The best teeth whitening kits for keeping your pearly whites bright at home (2024)

All that cold brew or rosé all day got your teeth yellow? Everyone wants white teeth, but dentist office options are an expense many of us can’t justify (or, let’s be real, afford). Enter at-home teeth whitening kits: They’ve been around for decades, but continue getting more high-tech as new companies enter the space and technology improves.

But do these at-home teeth whitening kits really live up to their promises and claims? And are they just as effective as more expensive teeth whitening options you get at the dentist? Let’s take a look at some popular options, as well as the science behind how they actually whiten your teeth so you know exactly which kit is best for you.

What comes in a tooth-whitening kit?

What comes in a tooth whitening kit will depend on the kit that you’ve ordered. Whitening kits that use a strip-based application system will generally contain enough strips to treat your teeth a certain number of times. If you’ve opted for a kit that has a gel-based application system, you’ll find the gel, applicator, and perhaps even a whitening light in your kit.

Additionally, most kits will have a chart that helps you easily identify the color of your teeth both before and after treatment, so you can see your results. And of course, every teeth whitening kit includes instructions for use. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for best results and to avoid possible injury.

What is the chemical that whitens teeth?

The active ingredient in most at-home whitening products is something called hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) which is delivered as either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. At-home teeth whitening systems contain anywhere from 3% to 20% peroxide. Peroxide’s effect occurs because it is a weak acid with strong oxidizing properties. This means that it steals the electrons that hold atoms together, which in turn causes the molecules that cause staining to fall apart.

How long does home tooth whitening take?

Because home tooth whitening kits contain a weaker amount of peroxide compared to dental office whitening systems, they tend to take longer to produce the same effects. Whitening pens take a couple of days to a week to see results, while whitening strips require multiple daily treatments usually over the course of a couple of weeks. Whitening toothpaste and mouthwashes can take anywhere from six weeks to several months to show results. At-home whitening gel trays give noticeable results in about a week, but you won’t see full results for about 2-4 weeks.

How long does home teeth whitening last?

Home teeth whitening results last for about six months, on average. Some systems (such as at-home whitening gel trays) produce better results than others, so it’s always best to research your options. Professional dental whitening can give results for up to two to three years, on average.

The best way to make your teeth whitening results last longer is to maintain good oral hygiene and lifestyle habits. Brush at least twice a day and floss daily. An electric toothbrush gets you a cleaner smile than a manual brush, and with so many electric toothbrush subscription services available it’s easy to change your brush every three to four months as the CDC recommends. In addition, avoid stain-producing foods and drinks, and don’t smoke or drink alcohol.

Can people with sensitive teeth or gums use teeth whitening kits?

Yes! People with sensitive teeth or gums can use teeth whitening kits, but they should be mindful of the strength of the peroxide in the kit. There are several options available designed specifically for those who have sensitive teeth. Also, by following the manufacturer’s recommended time limits and not going longer than recommended, you can help to avoid some of the discomfort associated with teeth whitening kits. Keep in mind that the American Dental Association notes that temporary tooth sensitivity and gingival inflammation are the most common adverse effects of vital tooth whitening.

What causes yellow teeth and how can you prevent them?

Yellow teeth can be caused by a number of different factors. These may be internal or external. Some internal factors that cause yellow teeth include:

  • Aging

  • Trauma

  • Infection

  • Medication

Internal stains tend to be deeper and harder to remove than surface stains. At-home whitening kits aren’t always the best choice for these types of stains. External factors that cause yellow teeth include:

  • Foods

  • Cigarette smoke

  • Drinks (coffee and red wine are two major culprits)

Because these types of stains are on the outside of the tooth, they are easier to remove and at-home teeth whitening products will be more effective on them.

Are there side effects from teeth whitening?

While teeth whitening is a relatively common and minor procedure, it’s not without side effects. The most common side effect of tooth whitening is sensitivity. The active ingredients in teeth whitening kits can cause sensitivity to occur in teeth and gums. Often, this doesn’t last for long but some people do notice that long-term use of any teeth whitener with peroxide or abrasives is uncomfortable. Other possible side effects include:

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Burning and irritation of the gums. This is more likely to occur from at-home gel tray whitening products. You can avoid this problem by covering your gums completely prior to treatment and using custom-fitted trays.

Gum whitening. The whitening agent in teeth whitening kits can also have a whitening effect on your gums, causing them to bleach and lose their color for a short period of time.

Upset stomach. You might end up with an upset stomach if you accidentally swallow a whitening product. This should be temporary. Try your best not to swallow any whitening agent.

Tooth damage. There’s some research to suggest that whitening products could cause damage to your tooth enamel or dentin, and even possibly surface grooves on the teeth due to strong bleaching solutions or abrasives.

Pain. Some people note tooth pain during or after using a whitening kit. If you experience pain, burning, or extreme sensitivity, it’s worth checking in with your dentist. In rare cases, whitener can enter a cavity or cracked tooth, leading to major pain requiring a dentist visit.

If you want to make your smile brighter and whiter, you can do so safely without the major expense of professional whitening treatment. There are several great at-home teeth whitening options to choose from. While you may experience some side effects from teeth whitening, most at-home whitening treatments are safe to use as long as you follow the product’s directions, and any discomfort should be minimal and short-lived. Here are some of the best teeth whitening kits and best teeth whitening products available on the market today for getting a glamorous white smile at home.

The best teeth whitening kits for keeping your pearly whites bright at home (1)

SNOW Teeth Whitening Kit with LED Light

Best Overall

$149.95 Amazon

The SNOW Teeth Whitening Kit is equipped with four whitening wands (three regular ones and one extra-strength pen) and a USB-powered LED light device. The pens contain a whitening serum boasting hydrogen peroxide, and the formula is vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free. The gel formula has been specially designed to be safe for those with sensitive teeth, meaning less discomfort, pain, or irritated gums during or following treatment. To use, you simply brush your teeth as normal before applying the teeth whitening gel. Pop the mouthpiece into your mouth and power on the LED light for as little as nine minutes. While you might be put off by the high price tag of this whitening kit, it does provide up to 75 teeth whitening treatments, which works out to about $2 each – still a far cry from professional dental whitening.

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$149.95from Amazon

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Cali White Teeth Whitening Kit

Best Budget Option

$27.99 Amazon

For those looking for whiter teeth, but not wanting to shell out a ton of dough, the Cali White teeth whitening kit is a great choice. While the company claims you can get results in as little as one treatment, you should complete the full 7-10 day regimen for best results. The good news is it only takes 10-30 minutes per day! It helps remove stains from coffee, wine, tea, and smoking. It comes with a universal comfort fit tray and bonus custom thermoform trays which provide full upper and lower bite coverage. You also get a 5X bright blue LED light with a built-in timer, and two peroxide gel syringes.

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$27.99from Amazon

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Supersmile Professional Teeth Whitening Toothpaste with Fluoride

Best Whitening Toothpaste

$25 Amazon

If you’d rather skip the sometimes sloppy at-home teeth whitening trays and don’t mind a more subtle approach to your whitening efforts, then a whitening toothpaste is a great option. For Supersmile, you simply maintain your regular brushing routine (which should be 2 minutes, twice a day) but swap your toothpaste. It’s available in a choice of seven different flavors, so you’re sure to find one you can stomach. Not only does this toothpaste help to fight cavities thanks to the addition of fluoride, but it also remineralizes enamel while brightening up your smile. There’s also a boosting accelerator gel available to help speed up your results, though you can also purchase the duo as a kit.

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$25from Amazon

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GLO Brilliant Teeth Whitening Device Kit

Best At-Home Whitening Kit For Comfort

$159 Amazon

This at-home teeth whitening kit from Glo Science features an ergonomically-designed mouthpiece for a comfortable fit, making it the most comfortable model on our list. It was invented by a dentist, so there’s lots of professional experience behind the technology. Unlike many teeth whitening products on the market, GLO is even FDA-approved. All GLO device components are covered by a one-year limited warranty for added peace of mind. The LED light features a built-in countdown timer that ensures a perfectly-timed whitening session each and every time you use it. It’s also available in a choice of three different colors, if that sort of thing is important to you. Each kit comes with 10 teeth whitening GLO vials for 10 days of whitening (two full 5 day treatments).

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$159from Amazon

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Auraglow Teeth Whitening Pen

Best Teeth Whitening Pen

$26 Amazon

Each Auraglow Teeth Whitening Pen contains enough product to provide up to 20 whitening treatments. The pen application system means you can skip the messy trays and sticky strips altogether with this portable teeth whitening option. Simply click the bottom of the pen to expose the mint-flavored whitening gel and apply it twice a day directly onto the surface of your teeth, making sure to get into every little nook and cranny. Smile for 60 seconds while the gel dries, then avoid eating or drinking for one hour after. The enamel-safe whitening gel is made in the USA and claims to whiten up to 10 shades in as little as seven days.

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$26from Amazon

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Auraglow Teeth Whitening Kit with LED Light

Best LED Whitening System

$63 Amazon

The Auraglow teeth whitening kit comes complete with an LED light (with 16 bulbs) to help speed up the whitening process – up to 10 times faster! It whitens teeth up to 10 shades in just seven days, without tooth sensitivity or irritation. All it takes is just 30 minutes a day to see a noticeably whiter smile, with results after your first treatment. The kit includes 20 carbide peroxide gel treatments. The latex-free teeth whitening tray fits any size mouth comfortably, so you’ll hardly notice it’s in while doing a treatment. The tray is also wireless (and rechargeable) which means you aren’t tied to one spot while whitening.

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$63from Amazon

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Best Professional At-Home Kit

$48.98 Amazon

For those looking for professional-level results from the comfort of their home (and at a fraction of the price) this kit from White Glo provides excellent results. It comes complete with a whitening toothpaste and whitening system to help deliver whitening with faster, gentler results. It is enamel safe and offers fluoride protection to help keep teeth looking their best. It also happens to be sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan. The whitening system includes whitening serum and an instant-fit mouth tray. Each session takes just 10 minutes. The toothpaste features a blend of mint, peppermint, and eucalyptol that provides proven long-lasting freshness.

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$48.98from Amazon

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Crest 3D Whitestrips, Professional Effects

Best Whitening Strips

$45.99 Amazon

A leader in the Whitestrips field for years, Crest’s 3D Whitestrips, Professional Effects includes a set of one-hour express whitening strips that are perfect when you need to whiten your smile in a hurry. Just one application removes years of stains for a noticeably whiter smile. It features the brand’s no-slip grip technology which means strips stay put so you can talk and drink water while whitening your teeth. Using the complete kit of 44 strips (22 upper, 22 lower) provides results that last for 12 months and beyond. The quick results these white strips provide mean they have a slightly higher dosage of hydrogen peroxide than some other teeth whitening strips, which could be irritating for those with sensitive teeth.

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$45.99from Amazon

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The best teeth whitening kits for keeping your pearly whites bright at home (2024)

FAQs

The best teeth whitening kits for keeping your pearly whites bright at home? ›

Combine 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of hydrogen peroxide with 1 teaspoon (6 grams) of baking soda and gently brush your teeth with the mixture. Limit the use of this homemade paste to a few times per week, as overuse can erode your tooth enamel.

How can I make my teeth pearly white at home? ›

Combine 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of hydrogen peroxide with 1 teaspoon (6 grams) of baking soda and gently brush your teeth with the mixture. Limit the use of this homemade paste to a few times per week, as overuse can erode your tooth enamel.

What is the number one recommended teeth whitening? ›

Staffer-recommended picks include the Laughland At-Home Whitening Kit, Crest 3D White Strips, the Boka Rapid Radiance Teeth Whitening Kit and the Ollm Teeth Whitening Kit. We ensured that we only included formulas with safe, dentist-approved active ingredients, such as hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide.

Are there any teeth whiteners that actually work? ›

The Crest Whitening Emulsion with LED Light stands out as the best overall teeth whitening product due to its ease of use, effectiveness, and comfort. Its simple, straightforward process, coupled with the ability to carry on with normal activities during treatment, makes it highly convenient and user-friendly.

Can I brush my teeth with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda? ›

The process of using baking soda to whiten teeth is rather simple. You simply make a paste out of a teaspoon of baking soda and a small amount of hydrogen peroxide, and then gently brush your teeth as you would with traditional toothpaste. When you are done, rinse your mouth with water.

How can I make my teeth super white in 5 minutes? ›

Combine two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide with one tablespoon of baking soda. Mix it until it becomes a paste and use it to brush your teeth. Leave it in place for three to five minutes and then brush your teeth and rinse out your mouth.

What over the counter teeth whitening works best? ›

Our Top Picks:
  • Best LED Device: Colgate Optic White ComfortFit Teeth Whitening Kit, $65 $38.
  • Best for Tough Stains: AuraGlow Teeth Whitening Kit, $60 $48.
  • Best Whitening Strips: Crest Whitestrips, $45.
  • Best Teeth-Whitening Trays: Opalescence Go Whitening Trays, $83.
Apr 8, 2024

What is the most permanent teeth whitening? ›

Dental veneers are a great way to permanently whiten your teeth, so no more white strips and no need for whitening treatments. A dental veneer is a thin piece of porcelain material that is placed on top of natural teeth. They are bonded to the tooth with a cement-like material to ensure a stronghold.

What is the highest level of peroxide for teeth whitening? ›

Conclusion: Carbamide peroxide in 16% and 35% concentration are effective and safe for bleaching discoloured vital teeth, however, 35% concentration gave significantly more lightening effect without additional side effects compared to 16% concentration.

How to whiten teeth in 2 minutes? ›

Just mix a teaspoon of baking powder and a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and brush your teeth with the paste this mixture will work wonders in just two minutes.

How to whiten teeth over 60? ›

Swap your regular toothpaste for whitening toothpaste, and you can notice your teeth gradually lighten with prolonged use. Whitening toothpaste typically contains a low-concentrated bleach solution. This helps minimize the appearance of stains on your smile.

Do home teeth whitening kits work? ›

Although home teeth whitening kits can be effective in whitening teeth, they can only really whiten teeth by a few shades. If you want a drastic change in teeth whiteness (i.e. you have severe teeth staining), home teeth whitening kits may not be enough. You may need multiple tries.

How do celebrities get bright white teeth? ›

Veneers: If you see celebrities with perfectly white, straight, and uniform-looking teeth, they likely have veneers. Unlike teeth whitening, veneers are more permanent. There are various types of materials used, but porcelain and composite are the most common types.

Does apple cider vinegar whiten teeth? ›

While apple cider vinegar may have many benefits, when it comes to your teeth, it can do more harm than good. It's highly acidic and acidic substances can wear down tooth enamel, making you more susceptible to cavities. And there's really no evidence that it whitens teeth.

Can yellow teeth become white again? ›

What Can Be Done to Whiten Yellow Teeth? If you're looking for a radical change in the coloring of your teeth, you need professional-grade whitening to get the job done. Your cosmetic dentist can provide treatment that penetrates deep into the enamel and removes years of stains with a powerful bleaching agent.

How to get white teeth in 1 day with baking soda? ›

Using a mixture of baking soda and water can help buff away stains with little to no irritation, even on sensitive teeth. To use baking soda and water to whiten, simply combine 1 tsp baking soda and a small amount of water until paste forms, then use to brush teeth with circular motions, followed by a thorough rinse.

How fast does baking soda whiten teeth? ›

But, how long the baking soda takes to work depends on the severity of the stains. Generally, it takes about two weeks of daily use before you start seeing results. If you're looking for a quick fix, other options are available, such as professional teeth whitening in the Colony, TX, or take-home kits.

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