Our Scientists Assessed 55 Teeth Whitening Products to Find the Best (2024)

Brush on this minty Crest whitening gel, the winner of the GH Beauty Lab’s teeth whitening products test across all categories, to whiten teeth almost three shades in two weeks. The formula (which comes with an applicator wand) ranked highly across the board, with testers raving about how easy it was to incorporate into their routine.

The serum scored best for overall satisfaction, with 100% of testers agreeing that it removed surface tooth stains and didn’t irritate gums (some did note tooth sensitivity during use, however). They also liked that it had a pleasant fresh taste and didn't leave excess product on teeth.

It received one of the highest ratings for lightening teeth, by 2.6 shades on average in two weeks of use. One user liked that the product was “discreet." Another raved: "It didn’t have a bad taste or interfere with my day or night routine, and I actually saw results."

Zimba's whitening strips were the best in the strips category in the GH Beauty Lab's most recent test. Offered in six flavors ranging from spearmint to watermelon, they put a great-tasting spin on classic whitening strips and earned top scores for ease of use and noticeably lightening teeth.

An impressive 100% of testers found that the strips made teeth visibly whiter, by an average of 2.7 shades in two weeks. Users gave them high marks for being effortless to apply, staying in place and having an enjoyable flavor (particularly the coconut variant).

Note, though, that teeth must be dry before application so the strips adhere and they can leave residue that requires rinsing. They “didn’t taste gross” and “took care of yellow staining I had,” two fans commented. Another echoed: "I did see a noticeable difference in my teeth."

Up your whitening game with Crest’s kit of hydrogen peroxide strips and a wireless LED-light device — inspired by pro treatments — to boost the effects. Almost all users agreed that it was gentle, yet erased stains and whitened teeth well. The duo received the highest score for removing surface stains from teeth, and 100% of testers agreed that it didn’t cause tooth sensitivity or irritate gums. The product whitened teeth an average of 2.6 shades in 19 days of use.

Testers also praised it for not being messy and that the device sat securely on teeth, although some found the time commitment of more than one hour per day inconvenient. They enthused that the set “truly worked and clearly whitened teeth,” even ones stained by tea and red wine. "I can see the whitening effect after just one use," another marveled.

Look no further than these Rembrandt whitening strips if your teeth tend to be sensitive. They effectively whitened teeth, by 1.6 shades in one week, yet 100% of testers agreed that they didn't cause sensitivity. The strips also rated highly for not leaving excessive residue on teeth.

They didn't perform as well for ease of use: Testers reported that they didn't like the fit of the strips, plus they didn't sit securely in place and weren't as comfortable to keep in the mouth during the treatment time. Users did appreciate the fast results, however, commenting how they "visibly lightened teeth quickly" and "did show improvement in seven days."

Get noticeably whiter teeth at a bargain price by just brushing with Colgate’s groundbreaking whitening toothpaste, a GH Beauty Award winner, which contains high levels of the bleaching active hydrogen peroxide. Data shows that this formula, with 3% hydrogen peroxide, can remove up to 10 years of yellow stains on teeth in four weeks of twice-daily use, GH Beauty Lab analysis confirmed.

Though it may take longer to see results than stronger treatments, GH's Beauty Director found that it doesn't cause any sensitivity and her teeth are noticeably whiter when using this versus other toothpastes. GH Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn is a fan of the Colgate Optic White Pro Series Whitening Toothpaste, which contains an even higher level of hydrogen peroxide (5%): "This toothpaste works just as well as the whitening strips I’ve tried, without any irritation at all," she says. "It visibly whitened my teeth after just a couple weeks of brushing morning and night."

True to its claim of professional-level whitening, the Crest whitening strip kit is a GH Beauty Lab and dentist gold standard for smile brightening. Lab evaluations found that after 20 days of daily use, they lightened teeth a noticeable two to four shades. The strips simply stick on teeth and can be worn during daily activities for convenience. (Note that they must be applied for 45 minutes to achieve best results and some reviewers experienced discomfort during use.)

"These strips are one of the most effective at-home teeth whitening products," says Michael J. Wei, DDS, FIADFE, a cosmetic dentist in New York City. "They are designed to remove tough stains from coffee, tea and smoking, and they’re easy to use, since they don’t require any special trays or gels." Ellen Katz, DDS, Co-Founder of Maison BE Dental Studio in New York City, also recommends this kit and Dr. Gonchar calls it "one of my personal favorite over-the-counter whitening products."

No pesky cords attached to this innovative Snow LED teeth whitening kit, which like professional dentist treatments, has a wireless LED mouthpiece to use with the included hydrogen peroxide gel. In GH Beauty Lab testing, it received a perfect score for not sensitizing teeth or gums, was easy to use and brightened teeth by one shade after one week of use for the recommended nine minutes per day.

Though one tester found the LED device uncomfortable in the beginning, another liked the "durable" silicone mouthpiece and that she could "walk around and do things while using it." It earned raves for being pain-free: "This is the easiest and most painless whitening kit I've used," a fan said.

RELATED: I Tried the Snow Teeth Whitening Kit — Here's What You Need to Know Before Buying

Whiten your teeth while you sleep with Colgate's gentle, "convenient" wand, a top performer in the pen category in GH Beauty Lab testing. The built-in brush dispenses a 3% hydrogen peroxide-based liquid you can paint on teeth in seconds. Among brush-on teeth whiteners, it earned the highest score for not irritating teeth, plus ranked well at visibly whitening teeth, removing surface stains and not leaving excessive residue on teeth.

One drawback: Testers commented that it was difficult to clean the wand. "Being able to apply and go to sleep with it on was so easy," a tester remarked. Another said: "I had absolutely no pain or sensitivity like I've had in the past with whitening strips."

RELATED: Best Teeth Whitening Pens

Testers gauged each product's whitening effects using a standard Teeth Whitening Shade Guide (pictured) to identify their tooth shade before and after use of the product according to manufacturer instructions.

Finally, our Beauty Lab scientists collated 2,250 consumer survey data points to determine the winning teeth whitening products.

✔️ Whitening active ingredients: For optimal teeth whitening results at home, "look for the active lightening ingredients hydrogen or carbamide peroxide," advises Sharon Huang, D.D.S., MICOI, a cosmetic dentist and founder of Les Belles NYC in New York City. Note that although hydrogen peroxide produces excellent whitening effects, it can sometimes result in temporary tooth sensitivity, Dr. Gonchar says.

✔️ Form: As for the best teeth whitener form, "I recommend whitening strips and use them personally," Dr. Huang says. "Since the strip wraps around the teeth, the whitening solution has constant contact with teeth, and they’re the easiest to keep in the mouth for the prescribed amount of time." (See below for a list and description of of teeth whitener forms.)

✔️ Potency level: The maximum percentage of active teeth lightening ingredients is 10% for over-the-counter products, Dr. Huang says (treatments that dentists use can include higher levels). "Higher concentrations will result in faster and better results, yet may cause tooth sensitivity," Dr. Gonchar explains. "Lower-concentration products will take longer to achieve the desired results, but may be more appropriate for those with sensitive teeth or other dental needs."

✔️ Sensitivity-friendly ingredients: If you have sensitive teeth, "carbamide peroxide is less sensitizing than hydrogen peroxide because it takes more time for the whitening action to occur," Dr. Huang explains. For extremely sensitive teeth, there are also products that don’t contain peroxide, and instead are made with ingredients like aloe vera and coconut oil, which have natural whitening effects that pull stains from the teeth, she says. "They're not as effective as peroxide, but are a good natural option that’s gentler on the teeth," Dr. Huang notes.

There are four main types of at-home teeth whitenining products: whitening strips and trays, LED light devices, pens or gels and toothpastes. "The effectiveness of at-home teeth whitening products can vary from person to person, and what works best for one individual may not yield the same results for another," Dr. Katz notes. Here's a guide to what differentiates each of the options and how they function so you can choose the right form for you, according to the dental experts:

✔️ Whitening strips and trays: These kits contain a plastic strip, tray or mold, which is used to apply the bleaching ingredient hydrogen peroxide directly to teeth. Each session lasts 30 minutes to two hours (follow the directions on the teeth whitening kit's packaging for how to use), so results can be visible in one day, though you'll need up to three weeks of repeated application for full results. If you want to make your teeth white faster or you want to turn yellow teeth white, strips are one of the most effective OTC teeth whiteners, as the active ingredient is left on teeth for an extended period of time.

✔️ Whitening light devices: A whitening agent is directly applied to teeth; then a blue LED light is held over them to increase penetration and accelerate results. Like teeth whitening strips, light devices are very effective because of the amount of time the active ingredient makes full contact with your teeth.

✔️ Whitening gels, serums and pens: These formulas contain the active teeth lightening ingredient hydrogen peroxide in a pen or gel form that you glide over your teeth to whiten them. Some are left on teeth (even created to be left on overnight), while others are meant to be rinsed off. Because the ingredients can be diluted or washed away in your mouth over time, the whitening results are generally more moderate.

✔️ Whitening toothpaste: Pastes typically contain mild abrasives like hydrated silica, sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate to polish and remove surface stains and/or low concentrations of the active teeth whitening ingredient hydrogen peroxide to bleach teeth. "Most conventional whitening toothpastes largely work by using an abrasive called silica to mechanically scrape stains off of teeth, hence the 'whitened' result, not by actual bleaching," explains Justin Rashbaum, D.M.D., a general and cosmetic dentist in New York City for Supersmile. Look for pastes that contain hydrogen peroxide if you want noticeable results. You can expect to see visible effects after five or more days of twice-daily use, but only expect minimal to moderate whitening results, due to lower levels of bleaching ingredients.

Yes, as mentioned above, LED light can be an effective option for teeth whitening. "LED light helps to activate the whitening agent that is applied to the teeth, which helps to break down and dissolve stains caused by food, drinks and smoking," Dr. Wei explains. "The light also helps speed up the whitening process, allowing the bleaching agent to penetrate the enamel and dentin of the teeth to remove discoloration."

But note that using an LED light by itself on teeth won't whiten them. "LED lights alone do not have a whitening effect, but used in conjunction with chemical agents [like hydrogen peroxide] are meant to accelerate and enhance the whitening process," Dr. Gonchar says. "LED lights do not damage teeth and can be used safely, though you should avoid them if you have sensitive teeth."

If you have sensitive teeth, you'll want to take some extra precautions before using at-home whitening products. "I recommend seeing your dentist if you have sensitive teeth, as they may be a sign of dental problems," says Timothy Chase, D.M.D., cosmetic dentist and practicing partner at SmilesNY. "If your teeth are okay but you simply have sensitivity, your dentist can help with desensitizing treatments."

It depends on whether you go pro and your lifestyle habits. "Professional whitening will provide results that last longer — people usually get touch-ups every six months to a year," Dr. Huang says, but "with at-home products like teeth whitening strips, you may need a touch-up every month to take the superficial stains off and keep teeth white over time."

What you eat and drink and whether you smoke also contribute to the longevity of teeth whitening effects. "If you’re meticulous at avoiding anything that will stain teeth and upkeep with whitening touch-up products, results will last longer," she explains. Especially following a whitening treatment, “avoid any food or drink that would stain a white blouse,” Dr. Kantor advises, including red wine, coffee, tea and berries.

To prevent yellowing or darkening teeth, drink any colored beverage through a straw to keep it from coming in contact with your teeth, Dr. Huang advises. Or try rinsing your mouth with water immediately after drinking or eating to prevent staining (but don’t brush, because the enzymes in your mouth can make enamel softer and more prone to staining at that time), she says.

Pia Velasco is a beauty editor with over a decade experience at publications including Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, Prevention and more. She researched and wrote the original version of this guide.

GH Beauty Director April Franzino most recently updated this story based on the expertise and testing of GH Beauty Lab scientists and top industry professionals. GH Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn also contributed reporting to this piece.

GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek conducted the Beauty Lab's most recent teeth whitening products test and provided expert commentary and review.