People considering teeth whitening treatment to improve the appearance of their smile could be interested in recent industry developments.

The British Dental Association (BDA) has called for an urgent meeting with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to discuss attitudes to the procedure conveyed by trading standards officials.

News of the issue comes after Essex County Council limited the distribution of hydrogen peroxide-based products to dentists.

As a result of the restricted supply, experts from the BDA have voiced concern that members of the public may be tempted to seek treatment from unqualified practitioners.

Stuart Johnston, chair of the BDA's representative body, said: "A significant body of evidence demonstrates the safety of whitening products when used by trained dental professionals.

"We urge trading standards officers to adopt a pragmatic approach that recognises this."

This news comes after US dental professionals called for tougher regulations on whitening treatments in a bid to reduce the risk of damaging teeth, ABC News reports.