UK Whitening Rules
Teeth whitening is widely advertised, from beauty salons to social media, so it's easy to assume anyone can offer it. In the UK they can't. Here's what the law says, why it's there, and how to tell safe whitening from the kind that can harm your teeth.
Is Teeth Whitening Legal and Safe in the UK?
Yes, when it's provided by a dentist, or by a dental hygienist, dental therapist or clinical dental technician working to a dentist's prescription, using products of up to 6% hydrogen peroxide. Whitening by beauticians, salons or kiosks is illegal, and effective whitening isn't permitted for under-18s except to treat or prevent disease. At Comely Bank Dental in Edinburgh, professional home whitening is from £450.
Is Teeth Whitening Legal in the UK?
Yes, teeth whitening is legal in the UK when it's carried out by the right people with the right products. The General Dental Council (GDC), which regulates dental professionals across the UK, treats tooth whitening as the practice of dentistry. Its position was supported by a High Court ruling in 2013.
In practice, that means tooth whitening can only be provided by:
- a registered dentist, or
- a registered dental hygienist, dental therapist or clinical dental technician working to a dentist's prescription
Everyone in that list must be on the GDC register. Anyone else offering tooth whitening, including beauticians, salon staff and people working from kiosks or at home, is acting illegally, whatever training certificate they hold.
Separate cosmetics law controls the products themselves, including how strong they can be and who they can be sold to. Together, these two sets of rules are meant to make sure whitening is only done after a proper dental check, with safe products, by someone accountable for the result.
How Strong Can Whitening Products Be?
Most whitening gels work using hydrogen peroxide, or carbamide peroxide, which breaks down to release hydrogen peroxide (roughly a third of its strength). UK cosmetics law sets clear limits:
| Hydrogen peroxide content | Who can supply it |
|---|---|
| Up to 0.1% | Can be sold over the counter |
| More than 0.1%, up to 6% | Only to dental practitioners. The first use of each course must be by, or under the direct supervision of, a dentist. The patient can then complete the course at home |
| More than 6% | Not permitted for cosmetic tooth whitening |
The 0.1% limit for shop-bought products is why toothpastes, strips and pens sold on the high street have only a limited effect on the natural colour of teeth. They can remove some surface stain, but they contain too little peroxide to lighten the tooth itself.
Products with up to 6% hydrogen peroxide, or the carbamide peroxide equivalent, are what dentists use for professional home whitening. They are effective, and they are safe when the teeth have been checked first and the gel is used as directed.
Whitening, Done Properly
Book an appointment to find out whether whitening suits your teeth. We'll check your teeth and gums first and confirm the fee in writing before you start.
Can Under-18s Have Their Teeth Whitened?
Not for cosmetic reasons. Products containing more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide must not be used on anyone under 18, except where the use is wholly for the purpose of treating or preventing disease.
That exception is a clinical decision, made by a dentist case by case. It doesn't cover a teenager who would simply like whiter teeth for a prom or a holiday, and no responsible practice will provide that.
If your child is unhappy with the colour of their teeth, it's still worth a conversation with their dentist. Sometimes there's a cause that can be treated, or a simpler solution, such as a professional clean. Our plan members' children are seen under the NHS, and you can read about our children's dentistry.
What's Wrong with Salon and Online Whitening Kits?
Whitening offered outside a dental practice carries real risks, and none of them are worth taking.
No dental check. Whitening gel on teeth with decay, cracks, leaking fillings or gum disease can cause significant pain and can mask problems that need treatment. Only a dental examination can rule these out.
Wrong strength. Illegal products may contain far more than 6% hydrogen peroxide, which can burn the gums and lips and cause severe sensitivity. Others contain too little to work at all, so you pay for nothing.
Unknown ingredients. Some kits sold online or through social media have been found to contain chemicals that aren't permitted, or acids that whiten by wearing away the enamel surface. Enamel lost this way doesn't grow back.
Poorly fitting trays. Generic boil-and-bite trays or mouthpieces let gel leak onto the gums, causing soreness and white patches, and give uneven results.
No one accountable. If something goes wrong after illegal whitening, there's no registered professional responsible for your care, and no regulator to complain to about the treatment itself.
Lights and "laser" devices in salons don't make illegal whitening safe, and claims that a product is "peroxide-free" or "non-chemical" aren't a guarantee of safety either.
How Can You Check Whitening Is Legitimate?
A few simple checks will tell you whether whitening is being offered legally:
- Ask who will carry it out, and check their name on the GDC's online register. Dentists, hygienists, therapists and clinical dental technicians should all appear there
- Expect an examination first. Whitening should start with a check of your teeth and gums, not with a gel and a tray
- Look for a written plan that sets out what's included and the fee before you begin
- Be wary of whitening sold by a salon, a spa, a kiosk or a website that never asks to see your teeth
If you believe someone is providing tooth whitening illegally, you can report it to the GDC. Unsafe products can be reported to your local Trading Standards service.
What Does Professional Home Whitening Involve?
Professional home whitening is the method we provide at Comely Bank Dental. It's a supervised course that you carry out at home, using trays made to fit your teeth.
- Assessment. A dentist checks your teeth and gums, looks for anything that needs treating first, and records your starting shade.
- Scan. We take a digital scan with our iTero scanner, which is used to make your trays. You can see how it works on our technology page.
- Fitting. We fit your custom trays, show you how much gel to use and explain your routine.
- Whitening at home. Most people wear the trays for a set time each day or overnight, usually for two to three weeks.
- Review. We check your shade, your gums and how your teeth have felt, and talk about keeping the result.
Because the trays fit closely, the gel stays on your teeth and away from your gums. You keep the trays, so a future top-up only needs fresh gel supplied by the practice. Our teeth whitening page has more detail.
Is Professional Whitening Safe?
Professional whitening, used as directed after a dental check, is a well-established and safe treatment for most adults. It doesn't weaken healthy teeth.
It does have side effects, and you should know about them before you start:
- sensitivity is the most common, usually mild and short-lived, and settling within a few days of stopping
- gum irritation can happen if gel spills over the trays, and usually fades within hours
- uneven colour can appear briefly, especially where teeth have white marks, and often evens out over the course
Results vary. Whitening usually works well on teeth that have yellowed with age, tea, coffee or red wine, and less predictably on grey or very dark staining. It doesn't change the colour of fillings, crowns, veneers or bonding.
Whitening is usually postponed during pregnancy and breastfeeding as a precaution. It may also not suit people with untreated decay, gum disease, significant gum recession or very sensitive teeth until those have been addressed.
What Does Legal Whitening Cost in Edinburgh?
At our practice in Comely Bank, professional home whitening is from £450. That includes the assessment, the scan, custom trays, professional whitening gel and a review. As with all our fees, it's a guide price, and your written treatment plan confirms the exact fee and what's included before you start.
When you compare prices around Edinburgh, compare what's included as well as the headline figure: whether there's an examination and a review, how much gel is supplied, and whether top-up gel is available later. A very low price for whitening outside a dental practice is a warning sign rather than a bargain.
Members of our dental plan save 10% on most private treatment. If you'd like whitening as part of wider cosmetic changes, such as bonding or veneers, whitening usually comes first so that any new work can be matched to your new shade.
Questions
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. A dentist needs to examine you to say what is right for your teeth.