15 Best Teeth-Whitening Products, According to Dentists

“There’s a reason why Crest 3D White Whitestrips are so popular—it’s one of the few white strips I’ve seen actually work and it’s made by one of the most trusted brands in dentistry,” says Dr. Hoang. The nonslip, hydrogen-peroxide-based teeth-whitening strips likely won’t give you exactly the same level of results as you’d get with a professional whitening treatment, but they’ll get you close enough that you won’t notice. “I’ve used Crest Whitestrips for probably close to a decade now, with no desire to try any other whitening products (which are often pricier). They’re just so easy,” says Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs. “I mostly use them for maintenance at this point—a couple times a month, I stick them to my teeth, go about my business for 30 minutes, and emerge with whiter teeth (that people compliment me on!). I don’t wear them every day or even every week because I’ve noticed that my teeth will get sensitive to cold afterwards, but even once a month is good enough for me.”

• Pros: Affordable, easy to use, delivers close to professional-level results
• Cons: Can cause sensitivity
• Type of whitening agent: Hydrogen peroxide
• How to use: Peel teeth-whitening strips, apply to teeth, leave on for 45 minutes. Continue daily over the course of 22 days.

If you’re worried about sensitivity, Crest’s dentist-recommended teeth-whitening strips also come in a gentler version with a lower percentage of hydrogen peroxide. They’re so gentle you can use them daily, according to the brand. But while it’s typically best to follow the manufacturers’ instructions, Lauren Becker, DDS, a dentist certified in biomimetic dentistry in New York, says you may want to use them less frequently if your teeth are already sensitive. “I used these strips for a while and had no issues with sensitivity like I’ve experienced after professional whitening treatments and stronger at-home strips,” says Glamour contributor Macaela MacKenzie. “The results weren’t quite as impactful, but the tradeoff was definitely worth it.”

• Pros: Affordable, easy to use, reduces risk of sensitivity
• Cons: May take longer to see results
• Type of whitening agent: Hydrogen peroxide
• How to use: Peel strips, apply to teeth, leave on for 30 minutes. Continue daily over the course of 13 days.

“This is my favorite over-the-counter whitening product because it gives patients noticeable results in under a week’s time that also won’t break the bank,” says Dr. Becker. “White strips can be bulky, annoying, and require consistency and time while all this requires is the two minutes that you should already be brushing your teeth,” she says. To use this teeth-whitening toothpaste, first apply the foaming toothpaste, “which helps remove plaque while helping prevent sensitivity,” says Dr. Becker, and brush for one minute before moving to toothpaste number two, which contains peroxide, for another minute.

• Pros: More effective than one-step whitening toothpastes.
• Cons: Even though it requires the same amount of time you should be brushing your teeth, adding the additional step can be annoying.
• Type of whitening agent: Hydrogen peroxide
• How to use: Step one: Brush with the deep cleanser for one minute, then spit. Step two: Brush with the whitening gel for one minute, then rinse. You should see results after one use, most effective after four weeks.

Another affordable drugstore option, Dr. Rubenshtein recommends Colgates’s Optic White Overnight Teeth Whitening Pen, which nets out to less than $1 per whitening treatment. “I have been blessed with pretty white teeth but I am a huge tea and coffee drinker. Before my wedding, I wanted a little refresh,” says MacKenzie. “I found the brush applicator much easier to use than white strips, which always annoy me, and can cause gum irritation. Plus, it works fast: brush on the hydrogen peroxide-based formula before bed and wake up to brighter teeth.”

• Pros: Affordable, easy to use, minimizes risk of sensitivity
• Cons: Can be awkward to keep lips away from your teeth while the gel dries.
• Type of whitening agent: Hydrogen peroxide
• How to use: Follow your regular oral care routine, dry your teeth, click the whitening pen, apply a layer onto your teeth, sleep, and brush your teeth in the morning. For best results, continue for 35 nightly uses.

For a whitening toothpaste that won’t damage enamel, Dr. Hoang recommend’s Colgate’s Optic White. It contains 5% hydrogen peroxide (the highest concentration available in an over-the-counter toothpaste). More importantly for the long-term health of your teeth, “it’s one of the least abrasive on the market, making it gentler on enamel and less likely to exacerbate tooth recession and sensitivity,” Dr. Hoang says.

• Pros: Affordable, safe for enamel
• Cons: Won’t address deeper stains
• Type of whitening agent: Hydrogen peroxide, gentle abrasion
• How to use: Use in place of your regular toothpaste, and brush twice daily. Best results after two weeks of consistent use.

For a natural whitening toothpaste alternative, Dr. Sands recommends Hello Oral Care’s Activated Charcoal Toothpaste. It’s gentle, he says, but it’s still best to use caution when using an abrasive toothpaste, which can damage enamel over time. Made with fresh mint and coconut oil, it’s also rather refreshing.

• Pros: Bleach-free whitening
• Cons: Won’t address deeper stains, the black color may be off-putting
• Type of whitening agent: Charcoal
• How to use: Use in place of your regular toothpaste, and brush twice daily.

For professional grade results at home, Dr. Sands recommends Opalescence’s teeth-whitening gel, which contains an impressive 35% carbamide peroxide. “It’s potent whitening power with professional-grade results,” he says. The downside is that you need to use the prefilled syringes with custom-made teeth-whitening trays purchased separately. If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of a custom mold, Opalescence also makes prefilled ready-to-wear trays available in 11% and 15% hydrogen peroxide concentrations. As a bonus for those who aren’t into the mint flavor found in most whitening products, Opalescence offers both mint and melon flavors.

• Pros: Professional-level results
• Cons: Requires slightly more effort to use than OTC options, can cause sensitivity
• Type of whitening agent: Carbamide peroxide, hydrogen peroxide
• How to use: Apply gel to each tooth, using no more than 1/3 to 1/2 of syringe. Insert tray (purchased separately) and tap into place. Wear for 30 to 60 minutes. Remove excess with clear finger or soft toothbrush.

TikTok’s favorite teeth-whitening pen is legit, says Dr. Sands. He likes AuraGlow’s Teeth Whitening Pen for its “convenient and precise application, making it ideal for touch-ups on the go.” It also has a much higher concentration of peroxide than what you can find in drugstore brands, at 35% carbamide peroxide.

• Pros: Protects against sensitivity
• Cons: Can be surprisingly tricky to keep lips away from teeth for a full minute while the gel dries
• Type of whitening agent: Carbamide peroxide, hydrogen peroxide
• How to use: Click the bottom of the pen to expose the whitening gel and paint onto each tooth to whiten in under one minute. Use the pen one to two times per day. See visible results after just a few treatments, and best results after seven days of consecutive use.

Need your teeth to look whiter and brighter ASAP? Look no further than this speedy kit, which comes with a stamp of approval from LA-based hair and makeup artist Danni Katz. She loves using them before an event, and often recommends them to clients for rapid results. “I’ve been wearing Crest 3D White Strips for years and I’m absolutely obsessed!” she says. “I swear by them, especially for those excessive coffee/soda drinkers. They also leave lasting results as I always get compliments on my teeth even after a year of nonuse!”

• Pros: Rapid results, enamel safe
• Cons: Need to wear for a full hour
• Type of whitening agent: Glycerin
• How to use: Peel whitening strips and apply to teeth. Use for 60 minutes a day for 10 days.

While at-home whitening kits may not be quite as powerful as professional whitening, this one comes pretty close. It uses a combination of hydrogen peroxide gel and a flexible LED whitening light, similar to what you’ll see at your dentist’s office. This system comes highly recommended by Victoria Veytsman, MD, a cosmetic dentist based in Beverly Hills. She especially loves it for maintaining professional-level results.

• Pros: Results similar to professional treatments
• Cons: Expensive
• Type of whitening agent: Hydrogen peroxide
• How to use: Click the pen until gel appears. Apply to each tooth, clicking the pen for more gel as needed. Wait for 10 to 15 seconds for the serum to dry. Plug the flexible light into your phone for power. Bite down on the bite strips to position it in your mouth. Wear for 10 minutes. Brush excess gel off. Best results after three days.

One not-so-great side effect of using aligners to straighten your smile? It often traps traces of food after a meal, and seems to stain your teeth more rapidly than usual (yes, speaking from experience here). That’s why Jon Marashi, DDS, suggests trying BrightByte, a three-in-one foam cleanser, whitener, and breath freshener. “It works great for people who already have clear aligners, and it can be dispensed inside of it,” he says. “It’s effective, gentle, safe, and great for traveling. BrightByte has a low dose of hydrogen peroxide, so it’s safe and effective for daily whitening and can be used on sensitive teeth. It also acts as a mouthwash of sorts, which is great to minimize aligner breath.

• Pros: Can use with aligners, freshens breath
• Cons: Won’t address deeper stains
• Type of whitening agent: Hydrogen peroxide
• How to use: Apply one pump of the foam into your aligner/retainer trays. Spread foam evenly to cover all areas. Place them in your mouth and wear them as usual.

“I’ve tried other whitening products and a lot of them burn my gums or make my teeth feel sensitive, but this one was easy to use and worked into my normal routine without causing sensitivity or any discomfort,” says Glamour contributor Kristine Thomason. Similar to a purple shampoo, this product is formulated to neutralize yellow tones, in order to minimize discoloration and create a bright white smile. Thomason says while the product claims it shows instant results, in her experience, it works best over time. “I will say, it instantly does give me a confidence boost of a whiter smile when I use it!” she says.

• Pros: Easy to use, quick results
• Cons: Won’t address deeper stains
• Type of whitening agent: V34
• How to use: Apply two pumps of the color corrector to a soft bristle toothbrush and gently brush in a circular motion for two minutes. Spit out and rinse excess from mouth.

“After getting my aligners off, my teeth were in serious need of some brightening. I’d heard great things about these strips, and I was eager to give them a try,” says Thomason. “My first impression: They seamlessly adhered to my teeth, and didn’t slide around like many of the whitening strips I’d tried in the past. After seven days of use, my teeth looked noticeably whiter. I also liked that these strips made my teeth look white in a very natural way.” Similar to other dentist-recommended products, these strips feature hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient, along with coconut oil, aloe, and xylitol, which ensures to help sooth teeth and minimize sensitivity.

• Pros: Good for sensitive teeth, vegan, enamel-safe
• Cons: Not dramatic results
• Type of whitening agent: Hydrogen peroxide
• How to use: Peel strips and apply to teeth. Leave on for 15 minutes. For best results, repeat for 7 days.