Philips Zoom NiteWhite vs DayWhite: What's the Difference?
Short answer
The difference is the active ingredient and how long you wear it. Philips Zoom DayWhite uses hydrogen peroxide and is worn for 30 to 60 minutes a day. Philips Zoom NiteWhite uses carbamide peroxide and is worn for 2 to 4 hours or overnight.
Side by side
| Zoom DayWhite | Zoom NiteWhite | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Hydrogen peroxide | Carbamide peroxide |
| Strengths Philips lists | 6%, 9.5%, 14% | 10%, 16%, 22% |
| Daily wear time | 30 to 60 minutes (30 minutes for the 14%) | 2 to 4 hours or overnight |
| Trays | Custom trays | Custom trays |
Available strengths vary by country. Follow the instructions packed with your gel.
Wear times by strength
These are the wear times Philips publishes for each gel:
- DayWhite 6%: 30 to 60 minutes once a day, or 30 to 45 minutes twice a day.
- DayWhite 9.5%: 30 to 60 minutes once a day.
- DayWhite 14%: 30 minutes once a day.
- NiteWhite 10%, 16% and 22%: 2 to 4 hours or overnight.
The percentages are not comparable
A common mistake is to read NiteWhite 22% as more than twice as strong as DayWhite 9.5%. The two numbers measure different ingredients, so they cannot be compared directly. Compare DayWhite strengths with each other and NiteWhite strengths with each other, not across the two lines.
Which one fits you
- Choose DayWhite if you want a short session of 30 to 60 minutes during the day and do not want to sleep with trays in.
- Choose NiteWhite if you would rather whiten while you sleep or during a long stretch at home.
Both gels are used with custom-fitted whitening trays, so you need a set of trays to use either one.
Sources and evidence
- Philips, Zoom take-home whitening, flexible treatment options: active ingredients, strengths, wear times and whitening results for each gel.
- Philips, Zoom take-home whitening overview: custom trays.
Related questions
Can I use DayWhite at night or NiteWhite during the day?
The names describe how each gel is designed to be worn, not a rule about the clock. What matters is the wear time in your instructions.
Which one whitens more?
Both whiten. In Philips' own testing, DayWhite 9.5% gave up to 7 shades whiter after 14 days and NiteWhite 22% gave up to 9 shades whiter after 14 days. Results vary from person to person.
Can I drink coffee after whitening my teeth?
Yes. See what the research says.
Relevant products
General information only, not dental advice.