Teeth Whitening Costs & Options

Who doesn’t want a brighter, whiter smile? Tea, coffee, and red wine are some of life's greatest pleasures, but they are the worst culprits for staining teeth over time; hence, teeth whitening has quickly become the go-to in cosmetic treatments. But with so many options available, knowing which one is right for you can be tricky.

This ultimate guide covers all teeth whitening options. Everything—from at-home and over-the-counter solutions to professional in-office treatments like laser and LED whitening. We'll break it down so you can find the best choice for your pearly whites and achieve that dazzling, confidence-boosting grin in no time.

Off-the-Shelf Teeth Whitening Options: Quick & Affordable

Over-the-counter options provide a great starting point for a budget-conscious approach to teeth whitening costs. These products are widely available in pharmacies and supermarkets, from whitening toothpastes and strips to LED kits priced between £5 and £75.

Whitening toothpastes rely on three main methods to remove stains and brighten teeth. First, they use mild abrasives like baking soda to exfoliate the surface and scrub away discolouration. Second, chemical agents such as sodium hexametaphosphate help dissolve stains for a cleaner appearance. Finally, some formulas contain mild peroxides that provide a superficial bleaching effect.

Most whitening toothpaste brands like Colgate Max White Ultimate and Oral-B 3D White Advanced are generally considered safe to use twice daily in your routine. However, checking with a dentist for your dedicated oral care plan is always best.

Teeth whitening strips have a few application methods and ingredients, and remember in the UK, over-the-counter whitening strips can legally only contain 0.1 per cent hydrogen peroxide for safety.

The standard strips, such as Spotlight Ultra Teeth Whitening Strips, are thin, flexible pieces of plastic that use a peroxide-based whitening gel that you need to wear for 1 hour per day for two weeks to yield results. You can't eat or drink during this time and must rinse or brush post-treatment.

There's also a peroxide-free version from Hismile, The PAP+ Whitening Strips. They are recommended for sensitive teeth and contain Phthalimidoperoxycaproic Acid (PAP) (a synthetic organic acid) that oxidises tooth stains and is gentler than some traditional peroxide agents. Results may vary – but the brand claims you might see an improvement from the first 30-minute use.

Strip products also come in a 'dissolving' formula, so there's no need to rinse or brush post-treatment. You can find these in Boots' Expert Dissolvable Teeth Whitening Strips or Superdrug ProCare range.

While convenient for addressing very mild staining, the effectiveness of whitening toothpaste and strips can be inconsistent, offering only subtle brightening in some cases. Additionally, certain formulas contain mild abrasives, which may weaken enamel and heighten sensitivity over time.

At-Home Teeth Whitening Costs & Kits: Dentist-Approved Brightness

For those seeking a luminous, pro-brightened smile, at-home teeth whitening options prescribed by a dentist offer an elevated alternative to over-the-counter options.

The Wellington Clinic offer bespoke treatments and provide a lab made custom-fitted whitening tray, moulded from a 3D scan or impression of your teeth, ensuring optimal results, and it’s paired with a professional-grade whitening gel that you use every day for around two weeks. It’s available in an overnight system (where you wear your whitening tray to bed for 8 hours) or there’s a different one-hour-per-day formula for a whitening blast to the surface. The overnight system is great for those with darker teeth who want to penetrate the deeper layers of the teeth or those who have never whitened before. The one-hour-per-day kits are great if you can’t do the nighttime system or if your teeth are not too discoloured and just need a surface whitening. The professional whitening kits can lift your teeth to the brightest natural tooth shade of B1 and take a few days to work, with optimal results in 14 days. The whitening effect can last up to 6-12 months or more with the proper aftercare and dental hygiene regime.

This investment, priced from £450, delivers longer-lasting whiteness, while prioritising the health of your teeth.

LED Teeth Whitening Costs & Options

If you’re after instant results, in-clinic whitening is the answer. This professional treatment uses a powerful bleaching agent, activated by laser or LED light, to lift deep-set stains and reveal a dramatically brighter smile—all in a single session.

The effects can last up to 6 months or more – but will depend on lifestyle, diet and dental hygiene protocols.

With light and laser teeth whitening costs starting from £450, a dentist can tailor a treatment plan just for you, and you can leave the practice in under two hours with a sparkling smile.

Which Teeth Whitening Options are Best for You?

Choosing the correct whitening method depends on desired results and how quickly you want to see changes and how deep and long lasting you want the results to be. Teeth whitening costs vary, so pricing might be a factor too.

  • On a budget? Try off-the-shelf whitening toothpaste or strips for subtle shade improvements.
  • Want professional deep and long lasting results at home? Custom made at-home teeth whitening options and kits from a dentist deliver brilliant whitening in as little as twenty days.
  • Need instant, dramatic whitening for a special event? Laser and LED teeth whitening is the perfect option for quickness.
  • Alternatively, for the ultimate solution choose combination whitening which combines the instant results of in-chair whitening with the deeper whiter results of home whitening to give you maximum results that are not only achieved in the shortest time but are also long lasting.

Whichever teeth whitening option you choose - The Wellington Clinic is here to help. Book a consultation today to find the perfect teeth whitening options for your smile – after all, oral care is self-care.

Visit The Wellington Clinic to learn more and get started on your journey to a brighter smile!