Some beauty salons are continuing to provide illegal teeth whitening despite being prosecuted by regulators, an investigation by 5 Live Investigates has found.
Undercover reporters were offered treatment by one therapist who had been fined thousands of pounds just months earlier.
The General Dental Council has already prosecuted 24 people this year – more than the whole of last year. But with the popularity of teeth whitening soaring, who is allowed to do it and what are the dangers if you are treated by someone who isn’t properly qualified?
What is teeth whitening?
Celebrity culture and reality shows such as The Only Way is Essex have made teeth whitening one of the most popular cosmetic treatments in the UK. According to Mintel research, more than a third of adults are considering having it done. It involves bleaching your teeth using a whitening product usually containing hydrogen peroxide.
Is it dangerous?
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