A 2015 BBC article unveils the dangers of teeth whitening without a dental professional. Unless you have purchased an over-the-counter whitening system (approved by a reputable dental organization) or one from a licensed dentist, it is not recommended to receive teeth whitening from anyone that is not a dentist.
According to the article, multiple beauty salons in England offer whitening services as a response to the high numbers of people who want the cosmetic service. However, customers who opt to go to the beauty salon for whitening instead of the dental office are in serious danger. A dental professional takes a detailed history of the patient and has studied the ins and outs of teeth, oral health, and whitening for years; your beauty salon does none of this.
You are putting yourself and your teeth at danger if you seek whitening outside of the dental office. If the whitening tray is not positioned appropriately, it is possible to get chemical burns, or even violently ill if you were to accidentally swallow some of the bleaching product.
In the UK it is even illegal for anyone who is not a dentist to offer a teeth-whitening service. So then why, you may wonder, are over-the-counter whitening kits allowed? This is simply because these kits have much lower levels of hydrogen peroxide than what is administered chair side, making them safe to use.
It is important to see a dental professional if you want your teeth whitened. Otherwise, you can run the risk of harming both your teeth and your health by skipping the dental office and heading to the salon.
