At-home whitening has never been easier, and there are ways to incorporate steps to a brighter smile into almost any part of your oral hygiene routine. The best whitening toothpastes make it easy to maintain professional or at-home whitening treatments or remove surface stains. They use ingredients such as baking soda, hydrated silica, or small amounts of hydrogen peroxide. These ingredients are known to lift and break up the discoloration to reveal your teeth’s natural color, says Quinn Yost, DDS, MSD, of Milk Tooth Pediatric Dentistry & Wellness Shoppe.
While whitening toothpastes can offer mild changes, you should know what to expect before you try them. “They will not change your teeth drastically. If you professionally whiten your teeth, it’s good for upkeep,” says Lena Varone, DMD, a New York-based cosmetic dentist. With these expectations in mind, we spoke with four dental experts, including two doctors of dental surgery and two doctors of medicine in dentistry, and tested more than 30 toothpastes that advertised teeth-whitening benefits. We evaluated them for effectiveness, comfort, convenience, and taste to identify the top whitening toothpastes.
What Experts Want You to Know
- What to look for: If you are concerned about the ingredients or quality of your toothpaste, look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance. This seal indicates that the American Dental Association has conducted extensive research, testing, and approval of the product and that its ingredients are safe for use.
- Ingredients to look for: Yost recommends ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide, sodium fluoride, and carbamide peroxide, which are known for removing surface stains. Baking soda can also help, but it may not be a good match for people with sensitive teeth. All of the products we recommend here include fluoride in their formulas, which Cheryline Pezzullo, DDS, clinical associate professor at NYU College of Dentistry, says remains “the gold standard in cavity prevention.” It also helps strengthen enamel.
- Ingredients to avoid: Some ingredients can be harsh or abrasive and might even damage tooth enamel when overused, warns Yost. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is known to irritate sensitive teeth, and ingredients like baking soda, silica, and calcium carbonate should be used sparingly, as they can be abrasive. If you try a new teeth-whitening toothpaste and experience tooth and gum pain or sensitivity, it’s worth switching to another product with less aggressive whitening ingredients. Charcoal is a common ingredient in whitening products, but it can actually make your teeth appear more yellow by wearing down enamel and exposing the yellow dentin underneath.
- What to expect: It can take some time for whitening toothpastes to work, and it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to maximize benefits. In general, this may include adding a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to the toothbrush and brushing your teeth gently in a circular motion for about two minutes twice daily. It can take up to six weeks of regular, daily use to see more dramatic results. During our two-week testing period, we saw improvements of only a shade or two. Yost also notes that whitening toothpastes won’t be able to whiten intrinsic stains, which affect the inner layer of your teeth. Plus, they won’t produce results comparable to professional teeth whitening or teeth whitening strips.
How We Selected the Best Whitening Toothpastes
To select the best whitening toothpastes, we knew we had to test them out firsthand. We tested 30 different toothpastes for at least two weeks—testing many for a month—using each twice per day. Before testing began, we noted the color shade of our teeth on a dental color shade chart. At the end of the testing period, we returned to the testing lab for a final evaluation and a before-and-after color comparison. Our final ratings looked at four unique attributes:
- Effectiveness: We assessed how our teeth felt immediately after the first use and how they looked and felt by the end of the testing period. We noted if there were any noticeable differences in tooth color, sensitivity, or breath freshness.
- Feel: We noted whether applying the toothpaste was straightforward and easy to spread around and the consistency of the lather. We also paid attention to whether the toothpaste caused any increased sensitivity, uncomfortable burning, or tingling.
- Taste: We described the taste and if it was fresh and pleasant or overwhelming, and if it lingered after brushing.
Our Expertise
Jaylyn Pruitt is an associate editor for Health covering oral care, sleep, and shoes. She has been writing and editing for Health since 2022.
We also spoke to experts to learn how different ingredients affect sensitive teeth and gums. Experts we interviewed include:
- Quinn Yost, DDS, MSD, of Milk Tooth Pediatric Dentistry & Wellness Shoppe in Hermosa Beach, California
- Brittany Ang, DMD, MDS, MBS, of Curve Orthodontics in New Jersey
- Lena Varone, DMD, New York-based cosmetic dentist
- Cheryline Pezzullo, DDS, clinical associate professor and director for Community-based Programs at NYU College of Dentistry
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