EU Bans Tooth Whitening For Under 18’s
Children will be unable to have tooth whitening procedures as a result of new EU regulations on chemical whitening.
New EU rules came into play yesterday; as well as banning treatment for under 18’s, regulations have also been altered for products containing hydrogen peroxide.
Dr Tom Feeney, from the Irish Dental Association, said that the same risks apply to children as adults; however, children have younger gums and younger pores and they are more likely to react to hydrogen peroxide. Some products available on the market contain up to 35 per cent hydrogen peroxide, which is very high and could potentially be very dangerous. Hydrogen peroxide can be corrosive, causing damage to the teeth and gums.
Dr Feeney said that the new regulations would protect public safety, as patients will now have to see a dentist if they want whitening treatment and they will only have access to whitening products that contain 0.1 per cent hydrogen peroxide. Dentists will be able to administer treatments containing up to 6 per cent but these products will not be available to the public.
The Irish Dental Association had warned members in the public in the past about using at-home whitening products, which contain a high proportion of hydrogen peroxide.
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