If you're on a mission to get a brighter smile, you're probably on the hunt for the best teeth whitening gel to get your teeth looking pearly white again. Of course, yellow stains on teeth are a natural part of ageing as the enamel wears away from years of chewing and being exposed to acids from food and drink. However, we know that you may be a little self-conscious when you smile because of this which is where teeth whitening products can help.
Many of the best teeth whitening gels for the job are available from the dentist and they will be your best option for long-term results. However, there are some fab at-home kits available that will help to make your smile more dazzling as a short-term solution. If you’ve got a special occasion to celebrate, you may want to use a gel to improve the brightness of your teeth.
Best teeth whitening gels at a glance:
• Best for the number of treatments: mysmile Teeth Whitening Gel Refills – Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best professional at-home gel: Smile Science Harley Street Professional Teeth Whitening Refill Kit – Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best for daily use: Spotlight Oral Care Teeth Whitening Accelerator Gel – Buy now on LookFantastic
Information from Colgate states that teeth whitening gels usually use low levels of carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide to bleach your teeth to remove surface stains from your teeth. Many also include ingredients that help decrease the sensitivity you feel while whitening your teeth.
The gels available on the market are mostly designed to be refills for teeth whitening kits, but if you have mouth trays already at home, you should be able to use any refills with them. Just remember to consult your dentist before starting any type of whitening treatment.
Best teeth whitening gel
Best for the number of treatments
mysmile/AmazonWith an advanced PAP+ formula and powerful ingredients, the mysmile Teeth Whitening Gel Refill promise fast results, without causing gum irritation or enamel damage. They claim to get your smile eight shades whiter if you use them for 10 minutes a day, across six to eight days. The pack contains eight refills, each containing three millilitres of gel, which allows you to get 16 applications from them and as they're only small, you can easily take them with you while travelling as they don't take up much room.
Reviewers mention they did feel they had to use this product every day to see results, which they thought didn't make it the most cost-effective option. Some customers thought the application was a bit messy too so be prepared to clean up after use. Reviews say these gels didn't make their teeth sensitive and they didn't have any discomfort while using them.
Pros
- Won't cause gum irritation or enamel damage
- Travel-friendly so you can use them just as easily away from home as you would at home
Cons
- Some found the application to be messy
Best professional at-home gel
Smile Science Whiten your teeth quickly in the comfort of your own home with the dentist-approved Smile Science Harley Street Professional Teeth Whitening Refill Kit. You just pop the gel in your mouth trays and you can sit back and relax or carry on with housework for 20 minutes while it works its magic to make your teeth up to eight shades whiter. In addition to two teeth whitening gels, it also comes with a pre-stain remover to use first, which targets deep-set and surface stains while preparing your teeth for the next step.
Reviews are mixed about the effectiveness, some say they didn't make a difference after two weeks but others are thrilled with the results and found the kit to be easy to use. Bear in mind that this kit contains low levels of hydrogen peroxide, which is safe to use on teeth in small doses but can damage teeth enamel in high doses.
Pros
- Helps teeth to become up to eight shades whiter after the full course of treatment
- Includes an intensive stain remover as a pre-treatment
Cons
- Contains low levels of hydrogen peroxide; some people may prefer to use a treatment that uses other whitening ingredients
Best for daily use
Spotlight Oral Carewww.lookfantastic.com
Just one to two pumps of the Spotlight Oral Care Teeth Whitening Accelerator Gel will transform your toothpaste into a whitening treatment. It contains active whitening ingredients PAP and Hydrogen Peroxide for instant whitening results and works hard to dissolve tough stains while whitening your overall smile.
Customers rate this gel for being easy to use and found that unlike other gels they've used in the past, it doesn't have an unpleasant taste or smell as it's designed to have a fresh, minty flavour. One reviewer found their teeth felt a little more sensitive after use and others felt like they needed to use it longer before deciding if it was effective or not.
Pros
- Can be used daily brushed on it own or mixed with your toothpaste
- Has a fresh, minty flavour so it doesn't have an unpleasant taste/smell
Cons
- One reviewer found their teeth to be a little more sensitive after using it
Best fast acting tooth whitening gel
SmileTimeYou get three, 3ml gels included as part of the SmileTime Teeth Whitening Kit. The gel has been formulated with a whitening ingredient called PAP that whitens and brightens teeth and hopefully shouldn't cause your teeth any pain or make them feel sensitive. The combination of these active ingredients and six days of daily 15-minute treatments will leave your teeth looking pearly white once more.
Some customers had issues with the included tray fitting their mouths properly, which meant the whitening gel couldn't reach all the surface areas of the teeth. Overall though, reviewers have noticed the difference since using this product and love that it only needs to be used for 15 minutes so they could wear it while getting ready to go out or getting chores done.
Pros
- Gets to work in just 15 minutes
- Formulated with PAP that whitens and brightens without causing pain or sensitivity
Cons
- Some reviewers had issues getting the provided mouth guard to fit properly, which meant the gel didn't cover all teeth surfaces
Best powerful teeth whitening gel
skinChemistswww.debenhams.com
The skinChemists Advanced Extreme Teeth Whitening Gel brings active ingredients Ceteareth-25, PEG 150, and sodium hydroxide solution together to effectively whiten your teeth and give you a brighter smile. This powerful formulation also includes Ascorbic Acid 2-Glucoside to take care of your teeth while brightening and peppermint oil for it to feel refreshing too.
Some reviewers of this product didn’t like the consistency and found it to be more liquidy than gel-like so it made the application a little messy. In general, customers found their teeth colouration had improved and thought this product gave their teeth a nice sheen.
Pros
- Powerful formula that will brighten and whiten teeth
- Peppermint oil is one of the ingredients to give your mouth a refreshing feel
Cons
- Reviewers felt the consistency was more of a gel than a liquid
FAQs
Tips for using teeth whitening gels at home
Spotlight Oral Care Founders and Dentists, Dr. Lisa Creaven and Dr. Vanessa Creaven offer these tips:
Consult your dentist: Before starting any whitening treatment, consult your dentist to assess your oral health and discuss your suitability for whitening.
Choose reputable products: Opt for trusted brands whose products are formulated with safe and effective ingredients and have undergone rigorous testing.
Follow instructions carefully: Always adhere to the recommended usage instructions for the whitening product you choose. This will ensure optimal results and minimise the risk of side effects.
Monitor for side effects: Pay attention to any sensitivity or irritation, and discontinue use if necessary. Consult your dentist if you have any concerns.
How often should you use a whitening treatment?
Initially, you may need to use your teeth whitening gel or other whitening product every day for a number of days to achieve your desired result. After the first course of at-home treatment, you should then only need to use it once or twice a week to maintain your dazzling smile. You should, of course, check the instructions for your chosen treatment before you use it to check how long you need to use it. If you have any doubts, consult your dentist as they'll know what's best for your teeth.
If you're worried about using a teeth whitening gel, you may want to start by introducing a teeth whitening toothpaste into your morning routine as these offer a more natural way to brighten your smile and aren't as strong.
Is it safe to use an at-home teeth whitening gel?
Advice from the NHS states, "No matter what treatment you use, there's a chance your gums will be sensitive to the chemicals used in teeth whitening, particularly if you already have sensitive teeth. There's also a chance of burns to gums and some whitening kits used at home can harm tooth enamel."
We also asked Dr Safa Al-Naher, who is the Director and Principal dentist of atSerene in Knightsbridge who said, 'It isn’t safe to whiten your teeth at home without first seeking professional advice."
She explains this is because, "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."
She also said that caution needs to be taken with over-the-counter whitening products as these typically contain abrasive particulates that effectively 'scrub away' stain molecules, which can actually end up damaging teeth enamel and actually contribute to a darker-looking tooth.
Tips for maintaining a whiter smiler:
If you want to keep your teeth as white as possible after a whitening treatment, Dr Safa offers this advice, "Try and avoid coloured food and drinks such as tea, coffee, red wine, turmeric and other spices, and also tobacco can re-stain teeth so they should be avoided if possible."
"However, this is often not realistic, and safe teeth whitening protocols, which a dentist has prescribed, can be used to counter-act these lifestyle choices. You can eat anything you like, as long as you realise this may affect the colour of your teeth and you may need to maintain the brightness with regular whitening top-ups."
This article contains expert advice from dentist, Dr Safa Al-Naher, who is Director and Principal dentist for atSerene in Knightsbridge. After Qualifying from King’s College London Dental School in 2011, she immediately began her post-graduate learning in short-term adult orthodontics, facial aesthetics and cosmetic dentistry. She has not stopped gaining knowledge since and has studied for an MSc in Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry and achieved two post-graduate qualifications in this field.
Rosie Floyd is a Senior Home & Pets Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances, décor and furnishings, as well as all things dogs. After completing her Journalism & Media degree from Coventry University back in 2015, she started her career writing about must-visit holiday destinations, moving on to creating content around outdoor living and garden buildings, before joining the team at Bauer.