Dentist MP questions minister on tooth whitening
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- Published: Tuesday, 28 June 2011 07:51
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| Sir Paul Beresford MP and dentist raised the problems of dental bleaching in a House of Commons adjournment debate, including the EU restrictions, recent Trading Standards actions and unlicensed beauty salons. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Edward Davey MP, gave a sympathetic reply. |
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Sir Paul gave the House some detail on the background to the profession’s problems over bleaching. In particular he cited the dangers of the material involved when it is misused. He said a number of non-dental professionals, particularly in beauty salons, are illegally bleaching teeth. ‘Sadly, some of those individuals are using a material called chlorine dioxide, which, although it produces an initial appearance of whitening teeth, actually badly damages them’.
He said the fly in the ointment was the European cosmetics directive, which restricts the sale of tooth-bleaching materials containing more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. ‘Clearly that makes eminent sense when applied to over-the-counter medicines, but from a dental treatment point of view 0.1% hydrogen peroxide is absolutely useless,’ he observed.
Sir Paul then spoke of the enforcement action of some trading standards officers, as well as the stance taken by Essex trading standards, who said: “This Service has no issue with peroxide-based whiteners over 0.1% supplied to GDC registered dentists for use in the course of a professional whitening service conducted by a registrant. It is the view of this Service that such treatments would be regulated by the GDC.” The MP described this as ‘a brilliantly sensible response.’
Sir Paul mentioned beauticians and non-registrants illegally bleaching teeth. He gave the example of a plasterer from Kent who plasters walls during the day, and bleaches teeth in people’s homes in the evening, using 38% hydrogen peroxide, with no guards or safety measures. ‘To put it bluntly’, said Sir Paul, ‘he probably burns the gum off the bone and the teeth. He is dangerous.’
The MP asked the Minister to assist, through trading standards, in stopping beauticians and other non-dental registrants bleaching teeth. The General Dental Council is taking action, but it does not have the strength and spread of trading standards.
Replying the Minister recognised ‘how deeply frustrating this matter is for all involved.’ He said the European Commission believed that the ‘use of teeth-whitening products containing more than 0.1% and up to 6% hydrogen peroxide can be considered safe if the following conditions are satisfied: first, if an appropriate clinical examination takes place to ensure the absence of risk factors; and, secondly, if exposure to the products is controlled to ensure that they are used as intended. Teeth-whitening products should therefore not be directly available to the consumer. For each cycle of use, the first use should be limited to dental practitioners or under their direct supervision’. A new directive along these lines would be considered this summer.
On the question of enforcement, he said his Department ‘neither controls nor directs trading standards services in their enforcement activities’. However, his officials will be making them aware of the latest developments in Brussels on the issue, so that they can understand the direction in which the law is likely to develop. Officials have also been in contact with many of the trading standards departments looking into the matter to ensure that a consistent approach will be taken.
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