The 8 Best Teeth Whitening Kits of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Our Testing Process

To find the best teeth whiteners, the Health team tested whitening devices in our lab and at home. 21 testers used a variety of whitening products, including LED devices, white strips, toothpastes, and pens for effectiveness, comfort, convenience, and value.

Before testing, our testers determined their tooth shade and compared their shades two and four weeks later. In our lab test, we used products once according to manufacturer instructions and then took the products home and continued to follow the instructions on the package.

We also spoke to experts to discuss what to look for in teeth whiteners including:

• Bianca Velayo, DMD, of Green Valley Smiles Dentistry in Henderson, Nevada
• Lucy Hovanisyan, DDS, of ProHealth Dental in Hoboken, New Jersey
• Professor at UCLA School of Dentistry, Edmond R. Hewlett, DDS in Los Angeles, California
• Cosmetic dentist Daniel Rubinshtein, DDS in New York City
• Cindy Roark, DMD, MS, Senior Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer at Sage Dental based in Boca Raton, Florida
  

What to Know About Teeth Whiteners

Key Ingredients to Look for in Teeth Whitening Kits

The most common ingredient in teeth whitening kits is peroxide, either hydrogen or carbamide. These ingredients work to remove stains both on the surface of teeth and on deeper layers. In addition to these ingredients, you'll also want to look for a few others that can help to ease the after effects of whitening, which can be painful for sensitive teeth.

"In addition to [peroxide], consumers should look for potassium nitrate, fluoride, and/or xylitol because of their added benefits to improve patient comfort and post op sensitivity," says Dr. Velayo.

An ingredient making its way into whitening kits lately is PAP (or phthalimido-peroxy-caproic acid), which should be avoided. According to Edmond R. Hewlett, DDS, Professor at UCLA School of Dentistry, unlike hydrogen peroxide, PAP may lead to lingering sensitivity.

Types of Teeth Whitening Kits

Gel

Whitening gel comes into play in almost all whitening kits, typically acting as the activator in LED kits and whitening pens, as well as on their own, applied directly to teeth or in trays. Whitening gels are normally made with either hydrogen or carbamide peroxide.

LED

LED-powered devices are another popular choice. They work by using the peroxide gel as a base and activating the gel. The LED works to speed up the gel's effects, accelerating the process and enhancing results through an oxidation process.

LED devices also have their own set of negative side effects, so dentists warn that you should use caution if adding one to your dental routine. "UV whitening lights [are] temporary, and can dehydrate the teeth and cause tissue damage," says Dr. Velayo.

Pens

Whitening pens contain a peroxide gel, which is typically applied with a brush head. The peroxide available in pens is often lower than in a gel kit and their lower duration makes them less effective than at-home treatments, but their effectiveness is sacrificed for their ease of use on the go.

Toothpastes

Whitening toothpastes also contain peroxide, but at a much lower concentration than most whitening products. While you may see slight results from toothpastes, they likely won't last.

"The typical hydrogen peroxide toothpaste on the market has around 1% hydrogen peroxide concentration, give or take," says Dr. Velayo. "That makes for simply not enough time in contact with the teeth, and not a high enough concentration to make a huge improvement."

She adds that if you want a longer-lasting whitening effect from your toothpaste, check its relative dentin abrasion (RDA), which you can find on the manufacturer's website; the higher the RDA, the more effective the toothpaste is for whitening.

How Much to Expect to Pay for a Teeth Whitening Kit

Teeth whitening kits are available at a variety of price points, with some coming in at under $30 and others over $150; most of our picks are less than $100. You can generally expect price points to be an indicator of effectiveness, with many less expensive products offering shorter-term or less substantial results. More expensive products typically use an LED device and a higher concentration of peroxide to promote more extreme, longer lasting results. Our least expensive pick is the Lumineux Teeth Whitening Strip Kit at $23, which our tester loved for their easy use and great taste but didn't like as much for their limited coverage. Our most expensive pick is the Hismile PAP+ Teeth Whitening Kit at $149, which our tester loved for its quick, effective results.

More Teeth Whiteners to Consider

We also tested the following teeth whiteners. While our testers had a lot of great things to say about them, they ultimately fell short of the recommendations that made our list based on overall results and negative side effects.

• Crest 3D White Whitestrips at Amazon: While our tester saw results of up to 6 shades whiter during use, they found that the strips made their teeth very sensitive with consistent use.

• Opalescence Whitening Toothpaste with Fluoride at Amazon: Our tester saw some results during normal use with this toothpaste, but they found that consistent use made their teeth sensitive and inconsistent use takes teeth back to their previous shade.

• Crest 3D Whitestrips, Professional Effects, Teeth Whitening Strip Kit: Our tester had results of more than 10 shades whiter but found that application—particularly slippery strips and drool buildup—to be quite aggravating.

• Colgate SuperNova Rechargeable At-Home Teeth Whitening Kit: While easy to use, the device requires long recharge periods and the whitening gel can leave a sticky film on teeth after use.

Your Questions, Answered

How do teeth whitening kits work?

"Teeth whitening products are meant to whiten the superficial layer of your enamel using some sort of acid solution," says cosmetic dentist Daniel Rubinshtein, DDS.

Teeth whitening kits and products work by removing stains, either intrinsic or extrinsic—that is internal or external stains. You can think of external stains as the ones you might get from a coffee habit, while intrinsic stains are treated on a deeper, chemical level.

While some people might be looking to avoid peroxides in teeth whitening, Bianca Velayo, DMD, of Green Valley Smiles Dentistry in Henderson, Nevada, explains that peroxide is what ultimately makes the process effective. "[Peroxides] penetrate the enamel to reverse intrinsic and extrinsic stains," Dr. Velayo explains. "Peroxide gels break down into water, oxygen, and reactive oxygen molecules. These reactive oxygen molecules treat both the enamel and the dentin, oxidizing the bonds of discolored stain molecules. By changing the stained molecules, the tooth becomes lighter."

What types of teeth whitening kits do dentists recommend?

To see results, dentists recommend products that have a good combination of peroxide concentration and use of duration. Dr. Velayo pointed out that shorter duration products, like toothpastes, don't do much in terms of whitening, but they also include ingredients you might want to avoid.

Charcoal toothpastes and whitening products have been popular in recent years, but Cindy Roark, DMD, MS, Senior Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer at Sage Dental, specifically recommends against them, warning that you might not get the results you think you will. "Charcoal pastes tend to work by abrasion," Dr. Roark explains. "Charcoal abrasive pastes wear away the stain, which also wears away at the outer enamel layer of teeth. Enamel is clear, but the dentin under-layer is yellow. So it stands to reason that the more enamel you wear away, the yellower your teeth become."

Ultimately, any whitening kit or device will only work as well as its upkeep. If you're planning on whitening your teeth and want long-lasting results, you should be prepared to make changes to your eating and drinking habits. "People who drink a ton of coffee/tea, smoke, and eat lots of sauces daily will not get long term results," says Dr. Rubinshtein.

Are teeth whitening kits safe?

The dentists we spoke with agreed that teeth whitening kits are safe, but that people with certain conditions should avoid whitening, at least until after proper dental treatment.

"People with very thin enamel may experience high levels of pain and discomfort with teeth whitening," says Dr. Rubinshtein. "People with gum disease and cavities should deal with that first prior to considering teeth whitening."

People with past dental work should also speak with a dentist before whitening. "Individuals with restorations such as fillings, crowns, bridges, and implants should understand that these restorations won't lighten, as only natural teeth can be whitened," says Dr. Hovanisyan. "In such patients, whitening treatment could result in color differences between natural teeth and restorations."

Dr. Rubinshtein also notes that in-office and at-home treatments work in similar ways, but you should exercise more caution when whitening teeth on your own. "Both types of whitening require the use of peroxide based bleaching agents. In the office we use a higher concentration because it is monitored by professionals and at home, we use a weaker amount of it," he says. "If these whitening treatments are not done correctly, they can burn the gums and cause extreme amounts of teeth sensitivity."

Who We Are

Jaylyn Pruitt has a Master of Library and Information Science with a focus on health information. Her goal is to provide easy-to-understand information with a patient perspective in mind.