UK Trading Standards has recently found that up to 90% of home-use teeth-whitening kits shipped through the mail might be unsafe. It is unlawful in the UK for home-use teeth-whitening kits to contain more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide, the chemical most commonly used to bleach teeth.
Whitening products that release between 0.1% and 6% hydrogen peroxide can only be supplied by a dentist. If you want to use a teeth-whitening kit at home, it’s a good idea to speak to your dentist first.
That way, he or she can advise you on the appropriate strength of the bleaching agent. They can also check that you don’t have untreated tooth decay, advanced gum disease or thinning enamel – things that could make teeth whitening a bad option for you. They can also monitor the whitening process to ensure nothing goes awry.
Teeth whitening can be undertaken at your dental practice, achieving similar whitening results, but over a shorter time frame. Your dental team can apply a higher strength of bleaching agent at the chair side, and they can manage any potential unpleasant side-effects of tooth whitening, such as increased sensitivity. Some home-use teeth whitening kits bought online have been found to contain as much as 300 times the safe, legal limit, reaching dangerous levels of hydrogen peroxide of around 30%.
Such a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide could damage the surface enamel of the teeth. It can also irritate the gums and soft tissue in the mouth. The higher the dose, the mo.
