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We get it. Sometimes a cup of coffee is just what you need to increase your energy levels when you're short on sleep (Bonus: it may help with muscle mass as you age, too). And similarly, when you're in need of a wind down, you may reach for a big glass of red wine in the evening. But beware: while these beverages have upsides, there's a chance that if you consume one or both daily, your teeth might be a bit stained.
"Beverages like coffee and tea contain tannins that can lead to stains on teeth, especially if consumed frequently," says cosmetic dentist Michael J. Wei, DDS, FIADFE. "The dark pigments in red wine can adhere to tooth enamel and cause discoloration." The same can be said for a bunch of other popular foods and drinks like soda, berries, tomato sauce, and even balsamic vinegar. "My rule of thumb is that anything that can stain a white t-shirt can stain your teeth," adds Samantha Rawdin, DMD.
But don't freak out—a good electric toothbrush and these teeth whitening kits and strips can help. "Teeth whitening products work by penetrating through the hard white outer shell of the tooth, called enamel, into the dentin. which is the more yellow layer underneath, where it breaks up the molecules that cause discoloration," Dr. Rawdin explains.
The Best Teeth Whitening Products
If you're new to the at-home teeth whitening game, you may feel that it's a bit daunting to find something that's both effective, fast, comes dentist-recommended, and may also work well with sensitive teeth. That's why Women's Health consulted several dentists to see which teeth whitening kits and strips they recommend to their patients.
What to consider
Your teeth are strong, but pretty sensitive at the same time. Here's what you should keep in mind when shopping for teeth whitening strips.
Ingredients
Dentist Maria Ryan, DDS, says to start by looking for active ingredients, citing hydrogen peroxide as one she particularly recommends. "Hydrogen peroxide is used in oral care products to effectively whiten teeth," she says. "It serves as a bleaching agent that chemically breaks down stains by penetrating the teeth and removing compounds that may cause discoloration." It's also recommended to stick to 10 percent hydrogen peroxide when using teeth whitening strips, as higher concentrations can lead to severe sensitivity." Another effective option is carbamide peroxide, says Fatima Khan, dentist and co-founder at Riven Oral Care. "It also provides intrinsic whitening, which involves a chemical reaction that changes the color of the tooth." Some teeth whitening strips also contain chlorine dioxide, which is the same chlorine you find in swimming pools, says Khan—unfortunately, the chlorine can strip the enamel off of your teeth leading to tooth sensitivity and other issues so it's best to avoid this ingredient. And if you're worried about tooth safety, Khan recommends shopping for strips with the ADA (American Dental Association) seal. "They take the highest quality and safety into account," says Khan.
Type
There isn't just one way to go about whitening your teeth, as you can choose between whitening strips, gels, pens, toothpastes, and more. Again, most whitening strips contain hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, and according to Dr. Rawdin, these work to break up stains found in the dentin layer of the tooth. "Some non-peroxide-based whitening strips work by using coconut oil and/or essential oils to help reduce plaque on the teeth and break down stains, though evidence on this is more limited," Dr. Rawdin adds. In general, they're convenient because they're affordable, they cause minimal sensitivity, and they're a great option if you're only looking to address mild discoloration. Cosmetic celebrity dentist Sean Kutlay, DDS, says you should make sure that if you're using strips you do opt for ones that fully cover your teeth. Misfit strips can lead to uneven whitening or gum irritation.
If you're not a fan of the way strips sit on your teeth (or if you just want something a little stronger), you can also use whitening gels. "These peroxide-based gels are applied directly to the teeth using a brush or a tray," says Dr. Wei. "They are often used in conjunction with custom-made trays for a more precise application." A lot of gels on the market today also come with LED lights to enhance the process. "They might be someone's first choice because they offer more concentrated whitening, can be customized with trays for better coverage, and can be used with nighttime retainers or Invisalign treatment," adds orthodontist Mariam Zade, DDS.
Most mildly abrasive whitening toothpastes target stains as well. Some others contain hydrogen peroxide, though Dr. Rawdin notes that using these alone may not be enough to fully take your teeth a shade or two lighter if that's what you're looking for. "They're mildly to moderately abrasive and help to scrub the teeth clean," she says. "There are a few on the market that contain hydrogen peroxide, but since you're only brushing your teeth for two minutes, the contact time of the hydrogen peroxide—especially at the low levels found in toothpaste—is not going to be enough to move the needle on the whitening level."
Time commitment
Going to your dentist for a professional whitening treatment will likely cost you a few hundred dollars and over an hour of your time. An at-home kit will set you back a fraction of that cost, and depending on which method you go with, it won't take more than one hour. Whitening strips are typically advised to be used for 30 minutes to an hour, but to really see a difference, you'll likely have to use them consistently for about a week or two—so if you don't think you'll be able to commit to adding that extra step to your routine, maybe a whitening toothpaste will be your best bet.
How we selected
For the past year, Women’s Health editors, including lifestyle commerce editor Jasmine Gomez, contributor Neha Tandon, and senior beauty editor Danielle Jackson researched the bestselling, most popular, and top-rated teeth whitening strips and kits. Our team consulted several dentists before testing the top recommended products and evaluating thousands of customer reviews and ratings to narrow down the best teeth whitening treatments for a wide range of needs and preferences.
Ready for a brighter smile? See below for the best dentist-recommended teeth whitening kits and strips in 2023. These have all been tested and approved by Women's Health editors.
Cosmetic dentist (and founder/CEO of SymplBrush) Keith Arbeitman, DDS raves about Crest's bestselling Whitestrips—and our testers agree it's the tops. "I tend to recommend Crest Whitestrips because the brand really pioneered the at-home whitening category and I know they invest considerably in research and development," he says. "The only reason we’re even having this discussion is because Crest put whitening strips into the market."
Amanda Lucci, WH's director of special projects, loves that these strips are comfortable enough to wear while completing daily tasks. "Forty-five minutes is not a big commitment," she says. "They work really fast, and even though it's not a huge difference, I can see them working in two to three days. If I have an event or a wedding, I'll use them for a week leading up to it just to brighten my teeth a bit."
Some people also tend to shy away from whitening products because certain formulas can cause the teeth to feel sensitive, but our tester noted that with these strips, that wasn't a major issue, since strips in general cause minimal irritation. "I actually have really sensitive teeth, and I never felt any sensitivity while using them," Lucci says.
Read more: Best Whitening Toothpastes
| Method | Strip |
|---|---|
| Treatments | 22 |
| Time commitment | 45 min a day |
| Active ingredient(s) | Hydrogen peroxide |
| Chlorine? | No |
Most Convenient
Colgate Optic White ComfortFit Teeth Whitening Kit
Now 36% Off
If you're already a fan of the brand's no-fuss overnight whitening pen, this kit—which comes with the pen and an LED whitening light—will impress you even more. It whitens and removes stains in as little as ten days (with consistent use) and it won't even make your teeth feel sensitive. "I didn’t expect much from this but it really did make a difference after two weeks or so, and I started noticing changes around a week," one reviewer says.
Bonus: you can plug it into your iPhone or Android, so there's no charging necessary. "I can appreciate how easy this product was to use," says WH senior beauty editor, Danielle Jackson. "I've tried whitening gel before, and my only gripe with it is that it gets a little messy after it's been in your mouth for a while. Since this is just a pen, I don't have to worry about it dripping or feeling goopy."
| Method | Pen with LED light |
|---|---|
| Treatments | 35 |
| Time commitment | 10 min a day |
| Active ingredient(s) | Hydrogen peroxide |
| Chlorine? | No |
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The Auraglow kit's LED light speeds up the whitening process, making it 10 times faster than just using the whitening gel alone, says the brand. It's also made with a built-in 30-minute timer, so that you know exactly when it's time to remove it.
"I like the easy-to-apply strips—no sensitivity/pain whatsoever—and pleasant/sweet taste of the whitening solution," says former WH fitness editor, Jennifer Nied. "My routine has been to get settled in bed, turn on a show, and stick these on for 30 minutes. I don't need a mirror to apply. I also don't end up with a mouth of goo and bubbles while they work."
| Method | Gel with LED Light |
|---|---|
| Treatments | 20 |
| Time commitment | 20 min a day |
| Active ingredient(s) | Carbamide peroxide |
| Chlorine? | No |
Best Budget Pick
Crest 3D White Brilliance Two-Step Kit
Now 14% Off
Ok, so maybe you want to dip your toe in the teeth whitening pond rather than dive straight in with LED kits or strips. In that case, Lauren Becker, DDS recommends this budget-friendly kit from Crest. "My patients get noticeable results in under a week's time with this without breaking the bank," she says. "White strips can be bulky, annoying, and require consistency and time, while all this requires is the two minutes in which you should already be brushing your teeth."
The first step removes plaque while helping prevent sensitivity, and then step two contains the bleaching agent, peroxide.
| Method | Toothpaste |
|---|---|
| Treatments | Until the tube finishes |
| Time commitment | 2 min a day |
| Active ingredient(s) | Carbomer, glycerin, sodium hydroxide |
| Chlorine? | No |
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Let's be real—having what feels like plastic in your mouth for a while can feel funny. But these no-slip strips from Burst stay in place, so that you feel as least awkward as possible.
"I love Burst's whitening strips because they don't slip like a lot of others I've tried—I can carry on a full conversation while wearing them," says former senior commerce editor, Neha Tandon. "I also appreciate that they don't irritate my sensitive teeth. I use them for about a week every other month or so as a touch-up and I get compliments on how white my teeth are quite often!"
According to other reviews, these strips can also produce results in as a little as seven days.
| Method | Strip |
|---|---|
| Treatments | 10 |
| Time commitment | 15 min a day |
| Active ingredient(s) | Hydrogen peroxide |
| Chlorine? | No |
"I’ve always liked Laughland’s approach," says periodontist Peter TJ Kwon, DDS. "They’re among the only safe at-home whitening products to clearly state the bleaching agent they use, as well as the amount in each formula, giving patients the ability to choose the formula that best fits them."
This is also one of Jackson's favorites: "I like that you can take a little quiz before you purchase, and your results will determine what strength your gel should be," she says. "My teeth can be really sensitive to whitening products, so the formula that was picked for me was based on that."
Tandon echoes this. "I love how easy Laughland is to use and that it gives me a lot of control over how strong of a whitening sesh I want to have depending on the results I'm looking for or how sensitive my teeth feel at the time," she says.
The LED mouthpiece can be plugged into your phone, so if you want, you can whiten your teeth while performing tasks around the house. Simply push some gel onto the mouthpiece, plug it straight into your phone, and watch The Real Housewives for as long as you'd like to leave it in for (20 minutes is usually fine).
| Method | Gel |
|---|---|
| Treatments | 3 syringes of gel |
| Time commitment | 10-20 min a day |
| Active ingredient(s) | Hydrogen peroxide |
| Chlorine? | No |
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Meet the experts
- Maria Ryan, DDS, is a dentist and vice president and chief clinical officer at the Colgate-Palmolive Company.
- Keith Arbeitman, DDS, is a cosmetic dentist and founder/CEO of SymplBrush.
- Fatima Khan, DMD, is a dentist and co-founder at Riven Oral Care.
- Lauren Becker, DDS, is a general and cosmetic dentist.
- Michael J. Wei, DDS, FIADFE is a cosmetic dentist and owner of Manhattan Cosmetic Dentist in New York City.
- Samantha Rawdin, DMD, is a prosthodontist based in New York City.
- Sean Kutlay, DDS, is a celebrity cosmetic dentist.
- Mariam Zade, DDS, is a board-certified orthodontist at JBL in New York City.
- Peter TJ Kwon, DDS, is a periodontist based in Malden, MA.
Are whitening strips safe to use?
In a word: Yes. Using teeth whitening strips has been found to be safe and not harmful if you follow the manufacturer's directions, says Dr. Kutlay. However, if you do misuse or overuse them that can lead to sensitivity, gingival irritation, and white streaks, adds Khan.
Keep in mind that the concentration of peroxide is lower in at-home whitening treatments, which may mean it takes longer to actually see results, but this also means that the risk for sensitivity is lower, Khan adds.
And while you don't have to brush after using whitening strips, you should remember to wash your teeth after use. "You don’t have to rinse with mouthwash or anything else—a water rinse right after you take them off will suffice."
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Shop more of our favorite oral care products
Best Toothpastes For Sensitive Teeth | Best Whitening Toothpastes | Best Natural Toothpastes | Best Teeth Whitening Pens
Brian Underwood
Beauty Director
Brian Underwood is the beauty director at Women’s Health. He is an award-winning journalist with more than 15 years of experience covering beauty and lifestyle for several national media outlets and previously served as beauty and wellness director at Oprah Daily. His work has appeared in Woman’s Day, Life & Style Weekly, Good Housekeeping, and many more. He also serves as a member of the Skin Cancer Foundation’s gala committee and lives in New York City with his daughter.
Neha Tandon
Former Senior Commerce Editor
Neha Tandon is the former senior commerce editor of Women's Health. She has written for New York Magazine, Cosmopolitan, BRIDES, Harper's Bazaar, Business Insider, Byrdie, and Well+Good.
Jasmine Gomez
Commerce Editor
Jasmine Gomez is the Commerce Editor at Women’s Health, where she cover the best product recommendations across beauty, health, lifestyle, fitness, and more. When she's not shopping for a living, she enjoys karaoke and dining out more than she cares to admit. Follow her @JazzeGomez.
