Choose an LED whitening kit if you want the bigger change with shorter treatments, and whitening strips if you want something simple to use anywhere. The SmilePro Advanced Kit whitens teeth up to 8 shades in 7 days with one 10-minute treatment a day; SmilePro Teeth Whitening Strips need no light, take 30 minutes a treatment and whiten up to 5 shades.
Many people use both: the kit for their first course, then strips or refill pens to keep their shade. This guide compares the two side by side so you can decide.
How do whitening strips work?
Each strip is coated on one side with whitening gel. You press it onto clean, dry teeth and fold the edge behind them, so the gel stays in close contact with your teeth for 30 minutes. There is nothing to set up: no light, no tray and no mixing, which is why strips suit busy mornings, commutes and travel.
How does an LED whitening kit work?
You paint the whitening gel onto your teeth with a pen, then pop in the LED light with its built-in mouth tray. In the SmilePro kit, the gel does the whitening and the blue LED speeds it up, so each treatment takes 10 minutes; the red LED is designed for a more comfortable treatment. The light is UKCA and CE marked and switches itself off after 10 minutes, and the gel is always used with the light.
More detail: Does LED teeth whitening really work?
Strips vs LED kit at a glance
| SmilePro Teeth Whitening Strips | SmilePro Advanced Kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Time per treatment | 30 minutes | 10 minutes |
| Light | None needed | Blue and red LED, switches off after 10 minutes |
| Course | One treatment a day for 7 days | One treatment a day for 7 days |
| Result | Up to 5 shades whiter | Up to 8 shades in 7 days |
| Treatments in the pack | 14: a 7-day course plus 7 top-ups | 30 |
| Top-ups | One strip treatment every 2 weeks | One 10-minute session every 2 weeks |
| Money-back guarantee | No | 30 days on the Kit, conditions apply |
| Best for | Travel and top-ups | Your first course |
Current prices are on the strips page and the kit page, in your local currency.
Which whitens more, strips or an LED kit?
The SmilePro Advanced Kit whitens up to 8 shades in 7 days, and SmilePro strips whiten up to 5 shades. Results depend on your starting shade and the type of staining. Both work best on surface stains from coffee, tea, red wine and smoking, and neither will make crowns, veneers or fillings whiter than their original colour.
Which is quicker to use?
The LED kit. Each SmilePro kit treatment takes 10 minutes and the light switches itself off, while each strip treatment takes 30 minutes. Both are used once a day for a 7-day course, and most kit customers see a noticeable difference after the first treatment.
What is in the gel?
SmilePro's UK and European gel and strips use PAP (phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid) as their whitening ingredient. The kit gel also contains potassium nitrate and hydroxyapatite, and the strips contain hydroxyapatite and potassium citrate. The full ingredient lists are on the kit page and the strips page. Both are enamel safe when used as directed and were developed with dental professionals.
Can you use whitening strips and an LED kit together?
Yes, but not at the same time. Strips suit top-ups and travel once you have finished a course with the kit. Wait 2 weeks between finishing a course with one and starting a course with the other, and never use whitening products for more than 14 consecutive days without a dentist's supervision.
Which is better if you have sensitive teeth?
Both SmilePro formulas are designed to help prevent sensitivity in healthy teeth, and the kit's red LED is designed for a more comfortable treatment. If your teeth are already sensitive, or your gums are unhealthy, see a dentist before you start either, as sensitivity can have a cause that needs treating first.
Can I eat or drink straight after whitening?
Wait 1 hour after each treatment, with strips or the kit, before eating or drinking anything except water. After that, enjoy your usual coffee or tea, and rinse with water afterwards to help your results last.
Who should not use whitening strips or an LED kit?
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.
Stop and see a dentist if your gums or mouth become irritated (redness, swelling or soreness). Do not swallow the gel, and avoid contact of the whitening gel with your gums and eyes. If you wear braces, wait until they are off, as the result can be uneven.
The bottom line
For your first course, the SmilePro Advanced Teeth Whitening Kit gives the bigger change in less time per day, with a 30-day money-back guarantee (conditions apply). For travel and top-ups, SmilePro Teeth Whitening Strips need no light at all. Refill pens for the kit come in the Whitening Pen Pack.
Read next: How to whiten teeth fast, Teeth whitening for sensitive teeth and How long does teeth whitening last?.
Sources
This guide is general information, not dental advice. If you have any concerns about your teeth or gums, speak to a dentist.
- SmilePro product information: Teeth Whitening Strips, Advanced Teeth Whitening Kit, and our Terms and Conditions (who should not use SmilePro products).
- NHS, Teeth whitening, page reviewed 19 August 2025.
Last updated: 7 October 2026.
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