Take care when weighing up teeth whitening options

With celebrity treatments becoming increasingly accessible to the general public, teeth whitening is no exception and the market for cosmetic dentistry in Britain has grown over a decade to be worth a reputed £1 billion. But as with all treatments that ultimately diffuse down to high street levels, the number of “rogue traders” increase. Here at SkinGenesis, we were not at all surprised to read about the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s recent warnings about teeth whitening kits.

Their research has concluded that some chemical kits available on the Net or abroad could be up to 250 times stronger than Britain’s legal limit and users could be putting themselves at serious risk. There are stringent laws in Britain dictating a hydrogen peroxide concentration of only 0.1%, but some countries with no laws could see dangerous levels as much as 25%.

Do-it-yourself teeth-whitening kits, available for as little as £10, are obviously a popular alternative to more expensive treatments available in dentists or registered clinics. However by choosing to opt for over the counter treatments which may contain high levels of peroxide dye, you may exacerbate gum disease and could make teeth and gums painfully sensitive.

The risk of permanent gum irritation is significant. If the tooth has a small cavity, it can become permanently sensitive and users should be aware of chemical burns and painful mouth ulcers. With such high stakes, we advise anyone thinking about teeth whitening to look for professional treatments, either at their dentist or a healthcare commission registered clinic like SkinGenesis, where your gums are properly protected allowing high concentrations to be used safely.

** We are getting such good feedback on our professional laser teeth whitening service that we have decided to extend the current £275 special offer.  If you are thinking about having your teeth whitened before Christmas please book early as appointments are limited. **