The 5 Best Teeth-Whitening Kits, Tested by Dentists and Grooming Editors

Linhart’s home kit received a stamp of approval by Dr. Kunen. “For those looking to replicate a chairside whitening experience, this is closest you will find,” she says. “This whitening system was custom designed by high-end cosmetic dentists in New York City and utilizes the same whitening gel they use in their office on their patients.”

The collection includes 4 syringes of 35% carbamide peroxide whitening gel, and LED whitening light to activate the gel, and a milder whitening gel to help maintain your results. After a few weeks of use, one of our testers claimed, “this is the brightest my teeth has ever been.”

More: A Guide to Improving Your Oral Health

Crest Whitestrips were one of the first at-home teeth-whitening products that were accessible to the masses. To this day, they’re still recommended by dentists including Dr. Kunen. “The design of strips instead of trays takes away the need for a pre-made whitening tray,” she says. “The concentration of the product ranges from 6.5% – 14% peroxide, so those patients who have higher sensitivity may have an easier time with [this option].”

If you want to keep things simple and still achieve powerful results, using the strips is one of the best strategies. We’ve been wearing them for over five years now and have seen huge difference from our first week of treatment. And they’re super easy to put on and take off. What’s more: the strips can be picked up at your local drugstore.

Zimba’s whitening strips are targeted towards those with sensitive teeth. Their offering is slick (no gel or goop) and arrives in 10 different flavors. Plus, they contain hydrogen peroxide, which will help whiten your teeth even faster.

Believe it or not, the results were pretty instant using these strips. Within two days, we were able to spot a lighter shade of our teeth. There were no signs of discomfort or irritation on our gums. It also didn’t hurt that there was a pleasant taste from the spearmint flavor.

Opalescence has been a long time favorite among the dental community, which includes Dr. Pia Lieb, DDS. Previously, the brand sold syringes of their gel to pipette into a whitening tray, but their new Opalescence GO comes with prefilled disposable trays.

Our testers were impressed by the color improvement of their teeth after using these trays for three months. To see a significant change, we suggest going with the 15% strength version. While it did cause some slight sensitivity, that feeling eventually wore off after brushing with a gentle toothpaste.

Unlike most products that effectively remove teeth staining, Lumineux omits hydrogen peroxide from its whitening strips. Instead, the brand’s formula infuses natural ingredients such as dead sea salts, mint, essential oils, and aloe vera. On the brighter side (no pun intended), this option lifts stains without messing with your enamel.

During our testing, we found that the strips’ efficacy was lower than other kits that we’ve tried. That’s not to say they didn’t work, but be prepared for more applications to see the best results.

Are Teeth-Whitening Kits Safe?

The short answer is yes. However, some patients should double check with their dentist first before exploring any kind of whitening treatment. If you have thin enamel, it’s likely you may experience a certain level of pain. Anyone with gum disease or cavities should also take precaution and resolve those issues before brightening their grill. And for those that have had any previous dental work done, it’s a must that you get approval from your primary orthodontist.

Which Teeth-Whitening Kits Have the Best Results?

The length of time your teeth remain brighter varies, and it’s influenced by how often you drink trigger beverages such as coffee, tea, dark soda, red wine or whether you smoke. “The results vary from person to person, depending on how receptive one’s teeth are to the bleaching gel,” says Dr. Kantor. “People whose teeth have more of a yellow/brown tone usually bleach better than people with gray tones in their enamel,” he says.

And while at-home products generally contain a weaker percentage of hydrogen peroxide than in-office teeth-whitening products do, they can still work. That said, a higher percentage of chemicals might not be better for you. “If you are a patient who tends to have more sensitivity, select a teeth-whitening product that has a lower peroxide concentration (15 percent or less), or select a product that doesn’t use peroxides as their chief whitening ingredient,” says Dr. Kunen.

Teeth-whitening products always work best when the tooth surface is clean and free of debris, Kunen says. So brush and floss before you whiten with whatever product you choose.

Meet the Experts

• Dr. Heather S. Kunen, DDS, MS is an orthodontist and Invisalign specialist in New York, NY
• Dr. Kevin B. Sands, DDS is board-certified celebrity cosmetic dentist in Beverly Hills, CA
• Dr. Pia Lieb, DDS is a board-certified cosmetic dentist in New York, NY