If you’re in search of a brighter, whiter smile, but don’t want to fork out on professional teeth whitening, then you’re in luck, as we’ve found the best teeth whitening products that you can use at home.
Yellowing teeth is a natural part of ageing and over periods of time, certain foods and drinks can cause teeth staining, which can dampen our confidence. Nowadays, there are so many at-home teeth whitening products — from strips to gels and even teeth whitening pens — it's why we’ve taken the time to find the best over-the-counter teeth whitening products, so you don't have to.
Best teeth whitening products shortlist:
• Best whitening kit: HiSmile VIO405 Teeth Whitening Kit
• Best whitening strips: Spotlight Oral Care Teeth Whitening Strips
• Best whitening gel: Smile Science Harley Street Professional Teeth Whitening Refill Kit
• Best whitening pen: Spotlight Oral Care Teeth Whitening Pen
• Best whitening toothpaste: Pearl Drops Pro White 4D
The most popular type is at-home teeth whitening strips. These make direct contact with your teeth and are very easy to apply. Teeth whitening gels are also very popular as they’re very similar to an at-home whitening kit that a dentist would send you home with. While teeth whitening kits that use a mouthguard also boomed in popularity a few years back.
However, it is worth noting that while you can try to remove teeth stains at home, the only way you can really achieve a dramatically whiter smile is by visiting your dentist. The least effective of the bunch are toothpaste and whitening pens, although the ones we have featured have been highly acclaimed by reviewers.
The best teeth whitening products to buy now
Best whitening kit
www.harrods.com
Description
We've tested out plenty of products in our HiSmile reviews, but this is definitely our favourite
Pros
- Uses the same violet light used by dentists
- Promises no sensitivity or irritation
- Includes bonus PAP+ Primer to boost whitening results
Cons
- Not designed to be used if you have veneers, caps, implants, bonding or bridges
Best whitening strips
uk.spotlightoralcare.com
Description
Spotlight Oral Care was created by dentist duo, Dr Lisa and Dr Vanessa — so you know they're
Pros
- Great value and also comes with whitening toothpaste
- Doesn't lead to sensitivity
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Cons
- Have to wear for an hour a day for two weeks
Best whitening gel
www.sephora.co.uk
Description
Whiten your teeth quickly in the comfort of your own home with the dentist-approved Smile Science
Pros
- Perfect for whitening on the go
- Cruelty-free and vegan
- Removes daily tea and coffee stains
Cons
- Smaller tubes doesn't provide a lot of product
Best whitening pen
uk.spotlightoralcare.com
Description
Another product from Spotlight Oral Care that we love is their whitening pen, which is designed to
Pros
- Perfect for whitening on the go
- Cruelty-free and vegan
- Removes daily tea and coffee stains
Cons
- Small product for the money
Best whitening toothpaste
Description
Whitening toothpastes are the easiest and cheapest teeth whitening methods to use at home and
Pros
- Very affordable
- Contains perlite, as used by dentists
- Quick and easy to use
Cons
- Do have to use it consistently for a few months before you start seeing results
Best alternative white strips
thewhitesmiles.co.uk
Description
Another cult product in the world of teeth whitening strips are these ones from Crest. They are
Pros
- Thin, flexible strips with FlexFit technology to stretch to your teeth
- Easy to use
- Claims that results last 12 months and beyond
Cons
- This product may increase teeth sensitivity
Best teeth whitening kit for sensitive teeth
www.smiletimeteeth.com
Description
If you're keen for a teeth whitening kit, but have sensitive teeth, then Smile Time could be ideal
Pros
- Affordable
- No sensitivity
- Vegan friendly
Cons
- Only get six gel treatments in the box
FAQs
Do at-home teeth whitening products really work?
According to Dr Safa Al-Naher, Director and Principle dentist at Serene, it isn’t safe to whiten your teeth at home without seeking professional advice first.
“I would always advise going to a professional for a number of reasons,” she says. “A dental professional will carry out a full examination before whitening your teeth to ensure you don’t have any wider issues, like gum disease. This is probably the most important reason — we need to make sure that your teeth and gums are healthy to be able to receive the whitening before you embark on treatment. The only person who will know if you are ready for a tooth whitening treatment is a dental professional.
“Secondly, you don't know where the products that you're using are from as it is actually illegal for anyone other than a dental professional to prescribe tooth whitening products. You can't really be sure of what ingredients are in there and whether they're safe to use on your gums. Additionally, in the very small chance that you have an allergic reaction, dentists will know how to deal with any issues you might have. Once this has been verified, the dentist will provide you with tailor-made trays which fit your mouth perfectly ensuring no teeth whitening gel leaks out and damages your gums.”
Dr Ahmed Hussain is also of the same opinion and also adds that over-the-counter treatments will only contain a small amount of bleach, which isn’t effective for whitening teeth.
“Professional tooth whitening products contain six percent hydrogen peroxide to give us the whiter teeth we desire, but over the counter treatments only have 0.1 percent bleach, which is not effective,” he says.
“Peroxide products can burn the gums, make your teeth sensitive to hot and cold, leave them patchy in colour, or even damage the protective enamel permanently if they’re not administered properly.”
Can you whiten your teeth naturally?
There are a few natural teeth whitening methods you can try at home. However, there isn’t much scientific evidence surrounding whether these methods are effective. While they may work well for some people, they may not for others. If you particularly suffer from teeth sensitivity though, these could be a good alternative to try.
Lorna White is a digital writer at Yours.co.uk and MotherandBaby.co.uk. She was previously a writer at Yours Magazine writing features and news stories before joining the digital team.