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Burning for a whiter smile - 28 June 2007

Your teeth may sparkle and look whiter and cleaner, but you could be putting your health at risk, the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) has claimed.

Expert tests have discovered that 18 out of 20 teeth whitening kits contain dangerous levels of bleach.

One teeth whitening kit contained 230 times the legal limit of hydrogen peroxide, the active bleaching ingredient, the Daily Mail reports.

According to TSI chief executive Ron Gainsford, the bleach can “aggravate gum disease and cause sensitive teeth – or even chemical burns to the mouth.”

“We strongly recommend that anyone considering having their teeth whitened cosmetically should consult a qualified dentist,” he said.

Tests were carried out on 16 whitening kits purchased on the internet or over the counter from pharmacies and beauty salons throughout the Midlands.

Only two products out of the 16 complied with the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations, which bans the sale of products that exceed the legal limit of 0.1 per cent hydrogen peroxide.

They were the Boots Expert Teeth Whitening Programme, and the “Brilliant” tooth whitening system, which is distributed in the UK by Brilliant Products.

The TSI has advised that consumers who have already purchased kits to go back and ask the retailer how much hydrogen peroxide they contain.

 

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