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A word of caution on use of over-the-counter tooth whitening products - CHOICE # 346

  • 2005.08.15

Is DIY tooth whitening safe?

As over-the-counter tooth whitening products become widely available, beauty conscious consumers are naturally concerned about the safety of these products.

In this August issue of CHOICE, it was reported that tooth whitening products contain bleaching agents of either hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or carbamide peroxide (which breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and urea, with hydrogen peroxide being the active ingredient).

There is, however, variance in opinions in the safety limit of hydrogen peroxide that such over-the-counter products can contain.

In the European Commission, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) is of the opinion that the use of tooth whitening products containing up to 0.1% hydrogen peroxide is safe.

Products containing more than 0.1% to 6% hydrogen peroxide is considered safe only on the condition that they are used properly after consultation with the approval of a dentist.

In the US, the limit varies considerably as according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), products containing 3% or less hydrogen peroxide are generally recognized as safe.

In general, over-the-counter tooth whitening products are known to contain between 3% and 6% hydrogen peroxide. Some might even be higher than 6%.

Consumers, however, have no way of knowing the level of hydrogen peroxide in tooth whitening products as there is no law mandating the disclosure of such information on the product label.

The most commonly observed side effects of hydrogen or carbamide peroxide are tooth sensitivity to cold and irritation of the soft tissues in the mouth particularly the gum.
In view of the divergent views on the safety of the active ingredient of such products, consumers are strongly advised to seek professional consultation from a dentist before use. 

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