There are many reasons why tooth whitening is so popular – not least of which is the speed with which quite dramatic changes can be achieved. The procedure itself is also typically non-invasive and cost-effective, making it accessible to the vast majority of patients interested in improving their smile aesthetics and their self-confidence. Traditional whitening mechanisms In the UK, teeth whitening kits can be bought over the counter but only if they contain less than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. This means they aren't as strong as professional whitening treatments, as a qualified dentist can legally use up to 6% hydrogen peroxide. iv] Fiorillo L, Laino L, De Stefano R, D’Amico C, Bocchieri S, Amoroso G, Isola G, Cervino G. Dental Whitening Gels: Strengths and Weaknesses of an Increasingly Used Method. Gels. 2019 Jul 4;5(3):35. doi: 10.3390/gels5030035. PMID: 31277412; PMCID: PMC6787621. Pre-made tray: This is the poor man’s version of the custom lightening tray – in that the process is the same, but the tray isn’t fitted to the exact shape of your mouth. Provided you can cover the entire surface area of your teeth with your tray, it’s a good compromise. If your teeth are a little crooked, though, you may not get an even result. x] Pascolutti M, de Oliveira D. A Radical-Free Approach to Teeth Whitening. Dentistry Journal. 2021; 9(12):148. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj9120148

To use the Billion Dollar Smile Mini LED Teeth Whitening Kit, you squeeze half a syringe of gel into the mouth guard, put it in your mouth and switch on the light. It’ll last for 10 minutes and you can do it up to three times. I doesn't get much easier. You just need to be careful not to overfill the mouth guard otherwise the gel can ooze out and hurt your gums. With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work. Both kits are pretty easy to use, thanks to the fact they don't require you to mould your own mouth tray to fit your teeth. While there are plenty of duds out there, there are still some home DIY kits that will do a very good job helping you feel more confident smiling, without the need for a celeb budget.

Snow also take their use of technology to the next level. Just like Billion Dollar Smile’s USB powered light, Snow can draw power from your smartphone. Where Snow have excelled is designing an app that will help you monitor your whitening journey. Even more, technology is available with a wireless charging option for Snow, too. Clare Jayson, Founder of Billion Dollar Smile, agreed they were effective and a good idea to use, but advised to be patient with the results - and don't expect miracles.

All in all, you might find you get much better value from one of our other recommendations below. Alternatives to Billion Dollar Smile Whitening Kits vii] Briso ALF, Gonçalves RS, da Costa FB, Gallinari MO, Cintra LTA, dos Santos PH. Demineralization and hydrogen peroxide penetration in teeth with incipient lesions. Braz. Dent. J. April 2015;26(2) https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-6440201300225 [Accessed December 2022]Their flagship product, the Billion Dollar Smile Mini LED Teeth Whitening Kit, has been given lots of awards within the cosmetics industry. They also produce: Smile White Pro changes the game by offering a kit developed and delivered by dentists, with results that last for up to 3 years. The box of the Billion Dollar Smile whitening kit looks really nice. It opens up like a book and there’s a section assigned to each item in the kit. With a few bits and pieces to prepare and juggle, having a slot for everything is a nice touch. Some also contain gentle polishing granules to help buff the teeth enamel, just be careful to look for ‘non-abrasive’ on the label, as you don’t want to damage the surface enamel with anything that’s too harsh."