The 7 Best Teeth Whitening Products, Tested in Our Homes

Mar. 15, 2025

In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleOur Top PicksReviewsAdd to CartWhat to KnowBehind the ScenesFAQWhy Trust PEOPLE?What Is PEOPLE Tested?

In This ArticleView All

In This Article

View All

Our Top Picks

Reviews

Add to Cart

What to Know

Behind the Scenes

FAQ

Why Trust PEOPLE?

What Is PEOPLE Tested?

Photo:People / Jhett Thompson

People / Jhett Thompson

Getting white, sparkling teeth used to require trips to a professional for cleanings and whitening treatments. Today’s at-home options work surprisingly well, and they come at a fraction of the cost.

Experts Say"Peroxide-based whitening gels of any concentration, including those over the counter and in the dental office, have the same method of action. They dissolve into the enamel (without damage) and break down the tough stains built up inside."—Dr. Aodhan Docherty, cosmetic dentist and teeth whitening technology researcher

Experts Say

“Peroxide-based whitening gels of any concentration, including those over the counter and in the dental office, have the same method of action. They dissolve into the enamel (without damage) and break down the tough stains built up inside."—Dr. Aodhan Docherty, cosmetic dentist and teeth whitening technology researcher

There are tons of teeth whiteners on the market now, including classicwhitening strips, convenientwhitening pens, and high-techLED whitening kits. We tested over 20 such options to find ones that are not only effective but also user-friendly and gentle, even on sensitive teeth. You’ll find the best teeth whitening products that PEOPLE tested ahead.

Best Whitening Strips:SALECrest 3D Sensitive Teeth Whitening Kit at Amazon$50$34Jump to Review

Best Whitening Strips:SALECrest 3D Sensitive Teeth Whitening Kit at Amazon$50$34

Best Whitening Strips:

SALE

Best Whitening Trays:Opalescence Tooth Whitening Prefilled Trays at Amazon$78Jump to Review

Best Whitening Trays:Opalescence Tooth Whitening Prefilled Trays at Amazon$78

Best Whitening Trays:

Best LED Light:iSmile LED Teeth Whitening Kit at Amazon$28Jump to Review

Best LED Light:iSmile LED Teeth Whitening Kit at Amazon$28

Best LED Light:

Best Whitening Pen:SALEAuraGlow Teeth Whitening Pen at Amazon$16$7Jump to Review

Best Whitening Pen:SALEAuraGlow Teeth Whitening Pen at Amazon$16$7

Best Whitening Pen:

Best Purple Toothpaste:Hismile V34 Colour Corrector Serum at Amazon$18Jump to Review

Best Purple Toothpaste:Hismile V34 Colour Corrector Serum at Amazon$18

Best Purple Toothpaste:

Best Toothbrush:SALEVoom Sonic Pro 5 Electronic Toothbrush at Amazon$40$27Jump to Review

Best Toothbrush:SALEVoom Sonic Pro 5 Electronic Toothbrush at Amazon$40$27

Best Toothbrush:

Best Advanced:Auraglow Whitening Kit at Amazon$48Jump to Review

Best Advanced:Auraglow Whitening Kit at Amazon$48

Best Advanced:

Best Electric Toothbrush:Oral-B Genius X Limited at Amazon$200Jump to Review

Best Electric Toothbrush:Oral-B Genius X Limited at Amazon$200

Best Electric Toothbrush:

Best Water Flosser:SALEAquasonic Aqua Flosser at Amazon$50$40Jump to Review

Best Water Flosser:SALEAquasonic Aqua Flosser at Amazon$50$40

Best Water Flosser:

Best Toothpaste:

Best Whitening StripsCrest 3D Sensitive Teeth Whitening KitPHOTO: Amazon$50$33 at AmazonView on Target$32 at WalmartStar QualitiesStrips are mess-free and portableGentle enough for sensitive teethWhitened our teeth noticeably in two weeksRed FlagsTakes longer to notice results than some other methodsThe 2001 launch of Crest Whitestrips was a tipping point for at-home whitening. The original product is still a mainstay, but there are now several enhanced versions worth considering. 3DWhitestrips Sensitive was our favorite of the three whitening strips we tried. The effective yet gentle hydrogen peroxide strips whiten your teeth over the course of two weeks, a process that we found painless — both in terms of ease and actual sensations — on sensitive teeth and reactive gums.We liked the straightforward process and appreciated how the individually wrapped strips can be stashed in your bag for on-the-go use. Since this kit lives up to its claims as a pain-free teeth whitening solution, we think the price is worth it. Overall, this product does the trick and provides a nice bright refresh to your smile.Type:Strips |Active Ingredient:Hydrogen peroxide |Duration Per Use:30 minutesPHOTO: People / Jhett ThompsonPHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson

Best Whitening StripsCrest 3D Sensitive Teeth Whitening KitPHOTO: Amazon$50$33 at AmazonView on Target$32 at Walmart

Best Whitening StripsCrest 3D Sensitive Teeth Whitening Kit

Best Whitening Strips

Crest 3D Sensitive Teeth Whitening Kit

PHOTO: Amazon

$50$33 at AmazonView on Target$32 at Walmart

Star QualitiesStrips are mess-free and portableGentle enough for sensitive teethWhitened our teeth noticeably in two weeksRed FlagsTakes longer to notice results than some other methods

Star QualitiesStrips are mess-free and portableGentle enough for sensitive teethWhitened our teeth noticeably in two weeks

Strips are mess-free and portable

Gentle enough for sensitive teeth

Whitened our teeth noticeably in two weeks

Red FlagsTakes longer to notice results than some other methods

Takes longer to notice results than some other methods

The 2001 launch of Crest Whitestrips was a tipping point for at-home whitening. The original product is still a mainstay, but there are now several enhanced versions worth considering. 3DWhitestrips Sensitive was our favorite of the three whitening strips we tried. The effective yet gentle hydrogen peroxide strips whiten your teeth over the course of two weeks, a process that we found painless — both in terms of ease and actual sensations — on sensitive teeth and reactive gums.

We liked the straightforward process and appreciated how the individually wrapped strips can be stashed in your bag for on-the-go use. Since this kit lives up to its claims as a pain-free teeth whitening solution, we think the price is worth it. Overall, this product does the trick and provides a nice bright refresh to your smile.

Type:Strips |Active Ingredient:Hydrogen peroxide |Duration Per Use:30 minutes

PHOTO: People / Jhett ThompsonPHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson

Best Whitening TraysOpalescence Tooth Whitening Prefilled TraysPHOTO: Amazon$78 at AmazonView on Dentalfinds.comStar QualitiesNoticeably whitens teeth after each useQuick and easy to get started withRed FlagsTrays can feel a little bulky and uncomfortable in the mouthNot recommended for sensitive teethOpalescence Go comes with 10 single-use trays pre-filled with hydrogen peroxide gel, which you’re supposed to wear for 30 to 60 minutes each. Unfortunately, they’re not very comfortable and might make your mouth overproduce saliva. We were only able to keep them in for about 8 minutes the first time but extended the sessions as our teeth became acclimated.While we wouldn’t recommend this kit for beginners or folks with sensitive teeth, the trays definitely produce noticeable results. After each use, our teeth lightened a full shade. And if you can wear the trays for the full recommended time, the effects will likely be even more dramatic.Type:Trays |Active Ingredient:Hydrogen peroxide |Duration Per Use:30–60 minutesPHOTO: People / Jessica JuliaoPHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson

Best Whitening TraysOpalescence Tooth Whitening Prefilled TraysPHOTO: Amazon$78 at AmazonView on Dentalfinds.com

Best Whitening TraysOpalescence Tooth Whitening Prefilled Trays

Best Whitening Trays

Opalescence Tooth Whitening Prefilled Trays

$78 at AmazonView on Dentalfinds.com

Star QualitiesNoticeably whitens teeth after each useQuick and easy to get started withRed FlagsTrays can feel a little bulky and uncomfortable in the mouthNot recommended for sensitive teeth

Star QualitiesNoticeably whitens teeth after each useQuick and easy to get started with

Noticeably whitens teeth after each use

Quick and easy to get started with

Red FlagsTrays can feel a little bulky and uncomfortable in the mouthNot recommended for sensitive teeth

Trays can feel a little bulky and uncomfortable in the mouth

Not recommended for sensitive teeth

Opalescence Go comes with 10 single-use trays pre-filled with hydrogen peroxide gel, which you’re supposed to wear for 30 to 60 minutes each. Unfortunately, they’re not very comfortable and might make your mouth overproduce saliva. We were only able to keep them in for about 8 minutes the first time but extended the sessions as our teeth became acclimated.

While we wouldn’t recommend this kit for beginners or folks with sensitive teeth, the trays definitely produce noticeable results. After each use, our teeth lightened a full shade. And if you can wear the trays for the full recommended time, the effects will likely be even more dramatic.

Type:Trays |Active Ingredient:Hydrogen peroxide |Duration Per Use:30–60 minutes

PHOTO: People / Jessica JuliaoPHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson

Best LED LightiSmile LED Teeth Whitening KitPHOTO: Amazon$28 at Amazon$50 at Target$32 at Walmart

Best LED LightiSmile LED Teeth Whitening Kit

Best LED Light

iSmile LED Teeth Whitening Kit

$28 at Amazon$50 at Target$32 at Walmart

Star QualitiesAccelerator light speeds up the whitening processOnly 10 minutes per day requiredMade teeth four shades whiter in two weeksRed FlagsSlight gum discomfort during testing

Star QualitiesAccelerator light speeds up the whitening processOnly 10 minutes per day requiredMade teeth four shades whiter in two weeks

Accelerator light speeds up the whitening process

Only 10 minutes per day required

Made teeth four shades whiter in two weeks

Red FlagsSlight gum discomfort during testing

Slight gum discomfort during testing

More to the point, it was extremely effective. Our teeth were four shades whiter after using this LED whitening kit for two weeks. If your teeth tolerate it well and you have some spare time, you can opt for two daily sessions to speed up the effects. Considering the professional-level results, we consider iSmile’s kit a great value for at-home whitening.

Type:Tray with LED light |Active Ingredient:Carbamide peroxide |Duration Per Use:10 minutes

Best Whitening PenAuraGlow Teeth Whitening PenPHOTO: Amazon$16$7 at Amazon$9 at WalmartView on Auraglow.com

Best Whitening PenAuraGlow Teeth Whitening Pen

Best Whitening Pen

AuraGlow Teeth Whitening Pen

$16$7 at Amazon$9 at WalmartView on Auraglow.com

Star QualitiesVery easy to useOnly needs 1 minute to start workingRed FlagsMay tingle slightly and make your mouth waterLess dramatic results than other methods

Star QualitiesVery easy to useOnly needs 1 minute to start working

Very easy to use

Only needs 1 minute to start working

Red FlagsMay tingle slightly and make your mouth waterLess dramatic results than other methods

May tingle slightly and make your mouth water

Less dramatic results than other methods

Teeth whitening pens are super convenient, especially for on-the-go use. We like this one from Auraflow, which leans on a high concentration of carbamide peroxide to lighten your teeth without causing sensitivity. Just click the bottom until the gel appears at the tip, brush it on, let it dry for a minute, and go about your day. It did tingle for a second, but it was comfortable overall.

Type:Pen |Active Ingredient:Carbamide peroxide |Duration Per Use:1 minute

People / Jessica Juliao

Best Purple ToothpasteHismile V34 Colour Corrector Serum$18 at AmazonView on Hismileteeth.com$20 at CVSStar QualitiesInstantly creates the appearance of a whiter smilePleasant tasteTakes 2 minutes to useRed FlagsWhitening effects are only temporaryThe purple toothpaste craze hit TikTok earlier this year, and lots of creators posted their own dramatic, instant results.Purple toothpasteuses color theory to neutralize yellow tones in the teeth (purple counteracts yellow on the color wheel) and temporarily creates the appearance of a bright white smile.Hismile’s color-correcting serum went viral on TikTok for its instant whitening effects —mentions of Hismilehave garnered over 227 million views on the platform. The formula comes out of the bottle like a watery toothpaste (and tastes like one, too), and makes teeth look whiter. While teeth might appear instantly brighter, those whitening effects are temporary and don’t actually work to address deep stains. This viral product also isn’t a substitute forregular toothpastebecause it doesn’t contain fluoride. We still think this a great tool to have in your cabinet for the day of a big event or for anytime you’re in the mood to flash some extra pearly whites.Type:Serum |Active Ingredient:Red and blue dye |Duration Per Use:2 minutes

Best Purple ToothpasteHismile V34 Colour Corrector Serum$18 at AmazonView on Hismileteeth.com$20 at CVS

Best Purple ToothpasteHismile V34 Colour Corrector Serum

Best Purple Toothpaste

Hismile V34 Colour Corrector Serum

$18 at AmazonView on Hismileteeth.com$20 at CVS

Star QualitiesInstantly creates the appearance of a whiter smilePleasant tasteTakes 2 minutes to useRed FlagsWhitening effects are only temporary

Star QualitiesInstantly creates the appearance of a whiter smilePleasant tasteTakes 2 minutes to use

Instantly creates the appearance of a whiter smile

Pleasant taste

Takes 2 minutes to use

Red FlagsWhitening effects are only temporary

Whitening effects are only temporary

The purple toothpaste craze hit TikTok earlier this year, and lots of creators posted their own dramatic, instant results.Purple toothpasteuses color theory to neutralize yellow tones in the teeth (purple counteracts yellow on the color wheel) and temporarily creates the appearance of a bright white smile.

Hismile’s color-correcting serum went viral on TikTok for its instant whitening effects —mentions of Hismilehave garnered over 227 million views on the platform. The formula comes out of the bottle like a watery toothpaste (and tastes like one, too), and makes teeth look whiter. While teeth might appear instantly brighter, those whitening effects are temporary and don’t actually work to address deep stains. This viral product also isn’t a substitute forregular toothpastebecause it doesn’t contain fluoride. We still think this a great tool to have in your cabinet for the day of a big event or for anytime you’re in the mood to flash some extra pearly whites.

Type:Serum |Active Ingredient:Red and blue dye |Duration Per Use:2 minutes

Best ToothbrushVoom Sonic Pro 5 Electronic Toothbrush$40$27 at AmazonView on Voomsonic.comStar QualitiesBattery lasts for over 30 days between chargesBrush head gets into all the nooks and cranniesIncludes five different brush settings for a custom cleaningRed FlagsNo battery life indicatorTeeth brushing with a regular orelectric toothbrushand flossing with traditional floss or awater flosserare two of the most important steps in any oral hygiene routine — which means they’re also two of the most vital steps in achieving a pearly white smile. One of our favorite electric toothbrushes is the Voom Sonic Pro 5. This device has a two-minute timer and five different settings: clean, white, sensitive, polish, and massage. It’s also easy and intuitive to set up, so we were able to start using it right out of the box. The small brush head is great at reaching every spot in the mouth for a thorough cleaning.Just about the only thing we’d change about this well-priced toothbrush is that it doesn’t have a battery indicator, so it’s hard to tell when you’ll need to recharge it again. However, the battery lasts for over 30 days with just one full charge, so it’s a worthy trade.Type:Toothbrush |Active Ingredient:N/A|Duration Per Use:2 minutes

Best ToothbrushVoom Sonic Pro 5 Electronic Toothbrush$40$27 at AmazonView on Voomsonic.com

Best ToothbrushVoom Sonic Pro 5 Electronic Toothbrush

Best Toothbrush

Voom Sonic Pro 5 Electronic Toothbrush

$40$27 at AmazonView on Voomsonic.com

Star QualitiesBattery lasts for over 30 days between chargesBrush head gets into all the nooks and cranniesIncludes five different brush settings for a custom cleaningRed FlagsNo battery life indicator

Star QualitiesBattery lasts for over 30 days between chargesBrush head gets into all the nooks and cranniesIncludes five different brush settings for a custom cleaning

Battery lasts for over 30 days between charges

Brush head gets into all the nooks and crannies

Includes five different brush settings for a custom cleaning

Red FlagsNo battery life indicator

No battery life indicator

Teeth brushing with a regular orelectric toothbrushand flossing with traditional floss or awater flosserare two of the most important steps in any oral hygiene routine — which means they’re also two of the most vital steps in achieving a pearly white smile. One of our favorite electric toothbrushes is the Voom Sonic Pro 5. This device has a two-minute timer and five different settings: clean, white, sensitive, polish, and massage. It’s also easy and intuitive to set up, so we were able to start using it right out of the box. The small brush head is great at reaching every spot in the mouth for a thorough cleaning.

Just about the only thing we’d change about this well-priced toothbrush is that it doesn’t have a battery indicator, so it’s hard to tell when you’ll need to recharge it again. However, the battery lasts for over 30 days with just one full charge, so it’s a worthy trade.

Type:Toothbrush |Active Ingredient:N/A|Duration Per Use:2 minutes

Best AdvancedAuraglow Whitening KitPHOTO: Amazon$48 at Amazon$48 at WalmartView on Auraglow.comStar QualitiesHighly concentrated for fast resultsGel has a nice minty flavorNo pain or sensitivity during testingRed FlagsLarge silicone tray may cause some discomfort for smaller mouthsIf your teeth can handle more intense treatments, Auraglow’s Complete LED Whitening Kit might be your best bet. It comes with 20 highly concentrated carbamide peroxide treatments and a rechargeable LED accelerator that promises results 10 times faster than most other at-home systems.We liked the minty taste of the gel, and while the tray is made of soft silicone, it was too large for smaller mouths, so our lips had to stretch around it. Wearing the tray for a half-hour wasn’t very comfortable, but the pro-level results were worth it. In the end, our teeth were several shades lighter after two weeks, and we didn’t experience any pain or sensitivity.Type:Tray with LED light |Active Ingredient:Carbamide peroxide |Duration Per Use:30 minutesPeople / Jessica Juliao

Best AdvancedAuraglow Whitening KitPHOTO: Amazon$48 at Amazon$48 at WalmartView on Auraglow.com

Best AdvancedAuraglow Whitening Kit

Best Advanced

Auraglow Whitening Kit

$48 at Amazon$48 at WalmartView on Auraglow.com

Star QualitiesHighly concentrated for fast resultsGel has a nice minty flavorNo pain or sensitivity during testingRed FlagsLarge silicone tray may cause some discomfort for smaller mouths

Star QualitiesHighly concentrated for fast resultsGel has a nice minty flavorNo pain or sensitivity during testing

Highly concentrated for fast results

Gel has a nice minty flavor

No pain or sensitivity during testing

Red FlagsLarge silicone tray may cause some discomfort for smaller mouths

Large silicone tray may cause some discomfort for smaller mouths

If your teeth can handle more intense treatments, Auraglow’s Complete LED Whitening Kit might be your best bet. It comes with 20 highly concentrated carbamide peroxide treatments and a rechargeable LED accelerator that promises results 10 times faster than most other at-home systems.

We liked the minty taste of the gel, and while the tray is made of soft silicone, it was too large for smaller mouths, so our lips had to stretch around it. Wearing the tray for a half-hour wasn’t very comfortable, but the pro-level results were worth it. In the end, our teeth were several shades lighter after two weeks, and we didn’t experience any pain or sensitivity.

Type:Tray with LED light |Active Ingredient:Carbamide peroxide |Duration Per Use:30 minutes

While you’re shopping for the best teeth whitening products, take a look at other highly ranked oral health products. Our team of editors and independent testers put in rigorous testing to highlight only the best.

Oral-B Genius X Limited$200 at Amazon$190 at Walmart

Oral-B Genius X Limited

$200 at Amazon$190 at Walmart

Aquasonic Aqua Flosser$50$40 at Amazon$40 at WalmartView on Aquasonic.com

Aquasonic Aqua Flosser

$50$40 at Amazon$40 at WalmartView on Aquasonic.com

Colgate Overnight Whitening Pen$20 at Amazon$20 at Target$25$17 at Walmart

Colgate Overnight Whitening Pen

$20 at Amazon$20 at Target$25$17 at Walmart

What to Know About Teeth Whitening Products

Type

There are a few types of at-home teeth whiteners. On the more basic end are single-use strips, which you leave on for 30 to 60 minutes, and whitening pens filled with brush-on gel. There are also higher-tech kits with reusable plastic or silicone trays and blue LED accelerator lights, like theAuraglow Whitening Kit. This type ofteeth whitening kittypically offers faster results with shorter sessions.

Active Ingredient

Usage

Aside from cost savings, one of the main draws of at-home teeth whiteners is convenience. Some systems offer noticeable results in sessions as short as five or 10 minutes, while others require you to wear strips or a tray for up to an hour. Additionally, you may need to avoid eating or drinking shortly after each use. Look for a kit that fits your schedule and lifestyle.

We researched and selected more than 20 teeth whitening products for the PEOPLE Tested team to evaluate.

Frequently Asked QuestionsAccording to cosmetic dentist Dr. Aodhan Docherty, peroxide whitening gels dissolve into your tooth enamel and break up the stains without causing damage. “Those stains then exit the enamel, and the tooth appears lighter,” he explains.When combined with peroxide gel, Docherty says blue LED accelerator lights “provide consumers with noticeable whitening results that are affordable and easy to use.” In other words, they help speed up the process of at-home teeth whitening. These devices mean you can expect your teeth to lighten with fewer and often shorter sessions.Docherty says you can. If your teeth are extra-sensitive, he recommends using desensitizing toothpaste for two weeks before starting, as well as throughout the whitening process.“Remember, less is more when it comes to the amount of whitening gel used,” the dentist adds, noting that you can do every-other-day sessions to minimize irritation. He says to avoid applying gel or whitening strips on receding gums or exposed roots.It depends. Some LED-accelerated systems offer whiter teeth in as little as one or two sessions. Gentler formulas may require a week or two of consistent use before you notice a change.

Frequently Asked Questions

According to cosmetic dentist Dr. Aodhan Docherty, peroxide whitening gels dissolve into your tooth enamel and break up the stains without causing damage. “Those stains then exit the enamel, and the tooth appears lighter,” he explains.

When combined with peroxide gel, Docherty says blue LED accelerator lights “provide consumers with noticeable whitening results that are affordable and easy to use.” In other words, they help speed up the process of at-home teeth whitening. These devices mean you can expect your teeth to lighten with fewer and often shorter sessions.

Docherty says you can. If your teeth are extra-sensitive, he recommends using desensitizing toothpaste for two weeks before starting, as well as throughout the whitening process.“Remember, less is more when it comes to the amount of whitening gel used,” the dentist adds, noting that you can do every-other-day sessions to minimize irritation. He says to avoid applying gel or whitening strips on receding gums or exposed roots.

Docherty says you can. If your teeth are extra-sensitive, he recommends using desensitizing toothpaste for two weeks before starting, as well as throughout the whitening process.

“Remember, less is more when it comes to the amount of whitening gel used,” the dentist adds, noting that you can do every-other-day sessions to minimize irritation. He says to avoid applying gel or whitening strips on receding gums or exposed roots.

It depends. Some LED-accelerated systems offer whiter teeth in as little as one or two sessions. Gentler formulas may require a week or two of consistent use before you notice a change.

Our Expert PanelDr. Aodhan Dochertyis a cosmetic dentist and teeth whitening technology researcher.

Our Expert Panel

Dr. Aodhan Dochertyis a cosmetic dentist and teeth whitening technology researcher.

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In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.

source: people.com