Whitening toothpaste helps lift everyday stains from the surface of your teeth as you brush. A teeth whitening kit leaves a whitening gel on your teeth for a set time to lighten their colour. The Australian Dental Association says whitening toothpastes do not tend to make a large difference to the colour of teeth, so they are best for keeping a result, while a kit creates one: the SmilePro Advanced Kit whitens up to 8 shades in 7 days.
Both have "whitening" on the label, but they work differently and do different jobs. Knowing the difference saves you buying something that cannot do what you want.
How does whitening toothpaste work?
Whitening toothpastes reduce stains on the outside surface of your teeth. healthdirect Australia explains that they contain special abrasives or whitening agents. Because a toothpaste is only on your teeth while you brush, it works on the surface rather than changing the colour of the tooth itself.
SmilePro Whitening Toothpaste uses activated charcoal and baking soda to lift everyday build-up from coffee, tea, wine and food. It is fluoride-free, so it is the right toothpaste to use just before a whitening treatment.
How does a teeth whitening kit work?
A whitening kit uses a gel that stays on your teeth long enough to lighten the colour of the enamel. With the SmilePro Advanced Teeth Whitening Kit, you paint the gel onto your teeth with a pen, pop in the LED light with its built-in mouth tray, and the blue LED speeds the gel up so each treatment takes 10 minutes. The gel is always used with the light. You can see each step on our How It Works page.
Does whitening toothpaste work?
Yes, for surface stains. A whitening toothpaste helps lift the stains coffee, tea, wine and food leave on your teeth, and helps stop new ones building up between whitening treatments. For a bigger change in shade, use a whitening kit or whitening strips, then keep the result with daily brushing.
Whitening kit vs whitening toothpaste, side by side
| Whitening toothpaste | SmilePro Advanced Kit | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Abrasives or whitening agents, while you brush | Whitening gel painted on, sped up by a blue LED light |
| What it changes | Everyday surface stains | The colour of your natural teeth: up to 8 shades whiter in 7 days |
| When you see it | Gradually, with daily use | Most customers see a noticeable difference after the first treatment |
| Time | Two minutes, twice a day | 10 minutes a day for 7 days, then a 10-minute top-up every 2 weeks |
| Best for | Keeping your result between treatments | Getting a visible change in shade |
When is whitening toothpaste useful?
As a daily maintenance product. It is most useful:
- between SmilePro top-ups, to help stop new surface stains building up;
- after a whitening course, to help keep your result looking fresh;
- just before a whitening treatment, if it is fluoride-free like ours.
That is why the SmilePro Continual Care Set pairs whitening pens with SmilePro Whitening Toothpaste: the pens give 30 top-ups, about a year at one every 2 weeks, and the toothpaste handles everyday stains. For how the other whitening methods compare, see The pros and cons of different teeth whitening procedures. After each treatment, wait 1 hour before eating or drinking anything except water.
Is whitening toothpaste bad for your teeth?
Not when used as directed. healthdirect Australia recommends using a soft toothbrush with whitening toothpaste to avoid damaging your enamel, and notes that whitening toothpaste can make some people's teeth sensitive. SmilePro Whitening Toothpaste is made for twice-daily brushing: a pea-sized amount for two minutes, morning and night.
Should you switch from toothpaste to a whitening kit?
If you have used a whitening toothpaste for months and want a bigger change than it has given you, yes. Toothpaste works on the surface; a kit changes the shade of your teeth. Many people use both: a 7-day kit course for the change, then daily whitening toothpaste and a top-up every 2 weeks to keep it. SmilePro Teeth Whitening Strips are another option, with no light needed, for up to 5 shades whiter.
Who should not whiten their teeth?
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.
Shop the SmilePro Kit: real whitening, not just surface cleaning →
Key takeaways
- Whitening toothpaste lifts everyday surface stains; it does not tend to make a large difference to tooth colour.
- A whitening kit lightens the colour of your teeth: SmilePro whitens up to 8 shades in 7 days, 10 minutes a day.
- Toothpaste is best for keeping a result between treatments, not for creating one.
- The Continual Care Set combines whitening pens and whitening toothpaste for maintenance.
- Use a soft toothbrush with any whitening toothpaste.
Read next: How long does teeth whitening last? and Whitening strips vs LED kit.
Sources
This guide is general information, not dental advice. If you have any concerns about your teeth or gums, speak to a dentist.
- Australian Dental Association, Teeth whitening (teeth.org.au), read 7 October 2026.
- healthdirect Australia, Teeth whitening, last reviewed February 2025.
- SmilePro product information: Advanced Teeth Whitening Kit, Whitening Toothpaste, Continual Care Set, Teeth Whitening Strips, and our Terms and Conditions.
Last updated: 7 October 2026.
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