Teeth Whitening Safety
This section is for anyone weighing up whether teeth whitening is safe. NHS guidance says whitening from a dentist is safest, and UK law limits who may provide it. Limited research on home whitening suggests the most common side effects are mild and short-lived, and NHS guidance advises talking to your dentist if they bother you. Separate pages cover enamel and sensitivity, the law, and shop-bought kits and home remedies.
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Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It does not replace an examination or treatment by a dentist.
What does this whitening safety section cover?
This section covers whitening risks and side effects, enamel, the law on who may provide it, and shop-bought kits and home remedies. It does not describe how treatment is carried out or who it suits.
Is teeth whitening safe?
Teeth whitening is safest from a dentist, according to NHS guidance. A 2018 Cochrane review of 71 trials of home bleaching found the most common side effects were tooth sensitivity and irritation in the mouth, and that these were mild and transient. The review rated the certainty of that evidence as low to very low, because most comparisons came from single small trials. If side effects bother you, NHS guidance advises talking to your dentist.
To ask about teeth whitening, book online or call 0114 288 2121.
Which whitening safety question do you have?
Each of the three safety pages covers one topic in depth.
Enamel and sensitivity
NHS guidance lists teeth sensitive to cold or sweet food and drink among the side effects of whitening, and advises talking to your dentist if side effects bother you. Sensitivity and enamel are explained on the page about whitening, enamel and sensitivity.
Teeth whitening and UK law
Teeth whitening is dentistry in UK law. Only a dentist or, working to the dentist's prescription, another dental professional the General Dental Council permits to provide it, such as a dental therapist, may provide it. Read the law on teeth whitening in the UK.
Whitening kits and home remedies
NHS guidance says kits bought from pharmacies or online, and whitening at beauty salons, do not work as well and may harm teeth and gums. What the evidence says about kits is set out on the page on whitening kits, charcoal and home remedies.
What is covered on other whitening pages?
Who can have whitening, and the reasons it may not be suitable, are covered in the whitening suitability pages. How teeth whitening with a dentist works at Deepcar Dental Care is explained on the main whitening page.
Our guide to the teeth whitening process covers the whole treatment in one place. The chemistry of whitening is explained on the page about how peroxide whitens teeth. For the two routes side by side, read professional whitening and shop-bought kits compared.
Frequently asked questions
Can teeth whitening irritate the gums?
Yes, it can. NHS guidance lists sore gums or throat, and white patches on the gums, among the possible side effects of whitening, and says they may last a short time. If they bother you, it advises talking to your dentist.
Are whitening side effects more likely with stronger gels?
Evidence suggests they may be, though it is limited. A 2018 Cochrane review of home bleaching found that tooth sensitivity and irritation in the mouth, the most common side effects, were reported with higher concentrations of active agents, and that these effects were mild and transient. If side effects bother you, NHS guidance advises talking to your dentist.
How can you check that a whitening provider is registered?
Search the General Dental Council's online register by name, town or registration number; it shows each person's registration status and type. For whitening, the type shown should be dentist, or a type such as dental therapist that may provide it on a dentist's prescription; dental nurses may not provide whitening. NHS guidance points to the same register.
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Deepcar Dental Care is open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday.
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0114 288 2121
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Open 8am to 8pm, seven days
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