Home teeth whitening kits can cause ‘permanent damage’

Increasingly, Australians are using teeth whitening kits at home, partly as a result of advocacy from social media influencers. Such kits are putting our health at risk, according to one dentist.

Home teeth whitening kits can cause ‘permanent damage’

Jerome Doraisamy

Last Updated: 10 December 2019 Published: 10 December 2019

Aim Dental Group dentist Dr David Beecham, who has been a dentist for 13 years, said at-home teeth whitening treatments, many of which can be purchased over the counter, could cause permanent damage. 

These treatments – which include LED lights, powders and oils, gels and a number of toothpastes – need to be treated with caution, especially if they are recommended by influencers online. 

“You need to be extremely careful when using these treatments as misuse can lead to gum burns, eroded enamel and severe ulceration throughout the mouth and lips,” said Dr Beecham.

“People need to remember that influencers are getting paid a fee to promote a product, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t work, but it also doesn’t guarantee that it does either,” said Dr Beecham.

Natural substitutes such as charcoal pastes and powders can be even more damaging, he continued, as “its abrasive texture causes the outer enamel to erode and can create wear facets in teeth, which is typically caused by overbrushing”.

A report by Hexa Research predicted that the teeth whitening market will surpass US$7 billion in the next five years, with at-home whitening strips alone accounting for nearly US$1 billion of this in 2016.

“While an in-chair whitening treatment might seem costly, it’s nothing compared to the expense you may have to pay to fix the damage caused by a DIY kit,” said Dr Beecham.

Jerome Doraisamy

Jerome Doraisamy is a senior writer for Lawyers Weekly and Wellness Daily at Momentum Media.

Before joining the team in early 2018, Jerome is admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales and, prior to joining the team in early 2018, he worked in both commercial and governmental legal roles and has worked as a public speaker and consultant to law firms, universities and high schools across the country and internationally. He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines self-help book series and is an adjunct lecturer at The University of Western Australia.

Jerome graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Social Inquiry).

You can email Jerome at: [email protected]