Whiten your teeth the safe way (and without looking like Ross from Friends)

We all know pearly white teeth are the sign of a healthy body. And in the quest for perfect gnashers, we're increasingly taking advantage of tooth whitening procedures and products, be it for special occasions (because no one wants yellow teeth on their wedding snaps) or to improve our everyday confidence.

It's seen as one of those little luxuries - a quick and painless pick-me-up.

Yet, despite the huge amount of press attention the subject has received in recent months, there's mass confusion about the legalities and safety of salon and home whitening treatments. And as for painless, some would have a different story.

So, would you know where to go if you wanted a gleaming grin?

Rosemary Sandiford, a fashion and beauty blogger from Manchester, used a home bleaching system purchased from a high street chemist. Although she saw a label on the product warning of potential sensitivity after use, she admittedly didn't take much notice. Rosemary used the kit, dreaming of dazzling teeth. The gum shield, however, left her with terrible side effects.

"I had horrendously sensitive teeth for the first time in my life after the second or third application," she says. "And it went on for months, despite me not even using the strips. It was agony. I struggled drinking hot tea, and anything icy was out of the question." And it got worse. The home treatment left her teeth extremely vulnerable to new stains. All in all, it took over 18 months for Rosemary’s teeth to return to normal. Rosemary believes she wasn’t fully made aware of the extent of sensitivity, or that she'd have to avoid anything that could cause staining in the future.

In fact, over the counter whitening kits contain just 0.1% hydrogen peroxide, making them one of the least effective methods of getting a perfect smile.

You might think this type of negative experience is limited to DIY systems, but that’s not the case. The Stamp Out Illegal Tooth Whitening Facebook support group is home to numerous accounts of beauty salon treatments gone wrong. And with daily deals sites offering cut-price treatment in salons up and down the country, Sarah Penny, a student from Edinburgh, thinks cheap is not the way to go when it comes to your teeth.

"I’m a bargain hunter," she says. "So when I saw a teeth whitening deal, I bought it without a second thought. It was only when I started to investigate before my appointment that I stumbled across the, frankly scary, facts." She realised the company lacked a registered dentist, yet they used a chemical which is pending a ban by the EU as it releases dangerously high levels of hydrogen peroxide, up to 35%. "The fact is, consumer welfare and safety should be at the core of any public company, and I feel that it’s highly irresponsible to advertise unsafe treatments."

So what's being done about it? The good news is that complaints like Rosemary and Sarah's have led to investigations into who can and cannot legally offer these treatments. But many beauty salons would argue that tooth whitening is a purely cosmetic practice, and so there's no reason why a fully-trained beautician shouldn't be able to offer the procedure. Right?

Dentists think otherwise. And new legislation, introduced in October 2012, backs up these pros by stating that tooth whitening products containing or releasing between 0.1-6% hydrogen peroxide should only be available to dental practitioners registered with the General Dental Council, with the first use in a dental practice and with a dentist's supervision. Anything else is illegal. End of. This includes gels, bleaches and highly popular laser whitening treatments, too.

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, believes that under this new law, "safety will no longer be jeopardised by illegal tooth whitening that can often leave lasting damage. By firmly outlawing tooth whitening treatments carried out in beauty salons and whitening kiosks, we are no longer left confused by who can carry out the procedure." Put simply, "If you want your teeth whitened, visit a dental practice."

So in short, there's nothing wrong with wanting a sparkling smile. But do your research, because metaphorically putting your teeth in the wrong hands can leave them more tingling than twinkling.


Gail is a Yorkshire girl who moved to Ireland six years ago. She lives in Co. Cavan with her boyfriend and spends her free time writing, baking cakes and buying dresses. She loves anything vintage and quirky. Gail's a huge fan of Irregular Choice shoes and Morrissey. She considers Minnie Mouse, Ariel and Wonder Woman her style icons.