Teeth Whitening Age Limits and Pregnancy: The Legal and Clinical Position
For under-18s, parents and anyone pregnant or breastfeeding: UK law bars whitening gel above 0.1% hydrogen peroxide for under-18s; a narrow GDC exception for treating or preventing disease is disputed. NHS guidance says whitening is not done at 17 or younger or with unhealthy teeth or gums, and not recommended while pregnant or breastfeeding, or with crowns, dentures or implants. At Deepcar Dental Care, the minimum age is 18.
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Clinically reviewed by Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, dentist · GDC 301711
Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It does not replace an examination or treatment by a dentist.
This page was reviewed by Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, principal dentist at Deepcar Dental Care, a General Dental Practitioner registered with the GDC under number 301711.
What is the teeth whitening age limit in the UK?
The UK legal age for teeth whitening is 18 for products containing or releasing more than 0.1% and up to 6% hydrogen peroxide.
The rule is in Annex III, entry 12, of the Cosmetic Products Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009). For tooth whitening products containing or releasing more than 0.1% and up to 6% hydrogen peroxide, it states: "Not to be used on a person under 18 years of age." It also limits their sale to dental practitioners, sets first-use conditions and counts peroxide released by carbamide peroxide.
NHS guidance draws the same age line: "It's not done if you're 17 years old or younger, or you have unhealthy teeth or gums." Who may provide whitening is set out in the law on teeth whitening in the UK.
What is the GDC's narrow exception for under-18s?
The GDC's exception, which is disputed, covers whitening used wholly to treat or prevent disease, never whitening for appearance.
The wording comes from the General Dental Council (GDC). Its position statement of 11 July 2016 says products containing or releasing between 0.1% and 6% hydrogen peroxide "cannot be used on any person under 18 years of age, except where such use is intended wholly for the purpose of treating or preventing disease."
The Annex III entry has no exception written into it, and the GDC does not list which conditions count as disease. The Dental Defence Union (DDU), a dento-legal adviser to dental professionals, says in its 2021 guide that it "cannot envisage any circumstance" where the exception would apply, and that "our legal advice is that there are no exceptions to this rule."
At Deepcar Dental Care, the minimum age for teeth whitening is 18. For a teenager hoping for whiter teeth, the answer is to wait.
Can you have teeth whitening while pregnant or breastfeeding?
NHS guidance does not recommend teeth whitening if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have crowns, dentures or implants.
For crowns, dentures and implants, it explains that whitening "can only lighten the colour of natural teeth"; for pregnancy and breastfeeding, it gives no reason. At Deepcar Dental Care, pregnancy or breastfeeding is one of the reasons whitening is not suitable.
Whitening during pregnancy
NHS guidance does not recommend whitening while pregnant or breastfeeding, or with crowns, dentures or implants, and does not say how long the pregnancy advice applies.
Breastfeeding
NHS guidance does not recommend whitening while breastfeeding either, and gives no reason.
Has whitening been studied in pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Neither the NHS page nor MotherToBaby, a US pregnancy and breastfeeding information service, reports a study of whitening in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Writing on home whitening in November 2023, MotherToBaby says, on whitening strips, that most whitening products contain ingredients "not well studied in pregnancy or lactation", and "without good research it's difficult to know whether the ingredients can cause a problem for the developing baby or breastfed infant." Used as directed on the teeth and not swallowed, "it is unlikely that a significant amount would enter the pregnant woman's system or the breast milk."
That is a judgement about likely exposure from home products such as strips; the article gives no concentration figures and does not discuss gels prescribed by dentists.
Who is whitening not suitable for at Deepcar Dental Care?
At Deepcar Dental Care, reasons whitening is not suitable include:
- being under 18
- pregnancy or breastfeeding
- active decay or gum disease
- heavy tetracycline staining
- having many front crowns or veneers
To ask about teeth whitening if you are 18 or over, book online or call 0114 288 2121.
What can you do if whitening is not suitable for you?
If you are under 18, whitening has to wait, because UK law bars gel above 0.1% hydrogen peroxide for under-18s.
Dental care for children in general is covered on the page about dental care for children.
If whitening becomes suitable for you later, the main page on professionally whitening your teeth explains whitening with a dentist.
What are the limits of this guidance?
This page sets out UK law and published guidance in general terms; it is not legal advice and does not replace a dental examination.
The GDC says an appropriate clinical examination should come before gel between 0.1% and 6% hydrogen peroxide is used, to check for risk factors or other problems in the mouth.
Where can you read about other whitening questions?
Other suitability questions, such as decay, gum disease and existing crowns, are covered when you browse this section. Whitening products on open sale follow different rules, set out in professional whitening and shop-bought kits compared. Internal whitening, for one dark tooth after root canal treatment, is explained on the page about whitening a dark root-filled tooth from the inside.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 16 or 17 year old have teeth whitening in the UK?
No. UK cosmetics law bars whitening gel above 0.1% hydrogen peroxide for anyone under 18, and the regulation states no exception, including for parental consent. The GDC describes a narrow exception for treating or preventing disease, which the DDU disputes. NHS guidance says whitening is not done if you are 17 or younger, or have unhealthy teeth or gums.
Is it a criminal offence to whiten an under-18's teeth?
Yes, for cosmetic use of gel above 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. The GDC says breaching the cosmetic product regulations is a criminal offence, and the regulations bar that gel for under-18s. Trading Standards enforce the rules, and the GDC says a criminal offence is relevant to a dental professional's fitness to practise, even without a prosecution.
Can a teenager use whitening gel prescribed for a parent?
No. UK cosmetics law bars whitening gel above 0.1% hydrogen peroxide for anyone under 18, whoever it was supplied to. Using someone else's gel also skips the clinical examination the GDC says should come first, and NHS guidance says a dentist's home kit has trays made to closely fit around the patient's teeth.
Does the under-18 rule cover whitening toothpastes and strips?
Only products above 0.1% and up to 6% hydrogen peroxide, sold only to dental practitioners. Products at 0.1% or less carry no age condition; the GDC calls them safe. NHS guidance says whitening from places like beauty salons, or a kit from a pharmacy or online, does not work as well and may harm teeth and gums.
Can you have teeth whitening once you turn 18?
Turning 18 removes the age condition in UK cosmetics law, but other conditions still apply. The GDC says an appropriate clinical examination should come first. NHS guidance says whitening is not done if you are 17 or younger, or have unhealthy teeth or gums, and is not recommended if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have crowns, dentures or implants.
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You can contact Deepcar Dental Care online or by phone, from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday. The practice is at 334 Manchester Road, Deepcar, Sheffield, S36 2RH, with free parking directly outside.
334 Manchester Road
Deepcar, Sheffield S36 2RH
0114 288 2121
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Free parking at the door