Single adults leading growth in UK’s illegal tooth whitening

Not only do statistics show that single Brits are more likely to get their teeth whitened than those in relationships, but a deeply alarming number are doing so illegally, causing major concern for health campaigners.

The nationwide poll found that one in four people without a partner have had their teeth whitened (24 per cent), more than twice as many than those in a relationship (11 per cent). Of these, almost half of single adults have admitted to doing so illegally (45 per cent), compared to just one in ten (12 per cent) of people in a relationship.

Nigel Carter OBE, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation, believes that most remain unaware of the dangers associated with the procedure while the allure of a cheaper solution often causes customers to seek unlicensed treatment.

Nigel said, “In 2011, it became illegal for anybody other than a dental professional to carry out tooth whitening in the UK, yet there are still a dangerous number of beauticians and salons carrying out the treatment.