How to whiten teeth: 9 methods, honestly compared

The ways to whiten teeth that actually change their colour are bleaching treatments: in-surgery or take-home whitening from a dentist, or an at-home whitening kit or strips used exactly as directed. Whitening toothpaste and home remedies such as baking soda can only lift surface stains; they do not change the colour inside the tooth, and some remedies, like lemon juice, can damage your enamel.

Below is every common method with an honest verdict: what it does, how long it takes, and who it suits. If you need whiter teeth before a wedding, an interview or a holiday, our guide How to whiten teeth fast covers the quickest safe options and a countdown plan. This guide is the bigger picture.

What is the best way to whiten teeth?

For most adults with healthy teeth and gums, the best way is the one that bleaches the tooth safely: whitening from a dental professional, or a reputable at-home kit that lists every ingredient and is used as directed. The NHS says a kit from a dentist, or whitening at a dental surgery, is the safest way, and the Oral Health Foundation says your dental team will check that your teeth and gums are healthy first. At home, an LED kit gives the biggest change in the shortest daily time.

Teeth whitening methods compared

Method	What it changes	Time it takes	Verdict
1. In-surgery whitening at the dentist	Tooth colour	One appointment	Fastest and supervised; the most expensive option
2. Take-home trays from a dentist	Tooth colour	A course your dentist sets	Supervised and gradual; costs more than an at-home kit
3. LED whitening kit at home	Tooth colour	SmilePro: 10 minutes a day for 7 days	Biggest at-home change; SmilePro up to 8 shades in 7 days
4. Whitening strips	Tooth colour	SmilePro: 30 minutes a day for 7 days	Simple and no light; SmilePro up to 5 shades whiter
5. Whitening toothpaste	Surface stains	Every time you brush	Good for upkeep, small change on its own
6. Whitening pens	Depends on the gel	Varies	Check what is in it; SmilePro pens are used with the LED light
7. Baking soda	Light surface stains	Not for daily DIY use	A toothpaste with baking soda is the better choice
8. Charcoal	Some surface stains	Not for regular DIY use	Surface stains at most; abrasive
9. Oil pulling	No good evidence it whitens	Several minutes a day	Skip it for whitening

How does in-surgery whitening at the dentist work?

Your dentist protects your gums, covers your teeth in a whitening gel and shines a light or laser onto them. The NHS says this is usually done in one appointment of around 1 to 2 hours and is quicker and more effective than gel on its own. It is the fastest option and the dentist manages everything, but it costs far more than whitening at home, and results fade like any whitening, so a repeat visit costs again.

In-surgery whitening suits you if you want the biggest change in one sitting, have dental work at the front of your mouth, or want a professional to check your teeth before anything is done. Whitening only lightens natural teeth, so crowns, veneers and fillings stay the same shade.

Are take-home trays from a dentist worth it?

They can be, if you want whitening supervised by your dentist at home. Your dentist makes trays that fit closely around your teeth, checks they fit, and shows you how to protect your gums; you then wear them with a whitening gel at home. The NHS says you wear the trays for around 2 to 6 weeks, while the Oral Health Foundation says treatment usually takes 1 to 2 weeks, so ask your dentist how long your plan runs. The trays can be kept and reused.

Do LED teeth whitening kits work?

Yes, a good LED kit whitens natural teeth at home. In the SmilePro Advanced Teeth Whitening Kit you paint a whitening gel onto your teeth with the pen, then use the blue and red LED light with its built-in mouth tray for 10 minutes; the gel is always used with the light. It whitens teeth up to 8 shades in 7 days, 93% of customers saw results after first use, and for a stronger result you can run up to three 10-minute cycles (30 minutes) in one session without adding more gel.

In our UK and EU range the whitening ingredient is PAP (phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid). The gel is enamel safe, Sensitivity-free and developed by dental professionals, and the kit comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee (conditions apply). How the light and gel work together is explained in Does LED teeth whitening really work?

Do whitening strips work?

Yes, on surface stains for most people with healthy, natural teeth. A strip holds whitening gel against the front of your teeth for the treatment time. SmilePro strips whiten teeth by up to 5 shades, with one 30-minute treatment a day for 7 days and no light or trays. They are simple and good for travel; an LED kit gives a bigger change in shorter sessions. The full answer is in Do teeth whitening strips work?

Does whitening toothpaste work?

Only on surface stains. The Oral Health Foundation says shop-bought whitening products may help remove some surface stains but usually do not change the natural colour of your teeth much. Toothpaste is best for keeping a result between whitening treatments; SmilePro Whitening Toothpaste is made for that everyday stain care. More in Whitening kit vs whitening toothpaste.

Do teeth whitening pens work?

It depends on what is in the pen and how you use it. A pen is simply a way to paint gel onto your teeth, so check the ingredient list and the instructions as you would for any whitening product. SmilePro pens are not a stand-alone pen: they hold the whitening gel for the Advanced Kit, and the gel is always used with the LED light. Refill pens for top-ups come in the Whitening Pen Pack.

Does baking soda whiten teeth?

Only a little, on the surface. The Australian Dental Association explains that baking soda is mildly abrasive and can help manage light stains on the outside of the teeth, but it will not change the colour inside the tooth, and it does not recommend brushing with a homemade baking soda paste as part of your daily routine. A toothpaste that contains baking soda is the better option, and research on baking soda toothpastes shows they remove surface stains.

Does charcoal whiten teeth?

It can only scrub at surface stains. Charcoal is abrasive, so brushing with loose charcoal powder may lift some surface staining but cannot change the colour inside the tooth, and an abrasive used too often can wear the tooth surface. For a change in shade, choose a whitening treatment made for the job.

Does oil pulling whiten teeth?

There is no good evidence that it does. Oil pulling means swishing a spoonful of oil, often coconut oil, around your mouth for several minutes. A systematic review of the clinical trials found that the studies were small and looked at plaque and gum health rather than tooth colour, with mixed results. It is not a whitening method, and it does not replace brushing.

Should you whiten teeth with lemon, vinegar or strawberries?

No. Lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and fruit acids do not bleach teeth; acid softens and wears away tooth enamel. The Oral Health Foundation lists lemons, other citrus fruits and vinegar among the acidic foods and drinks that cause dental erosion, which is the loss of tooth enamel caused by acid. Over time, the Oral Health Foundation says, this leads to visible damage to the teeth, so a home remedy can leave your teeth worse off than before.

What should you avoid when whitening your teeth?

Avoid whitening by anyone who is not a registered dental professional. The NHS warns that whitening from places like beauty salons does not work as well and may harm your teeth and gums, and in the UK the General Dental Council says only registered dental professionals can legally provide it. Avoid products that do not list every ingredient or come from sellers you cannot contact, because UK and EU law allows only a very low level of the bleaching agent dentists use in products sold to the public. Never use any product for longer or more often than its instructions say.

How can you keep your teeth white without whitening?

Stop new stains building up. The Oral Health Foundation says smoking, tea, coffee and red wine bring staining back more quickly, and that good brushing and regular dental cleaning help maintain a result. A hygienist clean removes built-up surface staining too. These habits will not change the colour inside the tooth, but they keep teeth looking as bright as they can and help any whitening result last longer.

How long does teeth whitening last?

Whitening is not permanent, whichever method you choose. How long it lasts depends on how quickly new stains build up, which comes down mostly to coffee, tea, red wine, smoking and your daily oral care. With the SmilePro Advanced Kit, a 10-minute top-up every 2 weeks, or once a week if you drink a lot of coffee, tea or red wine, keeps your result going. After each treatment, wait 1 hour before eating or drinking anything except water. More in How long does teeth whitening last?

Who should not whiten their teeth?

The NHS says whitening is not done for anyone aged 17 or under, or for anyone with unhealthy teeth or gums, and is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. SmilePro whitening products are not for anyone under 18, or anyone pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not use them if you have gum disease, an oral infection or recent dental surgery, or amalgam fillings without consulting a dentist first. If you have sensitive teeth or unhealthy gums, see a dentist first.

Shop the SmilePro Advanced Teeth Whitening Kit: up to 8 shades in 7 days, with a 30-day money-back guarantee (conditions apply).

Read next: How to whiten teeth fast, Is teeth whitening safe? and Whitening strips vs LED kit.

Sources

This guide is general information, not dental advice. If you have any concerns about your teeth or gums, speak to a dentist.

• NHS, Teeth whitening, page last reviewed 19 August 2025.
• Oral Health Foundation, Tooth whitening, reviewed April 2026; Tooth whitening and the law and Dental erosion, read 7 October 2026.
• General Dental Council, Illegal tooth whitening, read 7 October 2026.
• Australian Dental Association, Teeth whitening (teeth.org.au), read 7 October 2026.
• Li Y. Stain removal and whitening by baking soda dentifrice: a review of literature. Journal of the American Dental Association, 2017.
• Gbinigie O et al. Effect of oil pulling in promoting oro dental hygiene: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2016.
• SmilePro, Terms and Conditions, section 4, "Product Use and Cautions", and product information: Advanced Teeth Whitening Kit, Teeth Whitening Strips, Whitening Pen Pack, Whitening Toothpaste.

Last updated: 7 October 2026.