Teeth Whitening In The UK: Your Options, Costs And What Is Safe
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Teeth whitening is a cosmetic treatment that lightens the colour of your teeth with a whitening agent such as hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide or a peroxide-free alternative like PAP. In the UK there are two routes. A dental professional can whiten your teeth in the chair or give you custom-made trays to use at home, which you pay for privately because it is not available on the NHS. Or you can use a product yourself: strips, home kits and pens carry a whitening agent, whitening toothpastes and powders work mainly by abrasion, and the law caps hydrogen peroxide in all of them at 0.1%. Beauty salons may not whiten your teeth at all. Below: each option by how it works, what professional whitening costs, how long it lasts, and what the NHS, Bupa, the General Dental Council (GDC) and the Oral Health Foundation say about safety.
What teeth whitening is, and what it can change
Bupa defines it like this: "Teeth whitening, sometimes called teeth bleaching, is a treatment that uses chemicals to brighten your smile." The two words are used for the same thing in UK law too, which lists "tooth whitening or bleaching products" as one category.
Teeth darken for more than one reason. The NHS lists "getting older", drinks such as coffee, tea or red wine, and smoking. Bupa's list adds genetics, certain medications and root canal treatment. If what you are looking at is mainly staining from food, drink or tobacco, our guide on how to remove stains from teeth sorts out which kind you have before you spend anything.
A whitening agent works chemically rather than by scrubbing. Describing the gel a dentist uses, Bupa says bleaching agents "like hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide" break down and release oxygen molecules that penetrate the enamel, where "they react with other teeth-staining molecules to lighten them."
There are limits. Bupa notes that whitening "only works on natural teeth", and it lists crowns, veneers, fillings, bridges, dentures and composite bonding among the things it will not whiten. With our strips, that limit is about base colour: they cannot change the base colour of a crown, veneer, filling or bonding, but they can lift staining that has built up on top of it. A restoration that matched before can stand out afterwards.
Who is allowed to whiten your teeth in the UK
Who may whiten your teeth for you is a question for the GDC, the dental regulator. Asked whether a beautician may whiten your teeth, the GDC answers: "No. The law says that only registered dentists, dental therapists, dental hygienists or clinical dental technicians working to the prescription of a dentist can legally and safely provide tooth whitening treatment." It adds that "Someone who has done a short training course cannot offer this treatment legally or safely."
Asked the same question about beauty salons, the Oral Health Foundation says: "Tooth whitening must only be carried out by a registered dental professional". The NHS points readers to the GDC register to check someone.
Products you buy and use on your own teeth are governed by a different rule, cosmetics law. Under Annex III of the cosmetic products regulation, as it applies in Great Britain, oral products including tooth whitening or bleaching products may contain or release no more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. Products above 0.1% and up to 6% are "To be only sold to dental practitioners", with the first use in each cycle carried out by a dental practitioner, or under their direct supervision "if an equivalent level of safety is ensured", and they are not to be used on anyone under 18. Carbamide peroxide counts, because the limits apply to hydrogen peroxide "present or released".
That cap is a rule about hydrogen peroxide. PAP, short for phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid, is not hydrogen peroxide and does not release it, so the 0.1% entry does not govern it. A PAP product is still a regulated cosmetic and still needs its safety assessment.
Your teeth whitening options, compared
The options fall into two groups: whitening provided by a dental professional, and products you buy and use yourself.
| Option | Who provides it | How the whitening agent reaches the tooth |
|---|---|---|
| In-chair whitening | A dental professional, at the practice | Gel applied by the clinician, gums protected, sometimes with a light or laser |
| Dentist trays | A dentist prescribes, you wear them at home | Gel held in trays made to fit your teeth |
| Shop-bought home kits | You, after buying in a shop or online | Gel in a ready-made tray or mouthpiece |
| Whitening strips | You | Gel on a thin film pressed against the front of the teeth |
| Whitening toothpaste | You | Mainly abrasion while you brush |
| Whitening powders | You | Mainly abrasion, by scrubbing the surface |
| Pens and LED kits | You | Gel painted on, or gel used with a small light |
In-chair whitening at a dental practice
Bupa describes in-practice whitening as a dentist using "a strong bleaching agent and a special light" in the surgery. Its procedure section has the gel applied for 15 minutes at a time, four times, in an appointment that "could take anything up to 2.5 hours". The NHS describes the laser version as covering the teeth in gel and shining a laser on them, which it says is "faster and more effective than using gel on its own" and usually takes around 1 to 2 hours. The Oral Health Foundation says a special light "may be used" and that the appointment usually lasts about an hour.
Trays from a dentist, used at home
A dentist takes impressions and makes trays shaped to your teeth, and you wear them with a whitening gel at home. The NHS says you wear them "for around 2 to 6 weeks to gradually whiten your teeth", Bupa that it "can take up to 6 weeks", and the Oral Health Foundation that treatment "usually takes 1 to 2 weeks". Your dentist sets the gel and the routine.
Home kits from a shop or online
A home kit sold to the public pairs a gel with a ready-made tray or mouthpiece rather than one made for your teeth. If the gel contains hydrogen peroxide, or carbamide peroxide that releases it, the 0.1% limit applies; some kits use a peroxide-free agent. Kits made for other markets can be built to different rules, which is why some well-known American strips are not officially sold here; we explain that in Crest Whitestrips in the UK. Our post on hydrogen peroxide on teeth covers what peroxide does, and our beginner's guide covers how to whiten your teeth at home.
Whitening strips: peroxide and PAP
A whitening strip is a thin film coated with gel on the side that touches your teeth. Its job is contact: holding the whitening agent flat against the front of the teeth for the time on the pack. Peroxide strips sold to the public in the UK are held to the 0.1% limit. PAP strips use a different agent. PAP is peroxide free, and it still works on the coloured compounds inside the tooth, just by a gentler route than peroxide takes. Our explainer on how PAP whitening works goes through the chemistry.
Because a strip only whitens where it touches, fit matters. Pure Glow makes PAP teeth whitening strips, dry-fit with a no-slip grip so they stay where you put them. The course is one strip a day for 14 days, worn for a minimum of 30 minutes, and the claim on the box is a ceiling rather than a promise: up to 6 shades whiter in 14 days, depending on where you start.
What limits a strip's result is covered in whether whitening strips work. If peroxide is the thing you want to avoid, there is a separate page on peroxide-free teeth whitening. Whether PAP suits you in particular is the subject of our founder's guide, is PAP right for you.
Whitening toothpaste
The American Dental Association (ADA), a United States source, says "Whitening toothpastes primarily rely on abrasives for mechanical removal of extrinsic surface stains, though some contain low levels of peroxide to help lighten tooth color." In the UK, any peroxide in a toothpaste falls under the same 0.1% limit as other oral products. For everyday brushing, our own advice is a mild, non-abrasive toothpaste.
Whitening powders
Abrasive powders, including charcoal and baking soda, work by abrasion: they lift stain sitting on the surface by scrubbing it rather than acting on the coloured compounds chemically, so they do not change the colour of the tooth underneath.
Whitening pens and LED kits
A whitening pen carries a gel that you brush onto the front of the teeth. There is no tray or strip over it, and contact matters: strips, pens and LED kits compared sets out the evidence. An LED kit pairs a whitening gel with a small light that you hold or wear against the teeth. In both, the whitening agent is the gel, and the 0.1% limit applies to any hydrogen peroxide in it.
The lights the named sources describe are professional ones. The ADA describes an in-office gel used "with or without a light intended to accelerate and enhance the bleaching process", and the NHS describes laser whitening at a dental surgery. Neither page assesses the LED lights sold with home kits.
What teeth whitening costs in the UK
Whitening by a dental professional is private treatment. In the NHS's words, "Teeth whitening is not available on the NHS. You have to pay for it as a private patient at a dental surgery."
The one named source we found that gives figures is Bupa Dental Care, which runs its own dental practices. Its teeth whitening page says that for professional whitening, "prices for at-home whitening typically range between £360 and £620, and in-practice whitening costs range from £615 to £965". Its conditions: a consultation sets the exact price, the ranges cover standard treatments only, without add-ons or follow-ups, and prices may differ by location and individual practice policies. Here, "at-home whitening" means a dentist's tray kit. For an exact figure, ask the practice: the GDC says your dentist can "outline the costs and risks of the treatment".
None of the named sources we checked gives a typical price for products you buy yourself, so none is quoted here. What goes into the price of a box of strips is set out in why whitening strips cost what they do. Our post on dentist vs home whitening weighs the two.
How long teeth whitening lasts
None of the sources describes whitening as permanent. The NHS says "Teeth whitening is not permanent, but if you follow your dentist's advice the effect may last for around 3 years." Bupa says professional whitening "can last for a few years, especially if you take good care of your teeth". The Oral Health Foundation puts it as "Results can last several years, but this varies", and says smoking and drinks like tea, coffee and red wine "can cause staining to return more quickly".
The NHS and Bupa figures are for whitening done or prescribed by a dental professional. With our strips, the 14-day course is followed by top-ups of 2 to 3 strips a week, which is how they are designed to hold a shade.
Is teeth whitening safe? What the named sources say
The NHS says "Using a kit from a dentist, or having it done at a dental surgery, is the safest way to have teeth whitening." The Oral Health Foundation's answer to the best way to whiten teeth is "The safest and most effective way is through your dental team." It adds that whitening "may not be suitable for everyone".
Side effects
For whitening by a dental professional, the NHS lists teeth becoming sensitive to cold or sweet food and drink, sore gums or throat, and white patches on the gums. Even with the gums protected, it says, "you may still get side effects for a short time", and to talk to your dentist about any that bother you. The Oral Health Foundation lists "Temporary tooth sensitivity, especially to cold" and "Mild gum irritation", and says "These effects are usually short-term." Bupa's aftercare section says sensitivity after treatment "should settle down after a couple of days", and to let your dentist know if it does not.
Our strips are peroxide free and clinically tested for zero sensitivity, and sensitivity has its own page on teeth whitening for sensitive teeth. The box carries its own warnings: do not use with gum disease, ulcers, exposed gums or recent oral surgery, check the ingredients for allergies, and if irritation occurs, stop and let it settle, and see a dentist if it persists.
When whitening is not for you
For professional whitening, the NHS says it is not done if you are 17 or younger or have unhealthy teeth or gums, and is not recommended if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have crowns, dentures or implants. Bupa says it can only be done on healthy teeth and gums and is not suitable if you are under 18, pregnant or breastfeeding.
Our strips are not suitable for children under 12, as the box says. There is no safety data for using them in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, so check with your dentist or midwife first. If you have dental work at the front, or any concern about your dental health, speak to your dentist before you start.
Frequently asked questions
How much does teeth whitening cost in the UK?
It is not available on the NHS. For professional whitening, Bupa Dental Care gives typical ranges of £360 to £620 for a dentist's at-home kit and £615 to £965 in practice, with the exact price set at consultation. Ask the practice for yours.
Can a beauty salon whiten my teeth?
No. The GDC says only registered dentists, and registered dental therapists, hygienists or clinical dental technicians working to a dentist's prescription, can legally provide tooth whitening. You can check someone on the GDC register.
Is teeth whitening safe?
The NHS says a kit from a dentist, or whitening at a dental surgery, is the safest way, and for whitening by a dental professional lists side effects such as sensitivity and sore gums, which may last a short time. Speak to a dentist first if you have any concern about your teeth or gums.
Ready to start whitening?
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Related reading:
Sources:
- NHS, Teeth whitening, page last reviewed 19 August 2025. For causes, availability, the dentist routes, permanence, safety, side effects and suitability.
- Bupa Dental Care, Teeth whitening. Clinical review by Dr Gurmandeep Sond, former Clinical Development Manager at Bupa Dental Care, and Dr Emma Ajimoko, Head of Clinical Policy and Standards at Bupa Dental Care; page last reviewed 30 June 2025. For the definition, mechanism, dental work, dentist routes, costs, permanence, aftercare and suitability.
- General Dental Council, Tooth whitening and illegal practice, page undated. For who may provide tooth whitening.
- Oral Health Foundation, Tooth whitening, last reviewed 17 April 2026. For salons, the dentist routes, permanence and side effects.
- Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, Annex III, entry 12, as it applies in Great Britain. For the hydrogen peroxide limits.
- American Dental Association, Oral Health Topics: Whitening, last updated 16 August 2022. A United States source, for toothpastes and in-office lights.