At-home teeth whitening options now include pens, trays, strips, serums and more as companies try to capitalize on people’s increasing desire for a brighter smile. In fact, the global market for teeth whitening products is expected.
With so many kits on the market, it can be difficult to know which are worth your money. To help focus your efforts on products that are more likely to deliver results, we tapped seven dentists for their guidance on teeth whitening kits that are easy to use and effective. Consider these expert-approved options in your quest for a whiter smile.
Pre-filled trays
Bite and go for 10 days
Opalescence Go is favorite of Sarah Jebreil, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist at Dental Esthetics in Newport Beach, Calif. “Ease of use is key for over-the-counter whitening solutions,” she says. This kit includes 10 pre-filled single-use whitening trays that look like clear mouthguards to be used once a day for 10 days. Just place one on your top and bottom rows of teeth and let them sit for 15 to 20 minutes. You can still talk while wearing these trays—your voice just might be slightly slurred, according to this Buy Side writer, who has used them. When the time is up, remove the trays and brush your teeth. “They are easy to use and cause minimal to no sensitivity, says Dr. Jebreil, whose office sells these kits, in addition to other whitening products.Opalescence Go offers whitening trays in two strengths, 10% and 15% hydrogen peroxide concentrations, as well as mint and melon flavors.
Faster bite and go
The Burst Teeth Whitening Kit works similarly to Opalescence Go. This kit contains three treatments worth of pre-filled trays with a 12.5% hydrogen peroxide solution. To use them, simply insert the tray over your teeth, bite down, and wear the tray for 15 minutes. Repeat over two more days for best results, and the brand says you should see results after the first use. Cho likes that these can be easily incorporated into your morning routine. “They can be used in the shower, walking the dog, etc..,” she says.Cho recommends keeping an open mind when choosing a teeth whitening kit. “There is not one system that is equally effective for everyone,” she says. “And because there are so many products, you can test different ones, and even mix and match.”
Trays with whitening gel
Custom trays
Nearly all of the dentists we consulted said that getting custom whitening trays—which are often made of hard plastic and molded to the shape of your teeth—from your dentist is the way to go. “These trays may be costly at first, but will save you time and money by keeping the whitening gel in place and [are] comfortable to wear,” says Dani Benyaminy, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist in Los Angeles, Calif. These trays typically cost several hundred dollars, but costs vary by location.
The Philips Zoom Take Home Patient Care Kit NiteWhite allows for at-home whitening in conjunction with custom trays made by your dentist. It’s a top pick for Jessica Mehta, D.D.S., a dentist at Chicago Loop Dentistry, who recommends this kit to her patients. The kit uses three whitening ingredients, amorphous calcium phosphate, fluoride and potassium nitrate, to help whiten teeth and comes in a range of concentrations. “I like Zoom because you can customize it and find what’s right for you,” Dr. Mehta says, adding that it’s what she uses for her own teeth and recommends to patients. It’s simple to use: Just fill your tray with gel from the syringe and wear it for up to four hours a day. Philips promises results in two weeks.
Semi-custom experience
The Dr. Collins All White 22% Bleaching Set uses carbamide peroxide, a compound of hydrogen peroxide, to help whiten your teeth, along with four reusable trays that you boil and bite to create your own customized whitening trays at home. “I would call this a semi-custom tray setup,” Dr. Benyaminy says. To use it, fill the tray and wear it for 30 minutes to an hour up to twice a day; the kit comes with enough gel for approximately 15 treatments. Results will vary depending on the level of staining you have, Mehta says. The kit comes with its own case to house your trays when they’re not in use, along with a whitening toothpaste to help maintain your results.
Whitening trays with LED lights
Light and pen combo
Colgate
Optic White ComfortFit Teeth Whitening Kit
The Colgate Optic White ComfortFit Teeth Whitening Kit uses a teeth whitening pen and an LED light that plugs into your phone and leverages purple wavelengths to tackle 10 years of stains in three days, according to the brand. The LED light molds to your mouth to help deliver uniform whitening and enhance the ingredients in the pen, which includes a hydrogen peroxide serum. Alexa Martin, D.M.D., a board-certified dentist and endodontist in Beverly Hills, Calif., says that the hydrogen peroxide is “the only ingredient that matters” in this kit. “Every other ingredient is just a natural neutral component that carries the peroxide to make it glide over your teeth and stay there,” she says. Michael Kosdon, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist at Smiles of NYC in New York City, also recommends this kit. “This product—from a trusted brand—works by painting the bleach on your teeth with a special pen and then activating it by placing an LED light for 10 minutes,” he says, noting that it “delivers good results.”
USB-powered LED tray
The Auraglow Teeth Whitening Kit approaches teeth whitening from several angles. The kit features a tray that’s filled with the brand’s custom whitening treatment, with a main ingredient of 35% carbamide peroxide. An LED light attached to the front of the tray is included to help activate the molecules in the bleaching gel to whiten your teeth faster. Each session lasts 30 minutes. Dr. Kosdon says the kit is “reasonably priced,” in part because there’s enough carbamide peroxide gel for 20 sessions, and you can purchase refill gel syringes to reuse the tray for future whitening needs. “The only drawback is the tray is very large and may be uncomfortable for people with small mouths,” he says.
Whitening strips
Nice-price option
While more a whitening product than a kit, Crest 3-D Whitestrips was mentioned by nearly every expert we spoke to as a tool worth your time. These strips contain hydrogen peroxide to help reduce staining and brighten teeth. Just pull the backing off a strip, apply it over your top and bottom teeth and keep it in place for 30 minutes. When the time is up, remove the strips, brush your teeth, and repeat for two weeks. “I am a big believer in Crest Whitestrips as they adapt easily and snugly to the teeth,” says Mark Swierczewski, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist at Happy Smiles at Columbia in Columbia, Pa. Whitney DiFoggio, a dental hygienist and founder of the Teeth Talk Girl blog, also recommends the strips, noting that they have a coveted seal of acceptance from the American Dental Association. These whitening strips “work just as well as the semi-custom trays and custom trays,” she says. “They just take longer to do so. But you can still achieve the same results with strips, as long as they are used correctly.”
Dissolving strips
Moon’s whitening strips are similar to Crest’s Whitestrips, with a slight twist. They feature a blend of hydrogen peroxide, along with coconut and tea tree, and they’re designed to dissolve on your teeth within 15 minutes (unlike Crest’s, which don’t dissolve). They’re made to be used both morning and night for two weeks and, as Dr. Kosdon points out, they “not only whiten but refresh your entire mouth.” Julie Cho, D.M.D., a general dentist in New York City, says these strips are worth considering if you want something that’s easy to do on the go. She also notes that you can mix and match these with a traditional whitening kit for more noticeable results (just pay attention to tooth sensitivity to make sure you don’t overdo it). “You can try an LED system first and then use strips like Moon for maintenance purposes,” Dr. Cho says.
Brush-on whitening
Whitening serum
The Vvardis White Enamel Anti-Aging Serum is a one-week treatment you are directed to apply to your teeth nightly for one week to see results. To use it, brush your teeth at night and dry them with a soft cloth or tissue. Then, apply a thick layer of the serum, which is made from a peroxide-free formula meant to be gentle on teeth, to your exposed teeth with the included brush and keep your lips drawn for up to 15 seconds. Don’t eat or drink afterward—just go to bed. The serum should be applied for seven days and reused every one to three months. “I would recommend this product for anyone with sensitive teeth,” Dr. Kosdon says.
What to consider when choosing a teeth whitening kit
What type of teeth whitening kit should I buy?
There are a few things to consider. “Mode of application is important,” Dr. Mehta says. The three main modes are trays, an application pen and strips. “You need to think about what would be convenient for you,” Mehta says. If you’ve never used a home whitening kit before, Dr. Cho recommends starting off with one that has a low hydrogen or carbamide peroxide solution, such as 5% or 10%. “This will give you an idea as to whether or not your teeth are sensitive to the bleach and if so, just how sensitive they become to it,” she says. “You can always go onto stronger [formulations] from there.”
What ingredients are best for my teeth?
The two main ingredients used in home teeth whitening kits are hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, Dr. Cho says. “These are the most effective whitening ingredients,” she adds. The higher the percentage of these ingredients, the more whitening they will achieve, Mehta says. “The downside is you can have more sensitivity with stronger formulas,” she says.
How long do the results last?
It varies. “The results depend on the strength of the bleach, the length of treatment and the porosity of your natural teeth,” Dr. Cho says. “The best way to ensure longevity is to avoid any foods with dark coloring during the bleaching process.” In general, Dr. Mehta says that you can expect results to last about three to six months for most whitening products. “You’re going to get more longevity if you don’t drink a lot of coffee or red wine, and you do touch-ups,” she says.
