Tooth whitening

Tooth whitening is a popular cosmetic treatment. You can buy these products in shops or online. Tooth whitening lightens your teeth using a bleaching product, usually with hydrogen peroxide. There are important things to think about before getting your teeth whitened.

Tooth whitening by dental professionals

Tooth whitening is safe if it is carried out by a registered dental professional. An untrained person could cause permanent damage to teeth and gums.

It is a criminal offence for anyone other than the following dental professionals to offer or carry out tooth whitening services:

registered dentist or dental hygienist
dental therapist or clinical dental technician acting to the prescription of a dentist

The video below highlights the dangers of illegal whitening services.

Criminal prosecutions for the illegal practice of dentistry can carry significant fines because of the risk that these treatments pose.

To check that your dental professional is registered, visit the General Dental Council (GDC) website.

General Dental Council

Tooth whitening products

There are different types of tooth whitening products.

Over-the-counter tooth whitening products

Only dental professionals can carry out a tooth-whitening service. But, it is legal for anyone to treat themselves with an over-the-counter kit only if it contains less than 0.1 per cent hydrogen peroxide.

Products available to buy online or from high street shops often don't declare the chemicals they contain, so they may not be safe to use.

Tooth whitening products given to you by dental professionals

Only registered dental professionals can supply tooth whitening products that contain or release between 0.1 to six per cent hydrogen peroxide.

A dental professional must carry out a clinical examination with you before you use such a product. Also, they must make sure that your exposure to it is limited.

Registered dentists are trained to know which whitening products will be safe for your teeth and gums.

Products given to you by non-dentists often do not have enough safety data and evidence to support their use. This can cause burned gums and/or blistered lips or something more serious.

There is more information on the General Dental Council website:

Tooth whitening and illegal practice

Common injuries

One of the most common injuries happens when the mouth-guard with the bleaching gel (peroxide) does not fit properly and some of it leaks. This can cause painful chemical burns to the mouth, lips, gums and tongue, or sickness when people accidentally swallow the bleaching product.

Some of the whitening kits used at home can harm tooth enamel.

More information

If you think someone is offering tooth whitening when they should not, or selling a product that may be illegal, contact your local council or Consumerline:

Sample complaint letters for goods and services

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