermore, recent research has also found that DIY kits online can contain up to 300 times the legal limit of hydrogen peroxide. This can be compared to brushing your teeth with bleach!

Teeth whitening at AP Smilecare

At AP Smilecare, we offer a safe Teeth Whitening treatment to achieve a brighter, whiter smile. Our peroxide-based products meet all the dental standards and are suitable for sensitive teeth too.

You’ll have a brighter, whiter smile in just three days, with no complications plus the promise of long-lasting results. To find out more, call us on 01254 297 000.

Teeth Whitening is one of the many cosmetic services we offer here at AP Smilecare. Another one of our popular cosmetic dental treatments is our Same Day Smiles, transforming crooked or damaged teeth into a smile you’ll want to show off.

Have you ever had a DIY teeth whitening nightmare with an at-home teeth whitening kit? If so, tell us about your experience in the comments below or tweet your story to us @APSmilecare