Monaghan woman shares tooth whitening horror story to encourage others to see a professional dentist
A woman from Monaghan, Ireland, has shared her tooth whitening horror story on social media to encourage others considering whitening their teeth to visit a professional dentist.
Aoife Wills said that her gums were severely burned after undergoing whitening treatment at a beauty salon recently. Having opted to have treatment at a local salon, Ms Wills is now worried that her gums will be permanently damaged, and she may need a graft in the future. To raise awareness of the potential dangers of illegal whitening treatment, Aoife took to Facebook to share photos of her blackened gums and urge people to make sure they see a qualified dentist if they want whiter teeth.
Aiofe’s case is not an isolated one, and the General Dental Council has already prosecuted several individuals who have administered whitening treatment without the relevant expertise and qualifications. As tooth whitening is a dental service, it is illegal for anyone who doesn’t have dental training to offer treatment. If you are thinking of having whitening treatment, the GDC recommends looking for dental practices that offer the service and ensuring the person offering the treatment is registered with the GDC. It is illegal for beauty salons, shopping stores and individuals operating from home to offer treatment, and anyone who comes across adverts or unwittingly undergoes illegal treatment is advised to contact the GDC.
Along with the photo of her gums, Aoife left a comment explaining what had happened and encouraging others to ensure they have treatment provided by experienced dental professionals. The salon Aiofe visited didn’t use a protective gel, and it’s not clear how well her gums will heal. After visiting her dentist, Aiofe was relieved to hear that her teeth hadn’t been damaged, but she may need a grafting procedure in the future if her gums don’t heal properly.
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