Save up to 51% on the best teeth whitening kits and toothpastes (2024)

If the thought of applying fiddly strips seems more daunting than a plank-hold, this high-tech bit of kit is both easy to use and super effective. You start by applying the vegan gel formula onto teeth with a fuss-free pen (each kit contains three).

Once connected to your iPhone or USB port, insert the mouth guard and let the LED’s work their magic for 16 minutes, after which time it will turn off. Containing aloe vera, chamomile and vitamin E, the brand recommends using the kit for 18 days for the best results, however our panel noticed a difference in just four.

Key specifications
Treatment time: 16 minutes
Treatment duration: 18 days
Format: LED light and mouthpiece

Created by dentists, this whitening system from Spotlight contains the active key ingredient hydrogen peroxide, which penetrates the top layer of the enamel to brighten teeth.

Super easy to use, and less messy than others, the kit contains two weeks’ worth of strips and a daily toothpaste, although our panel found it worked quicker than that. For some, the hour-long treatment time was a bit of a slog.

Key specifications

Treatment time: 1 hour

Treatment duration: 14 days

Format: 28 strips (14 upper and 14 lower)

Taking a two-pronged approach, this kit contains whitening strips infused with charcoal powder and a handy touch-up pen for an extra boost.

Although a little messy, our panel found the bendy strips surprisingly easy to apply and noticed immediate results, with some testers saying it took just four days for their teeth to reach a Love Island-ready shade.

Key specifications
Treatment time: 30 minutes
Treatment duration: 14 days
Format: 28 strips (14 upper and 14 lower)

An ideal solution to on-the-go whitening, this pen is designed to target specific troublesome stains. It was a hit for how compact and quick it was to use, with one tester praising the “natural-looking whiteness” it delivered.

Mess free, it didn’t cause sensitivity for 92%, but still whitened smiles for 69% of our panel, making it a winner in our books.

Key specifications
Treatment time: 5 minutes
Treatment duration: Instant
Format: Pen

Stains were a breeze for these strips – which also had a pleasing mint flavour – with 69% seeing a noticeable reduction, and 77% reporting a new and improved smile by the end of the treatment.

Testers found the results impressive considering the short 15-minute treatment time too, and were pleased to report no sensitivity.

Key specifications
Treatment time: 15 minutes
Treatment duration: 14 days
Format: Strips

If you shudder every time you have ice cream or a cold drink, this will be your kit. Proving that you can successfully whiten sensitive teeth without any drama, our testers found this set still managed to leave 75% with a Hollywood-esque smile. The peroxide-free formula was a doddle to use, with testers also appreciated the kit's sleek and tidy design.

Key specifications
Treatment time: 20-30 minutes
Treatment duration: 6 days
Format: LED light and mouth piece

Taking just six minutes to get to work, these stick-on strips claim to dissolve to nothing once they’re done. In reality, a few testers were left with a little gel-like residue on the teeth but they didn’t cause any gum irritation.

Although quicker to use than most, they’re meant to be used twice-daily for a week! A good opportunity to get some extra squats in, perhaps?

Key specifications
Treatment time: 5-7 minutes
Treatment duration: 7 days (twice daily)
Format: 14 dissolving strips (7 upper and 7 lower)

Despite having three steps, our budget kit was easy to follow, if a little messy. First up, the brightener serum is applied to teeth (good luck leaving that on for 30 seconds without licking your lips!), followed by an activator serum and then the toothpaste. Super speedy, this one is ideal if you’re after a natural look.

Key specifications
Treatment time: 5-7 minutes
Treatment duration: 7 days (twice daily)
Format: 14 dissolving strips (7 upper and 7 lower)

Want whiter teeth in a few clicks? This vegan formula, with a vanilla-mint flavour, is portable enough to throw in your gym bag.

You do have to keep your mouth open for 30 seconds whilst the product dries – which some pointed out was a pretty long time – but 75% didn’t see it as an issue. Half noticed a brighter smile, with none of our testers reporting any sensitivity.

Key specifications
Treatment time: 10-30 minutes
Treatment duration: Instant
Format: Pen

Tackling both deep-rooted stains as well as those at surface level, this fresh-smelling formula also claims to strengthen and remineralise teeth (also known as enamel, aka the hardest substance in our bodies!). Voted best whitening effect from a toothpaste, the majority of testers saw results in two to four weeks.

Key specifications
Treatment time: About 2 minutes
Treatment duration: Twice a day, ongoing
Format: Toothpaste

If you’re pretty happy with the shade of your smile, you’ll want to keep it that way. This minty-tasting toothpaste prevents future staining from food or drink and gradually reverses yellowing. Although subtle, our panel was left smiling...

Key specifications
Treatment time: About 2 minutes
Treatment duration: Twice a day, ongoing
Format: Toothpaste

If you’re keen to limit your fluoride intake (it’s already in our water), this is a super natural alternative. Containing coconut oil, you’re getting all the detoxifying benefits of oil pulling without the annoying swilling.

There’s also ‘white charcoal’, which claims to have the same effects as the black stuff, without the messy sink. Coming second in our toothpaste lab test, it didn’t have the most dramatic whitening effect, but was super gentle on gums, and we loved the minty coconut taste too.

Key specifications
Treatment time: About 2 minutes
Treatment duration: Twice a day, ongoing
Format: Toothpaste

Although more of a slow-burner, this was one of our top scorers for noticeable whitening after the eight-week period.

It’s also super gentle on teeth and non-abrasive, using enzymes to remove stains and prevent them from happening in the first place. Our panel raved about the super-clean fresh feeling.

Key specifications
Treatment time: About 2 minutes
Treatment duration: Twice a day, ongoing
Format: Toothpaste

With papaya, pineapple enzymes and activated charcoal, this sounds more like a tropical smoothie than a toothpaste. It seems the natural approach works though, with our testers noting that teeth looked brighter and ‘glowing’ with no irritation.

Key specifications
Treatment time: About 3 minutes
Treatment duration: Twice a day, ongoing
Format: Toothpaste

Thought baking soda was just for your banana bread? Wrong! This black toothpaste (don’t worry, it fades), is packed with the stuff. The majority were happy with the subtle whitening effect, although it lost points for being a little thin and some would have liked the effect to last longer.

Key specifications
Treatment time: About 2 minutes
Treatment duration: Twice a day, ongoing
Format: Toothpaste

Superdrug’s own-brand whitening toothpaste had a subtle effect, with none of that annoying grainy texture so often found in this type of product. It didn’t cause irritation or gum sensitivity, and testers were pleased with the results. Great value for money.

Key specifications
Treatment time: About 2 minutes
Treatment duration: Twice a day, ongoing
Format: Toothpaste