Do-it-yourself teeth whitening products are all the rage as they are cheap and easy to use at home.

However, according to Channel News Asia on Oct. 24, sellers and suppliers of the product potentially face tens of thousands of dollars in fines and face jail terms of up to one to two years

What product?

The product is called "Beautiful – Cold Light Teeth Whitening Kit".

How much is it?

About S$70. Or about 15 times lesser than a professional teeth whitening job by a real dentist.

Where is it sold?

Online platforms such as Carousell.

How is it sold?

The seller typically has tried the product and will share a positive review of it with photographic proof of its efficacy.

The seller will also encourage others to be resellers of the product.

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Why is it strictly regulated?

It contains 4 percent hydrogen peroxide, way above the 0.1 percent limit allowed in cosmetic products sold directly to consumers.

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical agent that is potentially corrosive, especially in high concentrations.

The 0.1 percent threshold means any product above this limit can only be supplied to registered dentists and used under their supervision.

A Health Sciences Authority spokesperson said such products should have labels with relevant warning statements, such as "Not for direct sale to the public. For supply only through qualified dental practitioner."

What penalty?

Sellers of the product could face a fine up to S$20,000, a jail term of up to 12 months or both, for supplying an un-notified cosmetic product.

Suppliers of products that do not comply with the labelling requirements may face a fine up to S$50,000, a jail term up to two years, or both.

Is the product banned?

Interestingly, there is no mention of that in the article.

What is HSA doing about it for now?

HSA said it is working with sellers to remove the products from e-commerce sites.

It will also remove products deemed unsafe from the market and take action against sellers and suppliers.

Have there been any complaints?

According to the article, no. Although dentists warn that using such products without diagnosing the cause of teeth discolourisation might worsen preexisting conditions.

Are there other illegal teeth products available on Caoursell?

Yes. Such as cheap braces that can give one HIV: