A recent BBC North West investigation has exposed a widespread and dangerous trade in illegal teeth-whitening treatments across the UK. The investigation revealed that unregulated practitioners are administering high-strength bleaching agents, often in car parks, private homes, and beauty salons, using unregulated products that can cause severe and permanent harm to members of the public.

 

Dangerously High Levels of Hydrogen Peroxide

Under current UK law, teeth-whitening products containing more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide may only be used by dentists or registered dental professionals. Even within clinical settings, products must not exceed 6% hydrogen peroxide.

However, laboratory analysis commissioned by the BBC found illegal whitening gels containing up to 53% hydrogen peroxide, nearly nine times the legal professional limit and 500 times the safe over-the-counter level. These products were obtained through social media sellers and unlicensed beauticians, some of whom offered “training” courses and fraudulent qualification certificates.

In one instance, a BBC reporter was handed whitening gels in a plastic bag on a doorstep, without any safety instructions or usage guidance. Another seller delivered kits in car parks, boasting of “insane profits” and advising the reporter to “practise on friends and family”.

 

Real-World Harm

The investigation also uncovered devastating personal accounts of injury. Kellie Howson, a 54-year-old hospital worker from Lancaster, lost four teeth and suffered excruciating pain after undergoing an illegal £65 whitening treatment at a beauty salon.

“I just remember not long into the treatment my gums starting to really hurt, and afterwards it just got worse and worse,” she said. “I was in agony. It destroyed my confidence I didn’t want to go out or see anyone.”

Her dentist later confirmed that the bleaching gel had caused irreversible damage, necessitating multiple extractions and long-term restorative work costing tens of thousands of pounds.

 

Fraudulent Training and Unsafe Products

The BBC’s undercover reporter found that unlicensed operators were selling fraudulent “teeth-whitening qualifications” alongside chemical kits advertised as containing “extreme bleach”. These courses were delivered via WhatsApp messages, and participants were encouraged to “build their own brand” using dangerously high concentrations of peroxide.

 

Professor David Sines CBE, Chair of the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP), said:
“The JCCP has expressed concern for several years now regarding the risks associated with the administration of teeth whitening procedures performed by non-registered GDC Dental practitioners who apply teeth-whitening products containing more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. The JCCP is in discussion with the General Dental Council and with appropriate regulators in the United Kingdom with the aim of ensuring the implementation of tighter regulatory controls to protect members of the public”

 

Public Awareness and Reporting

The UK Government has urged members of the public to report concerns regarding illegal or unsafe teeth-whitening services to Citizens Advice or their local authority Trading Standards department.

Professionals across the cosmetic and dental sectors are encouraged to educate clients about the dangers of unregulated treatments and to reinforce the importance of only seeking whitening services from qualified dental practitioners registered with the GDC.

 

Conclusion

The findings from this investigation underscore a growing threat to public safety within the unregulated cosmetic treatment market. The illegal supply and administration of high-concentration bleaching agents represent a serious breach of public trust and professional standards.

The JCCP continues to advocate for stronger regulatory oversight, public education, and inter-agency collaboration to ensure that all invasive aesthetic and cosmetic treatments in the UK are delivered safely, ethically, and within the bounds of the law.