Dental experts warn of the side effects of illegal teeth whitening kits

Illegal do it yourself teeth whitening kits can be purchased for as little as £20, and are also being administered by unqualified beauty therapists. The gels included in some illegal kits can often contain up to 300 times the legal limit of hydrogen peroxide.

Steve Williams, clinical services director at mydentist, says that illegal kits may seem cheaper in the moment, but their effects can cause long lasting damage and can be expensive to repair:

“It has been widely reported that people are resorting to either ordering whitening products over the internet or sourcing from beauticians offering these services – this is illegal as only dental professionals can carry out whitening.

“There are strict guidelines for dental professionals on which whitening products can be used and specifically on the strength of the gels. The main issue with illegal kits is that they aren’t adapted to the individual. A professional dentist will fit a custom tray that fits your mouth and this ensures the gel works more effectively and there is less likelihood of gel seeping out onto the gums, which is what causes damage to the mouth.”