The 10 Best LED Teeth Whitening Kits of 2024, Tested by Real People
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Our top pick is the Crest 3DWhitestrips Sensitive + LED Light At-Home Teeth Whitening Kit
People / Jhett Thompson
From coffee and tea to curry and pasta sauce, many of our favorite foods (okay, sauces) and beverages can stain our teeth yellow, making them anything but pearly whites. While some teeth whitening products can help lift away pesky surface stains, LED whitening kits utilize the power of technology to brighten and whiten more effectively.
“LED whitening kits help break down and remove stains that can buildup in between whitening treatments,” Dr. Michael Kosdon tells PEOPLE. “These easy-to-use kits offer an inexpensive and effective way to maintain the whiteness of your smile in the comfort of your own home.”
Why Buy LED?
While LED whitening kits are typically more expensive compared to other at-home treatments such as whitening strips or pens, board-certified endodontist Dr. Alexa Martin says they can be quicker and more effective. “The light helps activate the bleaching ingredient that breaks down the pigmented molecules in your tooth, so everything works faster," she explains.
With the benefits of LED teeth whitening devices on our minds, we conducted real-world testing of 27 kits to find the best options for sensitivity, stains, quick results, and more. After weeks of use, these are the best LED whitening kits we found.
Best Overall: Crest 3DWhitestrips Sensitive + LED Light At-Home Teeth Whitening Kit
Star Qualities
Built-in timer and auto shut-off
Noticeable difference after six uses
Battery-operated makes it super convenient
Red Flags
Initial discomfort on sensitive teeth and gums (but subsided after the second use)
This Crest kit combines the convenient application of strips with the efficacy of an LED mouth light. With 14 treatments (28 strips total), it's designed to deliver results in two weeks, though we saw a difference after six days. We appreciated the simplicity of the application process, especially for beginners who have some experience with whitening strips but have never used an LED system before.
After testing on sensitive teeth and gums, our tester experienced a little bit of discomfort in the first initial applications but it subsided after the second use. Aside from that, we found that the strips and LED light remained comfortable throughout the application process.
Since the process takes a little longer than other options on our list, we don’t recommend this for traveling or quick fixes, but it’s a fantastic alternative to expensive in-office treatments, and when used for the 14 day treatment period, it helps reduce yellowing for a brighter-looking smile.
What’s Included: 28 teeth whitening strips, 1 Crest LED Accelerator Light | Recommended Use: Use for 30 minutes per day for 14 days | Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide
Best Overall, Runner Up: Snow Original Teeth Whitening Kit
Star Qualities
Fits comfortably in the mouth
Teeth looked brighter after just one use
Four different plug options included
Includes extra strength serum for stubborn stains
Red Flags
Not cordless (but can plug into your smartphone)
A little bit of sensitivity (but no prolonged irritation)
We were highly impressed by the Snow whitening kit's ease-of-use and efficacy. The kit comes with an LED light that is simple to operate and fits comfortably in the mouth (so much so that we totally forgot we had it in at times). While it’s not a cordless option, it comes with four different plug options, so it’s compatible with a variety of electronics and outlets, including your smartphone to make it more portable.
This kit is relatively pricey, but it does comes with a lot. In addition to the LED light, the kit also features two whitening serums plus an extra-strength formula that targets more stubborn stains or works as a touch-up. You can customize your routine according to your needs (and your schedule) and apply the formula once per day for anywhere between 9 and 30 minutes until you reach a desired shade. Considering this, you can use it as a full-on treatment plan or on an as-needed basis.
What’s Included: 1 Snow LED Whitening Device, 2 teeth whitening serums, 1 extra strength teeth whitening serum, teeth shade guide | Recommended Use: Apply once a day for 9-30 minutes until you reach a desired shade | Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide
Best Budget: Whitebite Pro Teeth Whitening Kit
Star Qualities
Features blue light for activating the whitening formula and red light for cleansing benefits
Made with hydrogen carbamide peroxide, a gentle whitening agent
Costs under $25 (and you can often find a coupon on Amazon)
Red Flags
Serum doesn't come out of the syringe brush super easily
For something a little more budget-friendly, we were impressed by this Amazon whitening kit. The system costs under $25 — and you can often find a coupon on the product page — and features an LED light with blue light for activating the whitening formula and red light for targeting bacteria for cleaner and healthier gums and teeth.
The kit is designed to brighten teeth in a little as one week, though we saw a difference after the initial use and experienced desired results in just four days. It's super comfortable and convenient to use, and even comes with a 16-minute automatic shut-off timer so you can perform other tasks while it works its whitening magic. If you run out of formula and want to use this kit for periodic touch-ups, you can purchase refills, too.
What’s Included: 1 LED light, four gel syringes | Recommended Use: 1-2 times daily for 7-10 days | Active Ingredients: Hydrogen carbamide peroxide
Most Convenient: HeySmile Teeth Whitening Kit
Star Qualities
Only takes 10 minutes per day to see results in less than a week
LED light comes fully charged, so you can use it right after opening
Noticed a difference after just one use
Red Flags
Only enough for six treatments (but you can buy refills)
Whether you're shopping for convenience or a quick fix, this KeySmile is one of the fastest teeth whitening kits we’ve tried. The kit doesn’t come with a lot of formula — only three gel syringes which totals six treatments — but we experienced a noticeable difference after just one use, and you only need to use it for 10 minutes per day for less than a week to get results. With that in mind, it's a great touch-up option you can use over time to maintain a brighter smile. After you go use up all the syringes, you can buy refills for around $5 per treatment.
In addition to its convenience, we were impressed by the gentle formula and didn’t experience any teeth sensitivity while testing. The LED light is also easy to use with intuitive instructions, so it’s an excellent choice for beginners, too.
What’s Included: 1 LED light, 1 mouth tray, 3 gel syringes, 1 shade guide | Recommended Use: Use 10 minutes per day for 6 days | Active Ingredients: Phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid
Best for Beginners: MySmile Teeth Whitening Kit with LED Light
Star Qualities
Noticed a difference after four days
No discomfort even on sensitive gums
Super straightforward instructions; easy to use
Red Flags
Brush would make application easier
Overall, this MySmile kit is so easy to use and we were highly impressed by the results. The brand recommends applying the treatment for 10 minutes per day over the course of seven days, but we actually saw results much sooner — around four days. Our tester has experienced teeth and gum sensitivity with other whitening kit formulas, but not with this one.
If we could change one thing about this LED whitening kit, it would be the applicator on the syringes. An applicator brush would make the process much easier. Nonetheless, the kit is still really easy to use.
What’s Included: 3 treatment syringes, 1 LED light device | Recommended Use: Apply treatment for 10 minutes per day for seven days | Active Ingredients: Carbamide peroxide
Best for Sensitive Teeth and Gums: Byte BrightByte Pro
Star Qualities
Carbamide peroxide is gentler on teeth and gums
Experienced no sensitivity during testing
Four different modes, including a gum massage and recovery effect
Cons
Relatively pricey (but does more than just whiten)
Some members of our PEOPLE Tested team experience regular sensitivity with whitening formulas, but no discomfort occured while using Byte BrightByte Pro. The formula is made with carbamide peroxide, which is more gentle on the teeth and gums compared to other whitening methods.
The LED light comes with four different modes, including purple light for combination whitening, blue light for basic whitening, light treatment for massaging the gums, and a red light feature for recovery — making it a great tool for inclusive oral health.
What’s Included: 4 treatment syringes, 1 LED light device, 1 charging base, 1 storage bag | Recommended Use: Apply treatment for 16 minutes for three days | Active Ingredients: Carbamide peroxide
Best for Upkeep: PurelyWhite Deluxe Teeth Whitening Kit
Star Qualities
Saw a change after one use
Only takes around 12 minutes, which is less than most other options
Brightens by up to nine shades
Red Flags
Learning curve for turning the light on and off
If you have stains, you know how annoying it can be to manage. The PurelyWhite Deluxe Teeth Whitening Kit, immediately improved the look of stains after just one use. While the LED light device is a little tricky to switch on at first, it works really well at brightening the teeth, and depending on the color of your own pearly whites, can lighten teeth by up to nine shades.
In addition to relieving the teeth from stains, we also loved the whitening process as a whole, especially in terms of how long it takes, which is around 12 minutes. You could use this to upkeep whitened teeth in addition to using it as a treatment to whiten yellowing.
What’s Included: 3 treatment syringes, 1 mouth tray, 1 LED light device | Recommended Use: Apply treatment to teeth for 15 days | Active Ingredients: Peroxide
Most Comfortable: Colgate ComfortFit LED Teeth Whitening Kit
Star Qualities
So comfortable that our tester barely noticed it
Change in color after a couple of uses
Powered by your phone, so it’s convenient to use and travel with
Red Flags
Whitening pen ran out quickly
When testing the Colgate ComfortFit LED Teeth Whitening Kit, we were immediately impressed by how comfortable the device fit in the mouth. In fact, it was so comfortable that we hardly even noticed it. Additionally, the treatment pen features hydrogen peroxide, which is gentler on teeth thus providing even more comfort.
In addition to its comfortable fit, we found that the device was really easy to use and highly accessible since it’s powdered by your smartphone. While we wish we had more formula to continue the treatment beyond a few days, we did see a noticeable change in the color of our teeth after just a couple of uses.
What’s Included: 1 teeth whitening pen, 1 LED light device | Recommended Use: Apply treatment to teeth for three days | Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide
Best Strips: Crest 3DWhitestrips 1 Hour Express + LED Light
Star Qualities
Includes 19 treatments, which is more compared to most options
No teeth or gum discomfort from the whitening process
Teeth whitened by six shades
Red Flags
Strips need to be worn for over an hour, making it less convenient
With the Crest 3DWhitestrips 1 Hour Express + LED Light, you can have your strips and your LED light. During testing, it was highly effective at brightening the teeth, and after the testing period, our tester's teeth brightened by six shades. While the price is a relatively high, it comes with 19 treatments which is more than others on our list.
The only thing we would change about this product is the treatment commitment. Despite it being a so-called “express” formula, the treatment’s recommended usage is 1 hour of white strips followed by five minutes of LED light (on top of the strips). By the end of it, we spent 19 hours whitening our teeth, though we would do it again considering the results.
What’s Included: 19 sets of whitening strips, 1 LED light device | Recommended Use: Apply whitening strips for 1 hour, then place the light device on teeth for five minutes | Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide
Best for Quick Results: Linhart The Whitening Collection
Star Qualities
Teeth changed from a shade 24 to a shade 8
Significant change after just one week of use
Includes whitening gel toothpaste for maintenence
Red Flags
Requires 16 minutes of LED light per session
Some teeth whitening kits can lighten teeth by one or two shades with regular use. However, if you’re looking for brighter teeth over a shorter period of time, we suggest trying the Linhart The Whitening Collection, which gave us impressive results after just one week. The whitening process involves applying the treatment and LED light to teeth for between two and four 16-minute treatments.
Albeit a bit of a time commitment on the daily, the multiple rounds of whitening helped to brighten teeth much faster than other options. With regular use, we saw our teeth go from a shade 24 to a shade 8 after just one week, which makes the $95 well worth the investment. In addition to the treatment, we love that this kit comes with a whitening gel toothpaste that you use in addition to your regular toothpaste to support the kit’s brightening efforts.
What’s Included: 4 treatment syringes, 1 LED light device | Recommended Use: Add one drop of whitening gel to teeth for two to four 16-minute segments | Active Ingredients: Carbamide peroxide
Our Verdict
As a continued effort to deliver high-quality recommendations, we tested eight more LED teeth whitening kits after the initial publication. Based on our new insights, we re-evaluated top picks and added new products, including the Crest 3DWhitestrips Sensitive + LED Light At-Home Teeth Whitening Kit which is now our best overall choice.
What to Know About LED Teeth Whitening Kits
Active Ingredients
One of the first things to consider in an LED whitening kit is the active ingredients, says Dr. Kosdon. He recommends looking for whitening formulas that feature either hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, or a combination of both. “These are the same whitening [ingredients] we use in the office and give the best results,” he explains.
All of the whitening kits on our best list feature either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, including the Crest 3DWhitestrips Sensitive + LED Light At-Home Teeth Whitening Kit, which is our top pick for the best LED whitening kit overall, and the SNOW Original Teeth Whitening Kit, our runner-up.
Sensitive Formulas
Teeth whitening can sometimes cause sensitivity in the teeth and gums. And although many at-home formulas feature more gentle ingredients and methods, some formulas might feel more irritating than others. If you are prone to tooth or gum sensitivity, Brittany Ang, DMD MDS MBS, an orthodontist at Curve Orthodontics says to “look for a gentler formula to reduce the risk of sensitivity.” She also recommends using a whitening toothpaste formulated with potassium nitrate, which reduces sensitivity and whitens teeth.
After testing several options, we found that the Byte BrightByte Pro was the best LED whitening kit for sensitivity. We also loved the MySmile Teeth Whitening Kit with LED Light, which didn’t create any discomfort while testing.
Recommended Use
To get the best results, you’ll want to follow the whitening kits’ recommended usage. Not all LED whitening kits have the same application or time requirements, so it’s important to consider the recommended use and how that impacts your schedule, as some LED whitening kits require a longer commitment, and others take just a few minutes. For example, the Crest 3DWhitestrips 1 Hour Express + LED Light takes about one hour and five minutes, while the MySmile Teeth Whitening Kit with LED Light takes 10 minutes per day.
Smartphone Connection
Many LED lights require a power cord, which can make the whitening process a little less convenient. So, when shopping around for LED whitening kits, Dr. Martin says to look for options that connect to your smartphone for power “so you can whiten with your phone in your pocket.” This semi-cordless approach to LED teeth whitening makes whitening more accessible and allows you to multitask while brightening the teeth.
People / Tamara Staples
Behind the Scenes
To find the best LED whitening kits, the PEOPLE Tested team put 19 kits to the test. Since each LED whitening kit requires different timelines, we followed the manufacturer’s recommended usage, so, in some cases, they tested the kits for several days, and in other cases, they used them over a several-week period. Throughout the testing period, our team considered their overall experience while also focusing on five key attributes:
Ease of Use: The best LED whitening kits are the ones you actually want to use, so ease of use was ultra-important when determining our top picks. Before and during the testing process, we considered the overall kit and the application requirements and whether or not the instructions were clear and easy to follow.
Comfort: Whitening your teeth can come with some discomfort, so we wanted to find kits that were as comfy as possible. With this in mind, we made note of the actual LED light design and how well it fit in our mouths and whether or not it pulled on our cheeks and lips. We also made note of what it was like to use the devices, paying close attention to the ones that made us count down to the end of the treatment time.
Effectiveness: Of course, you want an LED whitening kit that actually gets the job done — so we thoroughly reviewed our experiences with efficacy in mind. While determining the effectiveness of each kit, we considered how long it took to see noticeable differences as well as the desired results.
Convenience: When considering convenience, we noted the overall ease of use and also considered the devices’ portability and battery requirements. We also made note of the devices that come pre-charged, allowing you to use them right out of the box.
Value: At-home teeth whitening is much more affordable compared to in-office treatments, but you still want to ensure you’re getting great value. With this in mind, we considered our overall experiences and then, at the end of testing, reviewed the price of each kit to determine whether or not we would pay for the kits again based on their efficacy, comfort, convenience, and ease of use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which teeth whitening kit is most effective?
Our top pick for the best whitening kit is the Crest 3DWhitestrips Sensitive + LED Light At-Home Teeth Whitening Kit because it combines whitening strips and an LED light for a straight-forward and beginner-friendly application process.
While the treatment takes a little longer than some others on our list, this is a fantastic at-home alternative to in-office whitening treatments. We were also impressed by the Snow Original Teeth Whitening Kit, which comes with an extra strength serum (in addition to a regular strength formula) to target stubborn stains and work as both a whitening treatment and maintenance plan.
What do dentists recommend for teeth whitening at home?
Regarding dentist-recommended teeth whitening, Dr. Kosdon says either an LED whitening kit or whitening strips will work. “The strips require a little less work as they are ready to use out of the box, while the LED light activates the bleach in the gel, which works just like the light we have in the office.”
If you want a combination of LED and strips, we recommend trying the Crest 3DWhitestrips 1 Hour Express + LED Light, which features Crest whitening strips and an LED light and lightened our teeth by six shades while testing.
What is the difference between an LED teeth whitening kit and one without?
Typically, both LED kits and kits without LED use the same whitening agents (hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide), so the biggest difference between an LED teeth whitening kit and one without is the use of the LED light.
“It is believed that some light sources, including LED, decompose peroxide faster by increasing the temperature to form free radicals that can penetrate the tooth enamel,” says Ang. “This means that, in theory, using a kit with an LED light can whiten teeth faster and more effectively.”
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Jessie Quinn is a contributing commerce writer for PEOPLE and has written for publications such as Byrdie, InStyle, The Spruce, NYLON, and more. When covering the best LED whitening kits, Jessie thoroughly reviewed the PEOPLE Tested team’s insights and carefully considered the application process, recommended use, and how well each kit worked at whitening teeth throughout the testing period. She also reached out to dental experts to learn more about the benefits of LED whitening kits and what to look for when choosing one.
Our Experts
Dr. Michael Kosdon, DDS, is a cosmetic dentist who has worked with celebrities such as Hilary Duff, Jim Carrey, Drake, and more.
Brittany Ang, DMD MDS MBS, is the founder of Curve Orthodontics in Linwood, New Jersey.
Dr. Alexa Martin, DMD, is a board-certified endodontist at Martin Endodontics in Beverly Hills, California.
What Is PEOPLE Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
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Read the original article on People.
