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A smile is a universal peace offering of sorts. The single movement instantly conveys a warm, kind sentiment. No words necessary. Because of that, you could say it’s undoubtedly one of your best, most valuable assets.
Unfortunately, many of the things we enjoy regularly—coffee, tea, wine, and more—can all stain teeth over time, turning them from pearly white to varying shades of a much more unsightly yellow.
While dentists say the most effective teeth whitening treatments are in-office procedures or custom-made trays that only professionals can outfit you with, those teeth-whitening or bleaching treatments typically cost upwards of $450, says Joseph Salim, DMD, owner and founder of Sutton Place Dental Associates in NYC.
The good news: There are much cheaper at-home alternatives that, when used properly, can make your teeth one to two shades lighter (as opposed to eight shades from professional treatments), says Rob Raimondi, a dentist at One Manhattan Dental in NYC.
Though you might not get as dramatic results from at-home whitening kits, there’s another upside—they’re friendlier to those with more sensitive teeth, since the percentage of whitening agents like peroxide is generally lower.
Ready to give these whitening treatments a try? We found dentist-recommended solutions—a mixture of trays, lights, and strips—that offer the best value.
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Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips
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Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips
There’s a reason these strips have been so popular for so long. They’re easy to adhere, effective, and cost-efficient, says Emanuel Layliev, DDS, a dentist at the New York Center for Cosmetic Dentistry. They’re great in a pinch, since—with daily use—they can lighten your teeth up to two shades in just a few weeks.
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SNOW Cosmetics The Diamond Teeth Whitening Kit
If you have sensitive teeth that ache with traditional whitening treatments, Bendayan suggests this FDA-approved, over-the-counter system, since the hydrogen peroxide is less concentrated. And don't worry: It’s still plenty effective, thanks to the LED light—that’s what does most of the work.
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Opalescence Go Pre-Filled Teeth Whitening Trays
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Opalescence Go Pre-Filled Teeth Whitening Trays
For the ultimate convenience, these disposable teeth whitening trays come pre-loaded with the right amount of whitening gel, says Salim. For maximum results, he suggests using all 10 sets of trays within a short time frame. And pro tip: You can keep them refrigerated to increases their shelf life to about a year, he says.
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Gel is another great option for sensitive teeth. This formula is painted on, gradually whitening teeth over time, says Seema Desai, DDS. You can control how much—or how little—you apply and how often you apply it, avoiding teeth sensitivity altogether.
This teeth whitening system comes with a super-compact light that has five LED bulbs to rapidly speed up the whitening process, says Lana Rozenberg, a cosmetic dentist in NYC. “Just apply the dental-grade whitening gel, powered by carbamide peroxide—a combination of urea and hydrogen peroxide—directly to the mouth tray and turn on the LED light,” she explains. An automated timer turns off the light every 10 minutes, so you can keep track of your treatment’s progression and ensure you only use the kit for the recommended 30 minutes at a time.
Zimba whitening strips come in a variety of all-natural flavors to make the 30-minute treatment just a bit more enjoyable. The premium-grip white strips are boosted with either coconut oil or mint fragrance (you choose the flavor) for a great-tasting treatment without artificial sweeteners. “Each box comes with 28 strips—enough for the recommended 14-day treatment—making this a super affordable, easy-to-use treatment that’s also gentle enough for sensitive teeth,” says Rozenberg.
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Cali White Teeth Whitening Kit With LED Light
For a 100 percent vegan teeth whitening experience, try this kit, which comes with an LED light that connects to a universally fitting teeth tray, as well as syringes with a whitening gel that uses urea peroxide to lighten teeth. “It’s easy to use,” says Huang. “You simply squeeze the gel from the syringe onto the tray and insert it into the mouth for 10 to 30 minutes. After seven days you should see noticeable results.”
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Colgate Optic White ComfortFit Teeth Whitening Kit with LED Light
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Colgate Optic White ComfortFit Teeth Whitening Kit with LED Light
This drugstore buy utilizes a 9 percent hydrogen peroxide solution and an LED light to achieve the desired tooth whitening. “This ingredient, at this particular concentration, produces noticeable results without running the risk of tooth sensitivity,” says Marina Gonchar, DMD, owner of Skin to Smile.
This customizable whitening kit includes three personalized whitening gels that are sufficient for six days of use and a whitening light that’s powered by 16 dentist-office equivalent LEDs to speed up the whitening process by as much as 50 percent. As an added bonus, the formulas are crafted with natural ingredients like pomegranate, chamomile flower, aloe vera, and menthol, plus they’re cruelty-free, vegan, and gluten-free.
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Plus White 5 Minute Speed Whitening Gel & Comfort Fit Mouth Tray
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Plus White 5 Minute Speed Whitening Gel & Comfort Fit Mouth Tray
If you need a quick whitening boost for a special event, Michelle Lee Mirza, DDS, a dentist in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, says this is a great at-home kit to try. “It is very user-friendly, and it comes with a comfortable tray that allows for full coverage of the whitening gel on your teeth, along with a rinse to combat stains in the future.” Plus, you can’t beat the value.
Brigitt Earley
Contributing Writer
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.
