At-home teeth whitening options now include pens, trays, strips, serums and more as companies try to capitalize on people’s growing desire for a brighter smile. The global market for teeth whitening products is even expected.
With so many kits on the market, it can be hard to know which ones are worth your money. To help you focus your efforts on the products most likely to deliver results, we tapped seven dentists for their guidance on easy-to-use and effective teeth whitening kits. Consider these expert-approved options in your quest for a whiter smile.
Pre-filled trays
Bite and go for 10 days
Opalescence Go is a favorite of Sarah Jebreil, DDS, cosmetic dentist at Dental Aesthetics in Newport Beach, California. “Ease of use is key to over-the-counter whitening solutions,” he says. This kit includes 10 pre-filled disposable whitening trays that look like clear mouth guards for use once a day for 10 days. Simply place one on your top and bottom row of teeth and let them sit for 15 to 20 minutes. You can still talk while wearing these discs—your voice may 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’re easy to use and cause little to no sensitivity,” says Dr. Jebreil, whose office sells these kits, among other whitening products. Opalescence Go offers whitening trays in two strengths, 10% and 15% hydrogen peroxide concentrations, as well as mint and melon flavors.
Quicker bite and go
THE Cracked Teeth Whitening Kit works similarly to Opalescence Go. This kit contains three treatments worth of pre-filled trays with 12.5% hydrogen peroxide solution. To use them, simply place the tray over your teeth, bite down and wear the tray for 15 minutes. Repeat for two more days for best results and the brand says you should see results after the first use. Cho likes that these can easily be incorporated into your morning routine. “They can be used in the shower, walking the dog, etc.,” he says. Cho recommends keeping an open mind when choosing a teeth whitening kit. “There is no one system that is equally effective for everyone,” he says. “And because there are so many products, you can try different ones and even mix and match.”
Trays with whitening gel
Semi-custom experience
Almost all dentists we consulted said the right way is to get custom-made whitening trays from your dentist—which are often made of hard plastic and molded to the shape of your teeth. “These trays may be expensive at first, but they will save you time and money by keeping the whitening gel in place and [are] comfortable to use,” he says Dani BenyaminyDDS, cosmetic dentist in Los Angeles, CA. These discs usually it costs several hundred dollarsbut the cost varies by location.
THE Whitening set Dr. Collins All White 22%. uses carbamide peroxide, a hydrogen peroxide compound, to help whiten your teeth, along with four reusable trays that you boil and bite to create your own personalized whitening trays at home. “I would call this a semi-custom disc installation,” says Dr. Benjamin. To use, fill the tray and wear for 30 minutes to an hour up to twice a day. The kit comes with enough gel for about 15 treatments. Results will vary depending on the level of staining you have, Jessica Mehta, DDS, dentist at Chicago Loop Dentistryhe says. The kit comes with its own case to house your trays when not in use, along with a whitening toothpaste to help preserve your results.
Whitening trays with LED lights
Combination of light and pen
THE Colgate Optic White ComfortFit Teeth Whitening Kit uses a teeth whitening pen and an LED light that connects to your phone and harnesses purple wavelengths to tackle 10 years of stains in three days, according to the brand. The LED light molds to your mouth to provide even whitening and enhance the pen’s ingredients, which include hydrogen peroxide serum. Alexa Martin, DMD, a board-certified dentist and endodontist in Beverly Hills, California, says hydrogen peroxide is “the only ingredient that matters” in this kit. “Every other ingredient is just a natural neutral ingredient that carries the peroxide to make it slide over your teeth and stay there,” he says. Michael Kosdon, DDS, cosmetic dentist at New York Smiles in New York, also recommends this kit. “This product – from a reputable brand – works by painting the whitener on your teeth with a special pen and then activating it by placing an LED light on it for 10 minutes,” he says, noting that it “provides good results.”
USB powered LED tray
THE Auraglow Teeth Whitening Kit approaches teeth whitening from many angles. The kit features a tray filled with the brand’s special whitening treatment, with 35% carbamide peroxide as the main ingredient. An LED light attached to the front of the tray is included to help activate the molecules in the whitening 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 buy gel syringes to reuse the tray for future whitening needs. “The only downside is that the tray is very large and can be uncomfortable for people with small mouths,” he says.
Bleaching strips
Nice price choice
While more of a whitening product than a kit, Crest 3-D Whitestrips it was mentioned by almost every expert we spoke to as a tool worth your time. These strips contain hydrogen peroxide to help reduce stains and brighten teeth. Simply pull the liner off a strip, apply it to your upper and lower teeth and leave it in place for 30 minutes. When the time is up, remove the strips, brush your teeth and repeat for two weeks. “I’m a big believer in Crest Whitestrips because they fit easily and comfortably on the teeth,” says Mark Swierczewski, DDS, cosmetic dentist at Happy Smiles at Columbia in Columbia, Pa. Whitney DiFoggio, dental hygienist and founder Teeth Talk Girl Bloghe also suggests the lanes, noting that they have a coveted stamp of approval by the American Dental Association. These whitening strips “work just as well as semi-custom trays and custom trays,” he says. “They just take longer to do. However, you can achieve the same results as films, as long as they are used correctly.”
Dissolving strips
Bleaching strips of the Moon they are similar to Crest’s Whitestrips, with a slight twist. They feature a blend of hydrogen peroxide, along with coconut and tea tree, and are designed to dissolve on your teeth within 15 minutes (unlike Crest’s, which don’t). They’re made to be worn morning and night for two weeks and, as Dr. Kosdon points out, “not only whiten but rejuvenate your entire mouth.” Julie ChoDMD, a general dentist in New York, says these films are worth considering if you want something that’s easy to do on the go. He also notes that you can mix and match them 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 films like Moon for maintenance purposes,” says Dr. Cho.
