These Teeth-Whitening Kits Will Give Your a Red Carpet Smile on a Budget
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As we all know (and hopefully are practicing), you should be brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing. But even if you are practicing your daily oral hygiene to perfection, it only takes a few cups of morning coffee to make your pearly whites ... not so pearly.
If you can’t make it to the dentist’s office for a teeth-whitening session, here's some good news: With the right teeth-whitening kit, you can make your smile sparkle in the comfort of your own home without shelling out the big bucks.
Our Favorite Teeth Whiteners
Why Aren’t My Teeth White?
Before we get into the solution, let's consider the root cause. Dr. Jon Marashi, celebrity dentist and Byte's chief cosmetic dentist, says that the issue could be — you guessed it — your oral hygiene.
“White teeth always start with your at-home oral care,” he says. “So if you’re not brushing and flossing properly, you’re not going to get too far with teeth-whitening!”
Marashi also notes that external stains from food and beverages like coffee, tea, red wine, and berries add layers of plaque on the teeth, which cause staining and discoloration. "Also, your teeth naturally darken as they age over time," he adds.
Tips for Whitening Your Teeth at Home
According to Marashi, before using a teeth-whitening kit, you should “mechanically” cleanse your teeth of any plaque buildup by either doing a deep cleanse at home (brushing and flossing) or by getting a professional cleanse. Once your pearly whites are all clean, you're all set to use a teeth-whitening kit, which Marashi says works from the inside out to remove stains.
Though teeth-whitening can be done in a variety of ways, Marashi notes that the most common uses are over-the-counter trays and adhesive strips that contain a peroxide solution.
“The peroxide soaks into the teeth and breaks up the discolorations on the inner aspects of the tooth, thereby whitening it,” he says. However, if you’re expecting instantly brighter teeth, we have news: Marashi says that these options usually take 1 to 2 weeks to see results.
“The peroxide soaks into the teeth and breaks up the discolorations on the inner aspects of the tooth.”
One issue that people run into with teeth whiteners is sensitivity. If you have particularly sensitive teeth, Marashi recommends making a dentist appointment for a professional treatment, where they'll use protective barriers around the gum line to prevent tooth sensitivity. He also notes that people with very thin enamel or those who are sensitive to cold and/or hot foods and beverages don't fare well with at-home whitening kits, so if you fall in this category, it's time to see a dentist.
Also, if you have veneers or crowns, you probably won't see any results from at-home whiteners. Marashi notes that since veneers and crowns are color-stable, the peroxide solution doesn't soak in.
If you're ready for a brighter smile and would rather skip the dentist's chair, these at-home teeth-whitening kits are among the best out there. Below, check out our favorites:
The Best At-Home Teeth-Whitening Kits
Best Overall
Key Specs
Rating: 4.6-star average from 62,680 Amazon reviews
Standout ingredient: Hydrogen peroxide
There's a reason why these whitening strips are so popular: they actually work. Crest Whitestrips take a mere 30 minutes out of your day to polish your pearly whites to perfection. Each box comes with 44 strips in total, and their proprietary Advanced Seal Technology’s no-slip grip stays put so you can talk and drink water while whitening.
Amazon reviewers who drink coffee and red wine say this teeth-whitening kit has successfully removed years of surface stains in about 10 days. "While I always took care of my teeth, I began to get a little self-conscious about noticeable discoloration. I am estimating my teeth are now 50% whiter," says one 50-year-old Amazon reviewer who drinks a daily cup of joe.
The kit also comes with a set of the 1-Hour Express Treatment that you can leave on for 60 minutes for an even whiter smile. “It's as if the whitening continues to develop over a few hours. So don't worry if you don't see the change using the 1-Hour Express right away. It will absolutely be noticable a little later on,” says one Amazon reviewer.
We also have great news for anyone with sensitive teeth and gums: Amazon reviewers say they haven't experienced any gum or enamel issues while using this product, and others say teeth sensitivity is mild when using this whitening kit. To quote one 5-star review, "I did not experience any sensitivity, soreness, or any other adverse reactions to using this product. Highly recommended if you're looking for a reasonably-priced path to a whiter smile."
Best Teeth-Whitening Pen
Key Specs
Rating: 4.76-star average from more than 39,100 reviews on Amazon
Standout ingredient: Hydrogen peroxide
If you'd rather skip the spit-filled mess of trays and strips, look no further than this easy-to-use whitening pen from Colgate. Its overnight formula works to instantly lift and remove stains, and they claim to give a visibly whiter finish to your teeth in as little as 1 week. It's as simple as clicking the pen, swiping it on your teeth, and going to bed!
We love that this budget-friendly teeth-whitener contains only four ingredents that help perfect your smile, including hydrogen peroxide, alcohol solvent, copolymer, and water. Despite it's minimal ingredient label, online reviewers say they've noticed an immediate difference in the whiteness of their teeth whenever they use this product.
For best results, one Target reviewer suggests using a sheet of paper towel to wipe away saliva. "When applied correctly it actually clings to the teeth creating a coating for an all night treatment. When most other products sit on top of the teeth, slide around, and more importantly become diluted by saliva, which causes the formula to harden which is why many seem to struggle with it drying and clumping," says their 5-star review.
Best Budget Kit
Key Specs
Rating: 4.76-star average from more than 43,360 reviews on Amazon
Standout ingredient: Carbamide peroxide
This under-$50 teeth-whitening kit from AuraGlow uses a teeth tray that's equipped with five LED lights to speed up the process. It also has a built-in timer with a beeper, so you can easily keep track of your whitening session time. This budget-friendly pick also has rave reviews from thousands of Amazon reviewers, so you know you're getting the most out of your buck.
Amazon reviewers say to be patient as the most notable whitening improvement occurs after the third session, and have continually improved over the next few days. "This is the only whitening product that has worked for me, and I will definitely continue to use it," says one 5-star review.
For the best results, one reviewer advises applying the gel directly to dry teeth and then inserting the mouth tray so the gel feels more evenly distributed.
If you fancy a pen option, good news: AuraGlow has an inexpensive teeth-whitening pen that one of our testers can't stop raving about, too.
Best Tray for Sensitive Teeth
Key Specs
Rating: 4.2-star average from more than 2,180 reviews on Amazon
Standout ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide and potassium nitrate
Are your teeth sensitive? Then whiten them without irritation or pain by grabbing this kit ,ade with sensitive teeth in mind, so it'll refresh the look of your smile without causing any pain or sensitivity. It uses heat and blue LED light to give you fast, visible results in as little as 8 minutes, minus the pain that other teeth-whitening kits bring. It's a pricier option, but if you have sensitive teeth and don't want to get a costly in-office treatment, this whitening kit is worth the investment.
Amazon reviewers use phrases like, "absolutely a must have," "worth every penny," and "don't think about it, just buy it" to describe this impressive teeth-whitening kit. "This is easy and comfortable while working twice as fast as any other product I've used. It is truly brilliant," says one Amazon reviewer who used everything from charcoal toothpaste and teeth-whitening strips.
Another Amazon reviewer adds the mouth guard fits comfortably, but notes they experienced a lot of saliva buildup during the teeth-whitening session. Thankfully, they promise "the results are worth every minute of your time!"
Vegan Formula
Key Specs
Rating: 4-star average from 9,000 reviews on Amazon
Standout ingredients: Carbamide peroxide
Fact: Not all oral hygiene products are vegan. If you want clean teeth without any animal byproducts, then try out this whitening kit, which uses only vegan-friendly and certified-organic ingredients to put a sparkle in your smile. Plus, its low-sensitivity whitening power takes a mere 10 minutes to work, but you can leave it on for up to 30 minutes for a more intensive treatment.
One Amazon reviewer called these "a must-have" when paired with the brand's toothpaste. Another reviewer says this teeth-whitening kit is amazing and genuinely works. "The first few times you feel like some stains were lifted and others weren't, so you think it looks blotchy, but don't be scared — it's lifting the really bad stains first. And the blotchiness you feel is there goes away in the next treatment," adds another Amazon reviewer who saw whiter results in four days. Other Amazon reviewers add you have enough product for several whitening sessions, to boot.
Best Strips for Sensitive Teeth
Key Specs
Rating: 4.2-star average from 75 reviews on Amazon
Standout ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide
Not into whitening trays? Then try out these whitening strips, which come with a comforting gum gel to keep the pain away while you're whitening your teeth. Plus, each box comes with enough whitening strips to pamper your smile for a full month — 28 strips in total, to be exact.
One Amazon reviewer says these strips are gentler on sensitive teeth and whiten better than Crest Whitening Strips. "They [Crest] were not anywhere near the quality of these and they tasted disgusting. They didn't hold as well and my teeth were absolutely killing me. Also, the Crest strips didn't get my teeth as white. I'd say Crest strips reduced stains by about 50%," says their 5-star Amazon review.
Other Amazon reviewers are impressed that these "nice and thick" whitening strips actually stay on throughout each hour-long session. Their biggest tip: Be sure your teeth are dry to prevent saliva buildup.
Professional-Grade Results
Key Specs
Rating: 4.4-star average from nearly 5,470 reviews on Amazon
Standout ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide
Want professional results without actually going to the dentist? Enter: this teeth-whitening kit from SNOW, which has one of the most advanced formulas on the market to instantly whiten and brighten your smile.
This kit comes with their proprietary teeth-whitening gel and a USB-powdered LED mouthpiece, and their formula is strong enough to remove stains yet gentle on teeth, no matter how sensitive your teeth are. You only need 9 minutes daily for an entire teeth-whitening session, and you're all set!
Although Amazon reviewers appreciate the comfortable mouthpiece, they really love how effective this tool is at whitening their teeth. Notably, one Amazon reviewer says their teeth are four shades whiter after just six days, while another notes it lightened their coffee-stained teeth. "You get what you pay for — Snow system is not cheap but actually works," adds one 5-star Amazon review. "This is seriously the best teeth whitening product I've ever used. I have really sensitive teeth and this is the one and only product I've ever tried that doesn't give me those crazy zingers!"
On-the-Go Teeth Whitener
Key Specs
Rating: 4.1-star average from nearly 735 reviews on Ulta
Standout ingredient: Urea Peroxide
On the run and don't have time for a full-on teeth-whitening session? Then grab this teeth-whitener that is about the size of a Tide To Go pen. We love that it uses an all-natural and vegan formula (approved and co-crafted by Kendall Jenner, by the way) to spruce up your smile, no matter where you go. It's also vanilla-flavored, so you won't have to deal with a bad taste in your mouth while you're out and about.
"Moon Teeth Whitening Pen is the perfect blend of effectiveness and value," says one Amazon reviewer with sensitive teeth. They highlight its sleek form and mess-free formula as two major wins and add that it's so much better than other options they've tried.
The brand promises you'll see results within 30 seconds, but Amazon reviewers say the whitening effects get progressively better over time. "It's pretty cheap. Give it a try for two weeks straight, and you will see a difference! I have subscribed to get this product once every 6 weeks bc I can't go without it," says one 5-star Amazon review.
Best Whitening Tray Kit
Key Specs
Rating: No online reviews
Ingredients: Hydroxyapatite and PAP (Phthalimidoperoxycaproicacid)
HiSmile's teeth-whitening kit gives you everything you need for a brighter smile: an LED light and mouth tray, a shade guide, and three gel syringes for six treatments. What's unique about this teeth-whitening kit is that it doesn't rely on peroxide to whiten your smile. The brand says peroixide can cause gum irritation or teeth sensitivity. Instead, it utilizes ultra-gentle PAP+, which won't cause any teeth or gum issues.
This kit is also excellent if you're short on time. Each whitening session takes as little as 10 minutes. The brand advises brushing your teeth before wearing the whitening gel and tray at night. And don't worry about setting a timer — it's equipped with an automatic shutdown. It may be the pricier option on this list, but it's worth every penny.
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