New research has revealed that one in five people are considering having a professional tooth whitening treatment. This is despite a general decline in the number of people accessing dental health services during the last 12 months, Dentistry magazine reports.
The study, by the marketing research group Mintel, found that one quarter of UK citizens and 28% of millennials (people aged 25-40) have delayed visits to the dentist since the beginning of the pandemic. 36% of millennials also reported difficulty in accessing dental treatment, and the figure for the overall population was 33%.
Emilia Greenslade, research analyst at Mintel, told the publication: ‘For many, fear of catching COVID-19 made a visit to the dentist even less appealing than usual. This forced consumers to look for ways to take their oral health into their own hands at home.’
She added: ‘Lower general motivation and increased cost concerns are likely to have put off younger Brits, in particular, from visiting their dentists. It also takes the focus off their appearance, with 13% of 16-24s saying they cared less about the appearance of their teeth over the last 12 months.’
Despite fewer trips to the dentist, there has been an uptick in sales of cosmetic treatments, such as whitening strips, and also of mouthwash, sales of which have increased by 9% since 2019. This is attributed to more people becoming aware of bad breath through mask wearing.
Anyone thinking of attempting a home tooth whitening treatment is advised to proceed with great caution, as some products which are available to buy online contain illegal levels of hydrogen peroxide, which can be harmful to the teeth and gums.
The British Dental Association advises that DIY kits which contain the regulation 0.1% hydrogen peroxide are considered too weak to have any meaningful effect, and any treatment should therefore only be carried out by a practitioner who is registered with the General Dental Council.
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