What is the difference between the different teeth whitening gels?

There are many different teeth whitening gels, and the difference certainly is not just the percentage shown on the packaging. The active ingredient, concentration, pH value, formulation, viscosity and treatment protocol all determine how a whitening gel performs.

A higher percentage is therefore not automatically better, and one whitening gel will not necessarily be the best choice for every client.

At X-treme Smile, we also make a clear distinction between cosmetic whitening gels for professional salons and whitening gels intended specifically for dental practices.

Which whitening gels does X-treme Smile offer?

For professional cosmetic teeth whitening, we mainly work with two different gels:

X-treme Smile Pink Whitening Gel
This gel is based on sodium percarbonate and has a thicker consistency. This makes it easy to keep the gel in the desired position, and many professionals find it pleasant and controlled to apply.

X-treme Smile Booster
Booster is based on PAP and has a thinner consistency. It therefore spreads differently over the teeth. Some professionals simply prefer working with a thinner whitening gel.

For dental practices, we also offer professional whitening products such as:

Beyond Solo
A professional whitening product intended for use in dental practices.

Beyond MAX5
A professional whitening system specifically intended for dental use.

These products belong to a different category from our cosmetic Pink and Booster gels and are therefore not offered as regular salon products. Additional legal requirements apply within the EU to hydrogen peroxide-based whitening products.

Different active ingredients

Whitening gels can contain different active ingredients. An important distinction is between hydrogen peroxide-based whitening gels and cosmetic whitening products that use other active ingredients.

Hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidising agent that can break down colour molecules within the tooth. Strict legal limits apply within the EU. Products that contain or release more than 0.1% and up to 6% hydrogen peroxide are not intended for unrestricted independent use by cosmetic salons.

For this reason, professional products such as Beyond Solo and Beyond MAX5 are intended for dental practices and are kept separate from our cosmetic range.

For cosmetic treatments, we offer products such as Pink with sodium percarbonate and Booster with PAP.

Even within cosmetic whitening gels, formulation, handling and results can differ considerably.

Pink or Booster: which one works better?

We cannot always predict this in advance.

In practice, we regularly see that Pink appears to work better for one client, while Booster may produce more visible change for another. We cannot identify one specific tooth type or type of discolouration for which we can say with certainty that one of the two will always perform better.

That is why many of our customers work with both gels.

A commonly used approach is to assess the response after one or two treatment rounds. If the result is less noticeable than expected, the professional may switch from Pink to Booster or vice versa.

In practice, we often see that this works well. It is not a guarantee of a specific number of shades, but it gives you an additional option when the teeth respond less strongly to the first gel.

Sometimes it simply comes down to personal preference

The choice between Pink and Booster is not always about the whitening result.

Some professionals prefer a thicker whitening gel because it stays very controlled on the teeth. Others prefer a thinner gel because they find it easier or more comfortable to spread.

It is therefore useful to gain experience with both consistencies and discover which suits your working style best.

A higher percentage does not automatically mean a better result

This is a common misconception.

The final whitening result is influenced by factors such as:

• the original tooth shade;
• the type of discolouration;
• the active ingredients in the gel;
• the concentration;
• the pH value;
• the complete formulation;
• the amount of gel used;
• treatment time;
• the number of treatment rounds;
• how the whitening lamp is used;
• the individual response of the teeth.

A stronger whitening gel can therefore never guarantee that a client will automatically become more shades lighter.

Some types of discolouration respond better than others

Not all tooth discolouration develops in the same way.

Staining from coffee, tea, red wine or smoking may respond differently from colour changes that are located deeper within the tooth.

The natural colour of dentine and enamel also varies from person to person. Some teeth respond quickly to whitening and become visibly lighter, while other clients show a much smaller change.

It is therefore important to discuss realistic expectations with the client before treatment.

A properly trained professional also understands that a limited result does not automatically mean that you should use a stronger product, treat for longer or perform more rounds.

pH and the complete formulation also matter

The pH value of a whitening gel influences how the product behaves during treatment.

That is why the active ingredient or percentage on the label alone does not tell you everything about a whitening gel.

A professionally developed product is a complete formulation in which active ingredients, stabilisers, thickening agents, pH and other components are designed to work together.

So do not compare whitening gels simply by thinking:

“This one has a higher percentage, so it must be better.”

Teeth whitening is not that simple.

Viscosity also makes a difference when working

The thickness of the gel affects how it handles.

A thinner gel spreads easily but may also move more readily across the tooth surface. A thicker gel tends to remain more easily in a specific position.

This is clearly reflected in our two cosmetic gels:

Pink → thicker
Booster → thinner

Both can be pleasant to work with; preference differs from one professional to another.

At X-treme Smile, whitening gel is always used with a whitening lamp

Within our professional treatment protocols, whitening gel is always combined with a professional teeth whitening lamp.

The whitening gel, treatment time, treatment rounds, amount of product and position of the lamp all form part of one treatment protocol.

Using more gel, treating for longer or randomly positioning the whitening lamp closer to the teeth does not automatically improve the result.

Always follow the protocol that belongs to the gel you are using.

Which whitening gel should I choose for my client?

This is where training and professional knowledge become important.

You do not simply choose:

“This gel is stronger, so I’ll use that one.”

You assess the client, starting shade, type of discolouration, previous whitening experience, possible sensitivity and the result that is realistically achievable.

During the treatment, you then assess how the teeth respond. With cosmetic treatments, it can sometimes be useful to alternate Pink and Booster after one or two rounds if the result is lagging behind.

But sometimes the correct professional decision is not to intensify the treatment further. And in some situations, the right decision is not to treat at all and to advise the client to see a dentist first.

Cosmetic whitening gel versus products for dental practices

At X-treme Smile, we deliberately keep this distinction clear.

For professional cosmetic treatments:

• X-treme Smile Pink – sodium percarbonate, thicker gel
• X-treme Smile Booster – PAP, thinner gel

For dental practices:

• Beyond Solo
• Beyond MAX5

Stricter regulations apply within the EU to hydrogen peroxide-containing whitening products. The amount of hydrogen peroxide a product contains or releases during use is what determines the applicable category.

Never choose a whitening gel simply because it is available online, because a competitor uses it or because a high percentage is printed on the packaging.

So which whitening gel is the best?

There is no single whitening gel that automatically delivers the best result for every client.

A good professional whitening treatment is based on the combination of:

suitable whitening gel → correct amount → correct treatment time → correct whitening lamp → correct protocol → good client selection → professional knowledge → realistic expectations

That is why X-treme Smile offers several whitening options.

For cosmetic treatments, many of our customers work with both Pink and Booster, allowing them to assess how the teeth respond and switch gels when appropriate.

For dental practices, we offer separate professional options with Beyond Solo and Beyond MAX5.

During our training, you therefore learn not only how to apply whitening gel, but more importantly how to assess the result, when to adapt the treatment and when to decide that further treatment is not the right choice.