By Sarah Yang
last updated
(Image credit: Evgenij Yulkin/Stocksy)
Sometimes, your smile needs a little extra TLC, aside from the regular brushing and flossing routine. To get your teeth looking extra brilliant, you might need to enlist the help of an at-home whitening kit. But since there are so many out there, we took it upon ourselves to look for the best ones that actually work. It'll save you time and you'll get that dazzling smile much quicker.
Take a look at our list below, but remember that before you turn to a whitening kit, you should make sure you're up-to-date on your regular teeth cleanings, because you might be accidentally whitening plaque and tartar.
1. Crest 3D White Whitestrips, Glamorous White
Crest
3D White Whitestrips, Glamorous White
These come with the American Dental Association's seal of approval, which means they're legit and trusted by dentists. The strips can remove set-in stains and is safe on your enamel. The recommended usage for these is once a day for 30 minutes. One Amazon reviewer wrote, "I am almost done with my 14-day treatment. I may buy another box to continue to see results. I am an avid coffee drinker, my teeth weren't pure yellow but they weren't what I wanted them to be. Between using these I also used the 3D whitening toothpaste of the same brand, and if I did have coffee I brushed after or rinsed with water. It seems to be working. I tried charcoal and didn't get these types of results."
2. Glo Science Glo Lit Teeth Whitening Tech Kit
Glo Science
Glo Lit Teeth Whitening Tech Kit
The main ingredient in this whitening kit is hydrogen peroxide, which is a safe and effective way to whiten teeth without causing any damage to them. This system is Bluetooth-enabled, and uses heat and LED technology. The set includes the mouthpiece, storage case, Bluetooth power pack, seven whitening vials, a lip balm, and a travel pouch. One Sephora reviewer wrote, "This thing legit works. Just as good as the professional option, it's just cheaper and more convenient. Also, ZERO sensitivity. It looks like I haven't been drinking coffee and red wine for 20 years!"
3. iSmile Teeth Whitening Kit
iSmile
Teeth Whitening Kit
This teeth whitening system has over 1700 ratings and 4.5 stars on Amazon. It uses LED light technology to get teeth whiter fast. The kit comes with an activation light, three gel syringes, a desensitizing gel, and a mouth tray. It's recommended to use once a day for 10 minutes. One reviewer said, "I actually saw the results today! I caught a glimpse in the mirror and did a double-take. I mean, it's not 'Ross Gellar' bright, but after five days, I see a noticeable difference that I honestly didn't expect. Be careful with your first use—it's really easy to over-apply the gel. You don't need a lot of it. I definitely recommend!"
4. Supersmile Professional Whitening System
Supersmile
Professional Whitening System
This duo consists of a whitening toothpaste and a whitening accelerator. Both formulas are supposed to work together to dissolve the protein on your teeth that attracts stains. You just place a small drop of the toothpaste and accelerator each on a toothbrush and brush in a circular motion for two minutes two times a day. One reviewer wrote on Dermstore, "I consider this a luxury product… because seriously it's $80 for toothpaste. I think it's worth it! I love this toothpaste. I typically have sensitive gums; however, this is not an issue using this product. It really whitens. I noticed results after once brushing and significant results after two weeks."
5. AuraGlow Teeth Whitening Kit
AuraGlow
Teeth Whitening Kit
Like a couple of other whitening systems on this list, the AuraGlow uses LED technology to whiten teeth. This device comes with a built-in timer for ease of use. It's recommended that you use this for 30 minutes once a day. The kit comes with an LED light, two gel syringes (for 20 treatments), a mouth tray, and a storage case. One Amazon reviewer wrote, "You literally can notice a huge difference even after the first treatment. I've been using mine for a little over a week and received a lot of compliments on how 'bright' my smile has been lately. Really guys, totally worth the money and the refill packs are super cheap. Just a friendly customer-to-customer tip, you won't believe at first that the little bit of gel they say to use each time will do the trick but really, don't overfill it. It really is enough so you'll just essentially be wasting treatments."
6. Apa Beauty Apa White Duo
Apa Beauty
Apa White Duo
With this system, you brush your teeth with water first, apply the gel onto your teeth and put the strips on. Leave them on for 90 minutes. The kit contains 10 white films and one white pen, and the key ingredients include peppermint oil, potassium nitrate, and carbamide peroxide. One person wrote on Dermstore, "The whitening works fast and I see the results in just a few days. It's quite a few shades lighter and I think it will continue."
7. Cali White Deluxe Whitening System
Cali White
Deluxe Whitening System
This whitening system is vegan, not tested on animals, and doesn't contain sulfates or parabens. The usual suspects are included in this LED-powered kit: two gel syringes, mouth tray, custom-fit trays, a retainer case, and the LED light. It's recommended to wear for 10 to 30 minutes a day for seven to 10 days. An Amazon review reads, "This is amazing quality—I'm surprised it worked especially with the price, I was so scared and skeptical since I have extremely sensitive teeth! I have done 10 minutes only and you can go longer each time. The first few times, you feel like some stains were lifted and others weren't, so you think it looks blotchy. Don't be scared—it's lifting the really bad stains first! And the blotchiness you feel is there but goes away until the next treatment. It worked in four days. I saw the difference in my teeth."
Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in the place of advice of your physician or other medical professionals. You should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider first with any health-related questions.
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Sarah Yang
Managing Editor
Sarah is lifestyle writer and editor with over 10 years of experience covering health and wellness, interior design, food, beauty, and tech. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she attended New York University and lived in New York for 12 years before returning to L.A. in 2019.
In addition to her work on THE/THIRTY and Who What Wear, she held editor roles at Apartment Therapy, Real Simple, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, and The Bump (sister site of The Knot).
She has a passion for health and wellness, but she especially loves writing about mental health. Her self-care routine consists of five things: a good workout, “me” time on the regular, an intriguing book/podcast/playlist to unwind after a long day, naps, and decorating her home.
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