SMILE, PLEASE!

Over-the-counter whitening strips claim to whiten teeth at a fraction of the cost of a dentist. But do they work?

Our panel of 100 people tested eight brands looking at whether they were comfortable, easy to use and whether teeth were noticeably whiter. They weren’t wowed, but here are the highest-scorers:

Boots Expert Dissolvable Teeth Whitening Strips ■ £12, boots.com Claims to lighten teeth by up to five shades in two weeks. • Quick and easy to use. • 64% of testers found teeth were noticeably whiter after two weeks. • Bargain buy. • Strips didn’t taste offensive and many testers said the brand delivered on its claims. • Simple instructions. 64/100

Mr Blanc ■ £19.99, mrblancteeth.com Claims to remove stains and visibly whiten teeth in 14 days. • Testers said their teeth felt cleaner. • 62% found their teeth were noticeably whiter after two weeks. • Strips were easy to use, although they didn’t always dissolve completely. 62/100