I’ve had full train track braces twice: once as a teenager and then again in my 30s. Because no one told me the first time that if you don’t wear your retainer, your teeth will just move back – take note, kids. According to my dentist, that’s what's led to my slightly receding gums, which exposes the more yellow sections of my teeth near the gum line.
On top of that, my daily black Americano habit has stained some of my teeth at the front. Oh, and I also have a crooked smile. In short, I’ve always struggled with confidence when it comes to my smile. I keep my mouth firmly shut in pictures, so sometimes I look like I’m grimacing, not smiling. Which maybe I am.
To get over my photo phobia, I’ve tried whitening toothpastes, whitening pens, whitening strips and even that purple toothpaste that’s supposed to balance out the yellow (spoiler: it didn’t work). Nothing has really made much of a difference, partly because I lack consistency. I know the best solution is to go to the dentist for professional grade whitening but I need to find the funds because a trip to the hygienist alone feels extortionate.
So, when my colleague on the beauty team asked if I wanted to try out SmilePro’s LED Tooth Whitening Kit, I nearly bit their hand off. Here’s how I got on.
The SmilePro LED Tooth Whitening Kit at a glance
SmilePro Advanced Teeth Whitening Kit
Pros
- Incredibly easy to use
- Short 10-minute treatment time
- Comfortable
- Reduced teeth staining
- Compact for travel
- Didn't cause any sensitivity
Cons
- It won't work on stubborn staining
- Only professional treatments will significantly whiten
How it works
This kit makes a strong first impression. It comes in a neat box with three whitening pens and the LED mouthguard, which lives in a little box of its own, so it’s easy to take on holiday with you if needed.
Once you’ve charged it (I left it a few hours and haven’t had to charge it again in two weeks), it’s good to go. You’re advised to brush your mouth with water only, to remove any debris, before applying the whitening formula to your teeth (you just dial up the pen and brush it on, avoiding the gums). Next, you choose your light setting using a button on the front of the mouthguard to cycle through the options, before inserting it.
There are three light settings: the blue light amplifies the oxidation process for faster stain removal; the red light whitens and supports gum health but does it more gently to avoid sensitivity; and the red and blue light does both – balancing stain removal with enhanced comfort.
Once you’ve made your choice (I went for red and blue), you simply get on with your day with the mouthguard in (I usually do it at night while reading before bed). After the 10-minute treatment time, the LED lights turn off and the mouthplate beeps. Then you simply remove, wash and pop it back in its box.
You’re meant to use it for seven consecutive days to see results. You can then do top-up sessions as needed. And if you’re wondering what’s in the whitening pen solution, that’s Phthalimidoperoxycaproic Acid (easy for you to say), which is a gentler whitening agent than the hydrogen peroxide many kits use. The LED light then boosts the whitening power of the active ingredient.
My verdict on the SmilePro LED Tooth Whitening Kit
It’s quick and simple, so it’s easy to make it a habit
The mouthguard is so easy and quick to use, I’ve actually stuck to my pre-bed routine, which is really the first step to success with any beauty product. If you’re not consistent, it just won’t work. I also quite enjoy the LED element – the lights make your mouth light up. It’s the little things…
And it’s mess free (apart from a few dribbles when you take it out – I advise doing over the sink).
There’s no sensitivity
Another huge plus point is that I haven’t experienced any sensitivity with it, which I have with previous whitening solutions.
After my second fixed brace, my orthodontist gave me a whitening gel that I put in my retainers and it made my teeth very sensitive the next day, so anything that minimises this gets big brownie points from me.
It reduces food and drink stains
You get a little colour chart in the pack, so you can see where your teeth are on the whiteness scale pre and post-treatment. I think my teeth have improved by a couple of shades in seven days, which I’m happy with. While it’s not going to achieve the level of whitening you’ll get from a professional treatment with your dentist, it has definitely had an impact and the coffee stain on my front tooth has lifted a little. Full disclaimer: the instructions tell you to stop drinking coffee and red wine while you’re using the device, so that has probably also helped.
Full, full disclosure: Don’t expect miracles with at-home whitening kits. They won’t get rid of plaque, which is often the cause of yellowing – go to your hygienist for that – and they will never be as effective as professional treatments provided by qualified dentists (never go anywhere else for professional cleaning and whitening).
However, if you want to brighten your smile and remove temporary staining caused by food and drink, this is an easy-to-use solution.
The Good Housekeeping Institute verdict
SmilePro Advanced Teeth Whitening Kit
This kit has also been tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute, which named it the ‘Best teeth whitening kit for sensitivity’ and scored it 79/100. It was sent out to our reader panel to try at home for seven days before we asked them to provide detailed feedback on what they liked and what they didn’t. Everyone enjoyed the mess-free, user-friendly whitening experience, saying the gel was easy to apply and the mouthguard was comfortable to wear. Like me, they loved the short 10-minute treatment time.
In terms of results, most users noticed reduced staining from food and drink, but some said it didn’t shift more stubborn stains from the back of the teeth (the mouthguard means treatment is more focused on the front).
Those with sensitive teeth and gums scored it highly, saying it didn’t cause any sensitivity during or after treatment. Overall, for the price – did we mention it’s currently 50% off? – everyone thought it was a good solution for surface staining.
Shop the Advanced Teeth Whitening Kit at SmilePro
Alison is head of content for the Good Housekeeping Institute, responsible for product reviews across homes, beauty, wellness, family and food & drink. She lives by the William Morris quote that you should “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
Alison has over 15 years' experience as a lifestyle editor and has written features on everything from misophonia to how to dress like Claudia on The Traitors. She has also interviewed everyone from Dame Joanna Lumley to the Kardashians.
In her spare time, you'll find her hanging out with Monty the cocker spaniel and refreshing the Sezane website every five seconds.
