Home Teeth Whitening Kits – Safe?
What to look for when considering at-home teeth whitening.
As a relatively “new” industry with more and more products and services promising to whiten such a delicate part of the body, coupled with what seems like never-ending horror stories of teeth whitening gone wrong – no wonder consumers are cautious and (understandably) unsure about teeth whitening. After all – it does go in the mouth and we all have the right to know what we are putting in there.
As some of you may (or may not) be aware, teeth whitening legislation in Australia was “tightened” late last year (2011). Unfortunately some companies selling consumer teeth whitening products were getting away with non-disclosure of ingredients as well as improper labelling on product packaging, to name a few things. The ACCC is now focused more than ever, on fostering safe teeth whitening practices in Australia through oversight of consumer whitening products. As the leading provider of consumer teeth whitening products in Australia, health and safety is integral to our business and it is integral for consumers to be aware what to look out for when considering home whitening options:
- Formulas containing 18% Carbamide Peroxide (6% Hydrogen Peroxide) or less. As part of these new changes in Australia, these are the new maximum levels of Carbamide Peroxide (active bleaching ingredient) allowed in the sale of over-the-counter products. Ensure your product does not contain more than 18% Carbamide Peroxide (or 6% Hydrogen Peroxide) – even though higher strengths may be safe in the right formulations, these are now un-regulated for sale in Australia (unless under guidance of a Dentist).
- Products which have full disclosure of all ingredients (including the strength of the bleaching agent).
- Thorough directions for usage including company contact details in Australia.
- Cautions on the packaging. All teeth whitening kits should contain thorough cautions including when teeth whitening should not be used, and health and safety cautions (keep an eye out for an upcoming blog which explores when teeth whitening may not be suitable).
- Ph-neutral formula for health of the enamel. As most of us are aware, we have a layer of enamel over our teeth which somewhat acts as a protective layer. Acidic consumables can ‘eat away’ at this enamel (eg, soft drinks, fruit juices, and acidic toothpastes / mouthwashes). To minimise chance of enamel wear, you should look for products with ph neutral formulations such as White My Bite’s range of professional teeth whitening kits.
Be sure to keep checking back regularly as we explore a wide range of topics relating to teeth whitening and dental care. If you have a specific question or topic you want discusses, please email us at info@whitemybite.com.au
Keep smiling!
By Sandra La Scala