How to whiten teeth: 9 methods, honestly compared

The ways to whiten teeth that actually change their colour are bleaching treatments: in-chair 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. healthdirect and the Australian Dental Association say the safest, most effective whitening is given or supervised by a dental professional, who can check first that your teeth suit it. 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-chair whitening at the dentist	Tooth colour	One appointment	Fastest and supervised; costs around $600 per visit
2. Take-home trays from a dentist	Tooth colour	A course your dentist sets	Supervised and gradual; costs around $600
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	May help with surface stains; can damage teeth if used often
9. Oil pulling	No good evidence it whitens	Several minutes a day	Skip it for whitening

For prices, see How much does teeth whitening cost in Australia?

How does in-chair whitening at the dentist work?

Your dental professional applies a strong hydrogen peroxide gel, often with a light placed over your teeth, and you should leave with whiter teeth after one appointment, healthdirect explains. It is the fastest option and the dentist manages everything, but it costs around $600 per visit, and results fade like any whitening, so repeat visits cost again.

In-chair 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. If the discolouration is deep inside the tooth, healthdirect notes that gel on the outside will not make it whiter; a dentist can discuss other options.

Are take-home trays from a dentist worth it?

They can be, if you want whitening supervised by your dentist at home. Your dental professional makes thin plastic trays that fit your teeth and gives you gel in the right strength for you, then tells you how much to use, how long to wear the trays and for how many weeks. healthdirect says this takes longer than in-chair whitening, but the final result is not better or worse. Take-home trays cost around $600, including the fitting.

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 Australia the kit's whitening ingredient is hydrogen peroxide (6%), with potassium nitrate. 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. Whitening toothpastes help reduce stains on the outside of your teeth, but the Australian Dental Association says they do not tend to make a large difference to the colour of the teeth. healthdirect adds that whitening toothpaste can make teeth sensitive and recommends a soft toothbrush with it. 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 says 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 may help a little with surface stains, but it cannot change the colour inside the tooth. healthdirect says some research suggests natural ingredients such as charcoal may help whiten teeth, but that using them often may damage your teeth. Charcoal is abrasive, so brushing with loose charcoal powder scrubs at the surface rather than whitening the tooth itself.

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, and healthdirect warns that using natural remedies such as lemons and strawberries often may damage your teeth. Thinner enamel can make teeth look more yellow, not less. Turmeric is no better: it is a spice, and healthdirect lists spices among the foods that stain teeth.

What should you avoid when whitening your teeth?

Avoid whitening by people who are not dental professionals, such as some beauty and hair salons: healthdirect warns these services may be offered by unregulated, unqualified people and can put you at risk of harm. Avoid products that do not list every ingredient or come from sellers you cannot contact, and 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. healthdirect suggests cleaning your teeth with a toothbrush and floss every day, not smoking, and rinsing your mouth with water after food or drink that can discolour your teeth. A professional clean at your dentist 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?

healthdirect says whitening is not recommended if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have sensitive teeth, gum disease, cracks or holes in your teeth, or other untreated dental problems, and that it will not work on crowns, veneers or fillings. 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.

• healthdirect Australia, Teeth whitening, last reviewed February 2025.
• Australian Dental Association, Teeth whitening (teeth.org.au), read 7 October 2026.
• Oral Health Foundation, Dental erosion, 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.