DIY teeth whitening kits, which are gaining popularity in Singapore, may be cheaper and more convenient than going to the dentist for a proper procedure — but how safe are they, really?
Recently, the safety of Beautiful Cold Light Teeth Whitening Kit — which has been heavily promoted by social media influencers (ugh) in Singapore — has been called into question. Easily available on online platforms like Carousell, the item reportedly contains four percent hydrogen peroxide, which is way above the 0.1 percent limit allowed in cosmetic products sold directly to consumers, noted Channel NewsAsia.
According to a Health Sciences Authority (HSA) spokesperson, teeth whitening products that exceed the 0.1 percent limit can only be supplied to and used by registered dentists under their supervision. Products like these ought to come with warning statements to avoid being sold directly to the public, the spokesperson added.
If you’re wondering about the government’s strict regulation on hydrogen peroxide, that’s because a high concentration of the chemical agent can potentially be corrosive, and an examination of the cause of teeth discoloration should be done before the whitening process.
Several sellers claimed to be unaware of the high level of hydrogen peroxide in the item, while others said they had approached HSA before making a decision on whether to sell it. But on the whole, sellers insisted negative feedback was rare, although dentists that Channel NewsAsia spoke to said that such DIY teeth whitening kits could result in adverse effects, as teeth can discolor for varying reasons.
However, some people are turning to such products because of their lower price tags. For example, the average price of the Beautiful teeth whitening kit online is about S$70, while dentists charge around S$1,000 for an in-house procedure and at least S$700 for a take-home kit, Channel NewsAsia said.
In light of this, HSA said it is currently working with several e-commerce platforms to remove their product listings. The authority will continue to keep tabs on and take action against any company or individual selling the product directly to consumers.
Sellers of an un-notified cosmetic product can face a maximum fine of S$20,000, jail of up to 12 months, or both; while suppliers of products that do not adhere to labeling requirements may be sentenced to a maximum fine of S$50,000, jail of up to two years, or both.
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