Recall of DIY Tooth Whitening Products

Compulsory Recall of DIY Teeth Whiteners

DIY tooth whitening products could be unsafe. If you would like and over the counter product speak to you dentist.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has announced it has acted to stop the supply of do-it-yourself (DIY) teeth-whiteners containing unsafe concentrations of peroxide. There is more information on the product recalls online here.

DIY Tooth Whitening Products

The ACCC is concerned that high concentrations of peroxides used in these products have resulted in injuries such as chemical burns to gums and the mouth. The ACCC has identified a number of products which exceed safe peroxide limits, and has negotiated recalls removing these products from the marketplace.

To date, the ACCC has negotiated recalls of nine home use teeth-whitening products available nationally.

Three products supplied by White My Bite have been recalled including: “White My Bite” Sensitive; “White My Bite” Professional; and “White My Bite” Advanced kits. Four products supplied by WhiteSmile Pty Ltd have been recalled including DayWhite Teeth Whitening Gel; NiteWhite Teeth Whitening Gel; Sunshine Health Teeth Whitening Gel; and Crest Teeth Whitening Strips. Two products supplied by DaVinci Elite Pty Ltd have been recalled including DaVinci Elite tooth whitening pen; and DaVinci Elite take-home teeth whitening kit.

The ACCC indicated that further recalls are likely. (Including Colgate Whitening and PolaDay).

The ACCC recently notified all known suppliers of DIY teeth whitening kits that products containing concentrations of more than six per cent hydrogen peroxide or more than 18 per cent carbamide peroxide are unsafe and should not be supplied to consumers.

The ACCC undertook a market survey of DIY teeth-whitening kits after receiving reports of injuries associated with these products.

Risks of DIY tooth whitening products

In addition to chemical burns to gums and the mouth, other reported injuries have included blistering or ulceration of the mouth and throat, tooth sensitivity, marbled or unnaturally coloured teeth, tissue tingling and headaches.

Consumers should be extremely cautious before undertaking any DIY teeth whitening treatment and should not use kits that contain more than 6 per cent hydrogen peroxide and/or more than 18 per cent carbamide peroxide.

If the concentration of the bleaching agents is not clearly labelled, consumers are advised not to use the product.

Safe limits for these active bleaching agents are based on the requirements of the Poisons Standard 2011, expert clinical advice published by the Australian Dental Association and a scientific risk assessment published by the European Union’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Products.

Following negotiations with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), 22 teeth whitening products with unsafe levels of hydrogen peroxide or Carbamide Peroxide have already been voluntarily recalled by 8 other suppliers since December 2011.

Consumers are advised to cease using these products immediately and visit the Recalls Australia website www.recalls.gov.au for more information on returning the goods for replacement or refund.

The Australian Dental Association has also reported to the secretary that dentists are seeing an increasing number of patients presenting with mouth injuries attributed to home teeth bleaching. Some cases have also been treated in emergency departments of hospitals.

Poisons Information Centres in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria have received a combined total of at least 58 reports of injuries involving teeth whiteners since 2004.

Be rest assured that here at Evolve Dental Healing we only supply DIY/At Home Tooth Whitening kits that comply with the current limits as set by the ACCC.