Harder to adjust to was our lips repeatedly sticking to the strips for the first few minutes after every application. "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," Dr. Kunen, who has no affiliation with Linhart, explained. After all, theres only so much an at-home whitening kit can do without dentist levels of hydrogen peroxide (or any at all this kit is totally hydrogen peroxide free). The whitening products open the pores and clean them out. Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips are effective, won't slide around during treatment, easy to find at any drugstore, and have a less-concentrated formula for minimal sensitivity. You can find them all here. She's written thousands of reviews and explainers, profiled emerging and established D2C companies, blogged through major retail events, and forecasted and analyzed industry trends. Food and drink, cigarette smoke and certain medications can all cause teeth to discolour over time. You need this superfast strip treatment from oral care specialists Wisdom. According to the box, 14 days is enough time to whiten teeth up to five shades. of strips in pack: 28 (14 days); pack also contains whitening toothpaste (100ml). She settled in a small mountain town in Colorado where she now spends most of her time trying to keep up with a gang of rad adventure ladies and her dog Crocodile. "The suggestion I would make is to use a lower concentration of whitening agent to get their desired whitening outcome while minimizing the risk of tooth sensitivity." On average, testers saw a difference to teeth in just eight days. You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. The strips mould to teeth well and are pleasant and comfortable to use. The Miswak Club Natural Teeth Whitening Kit features two Miswak root sticks with two carrying cases. The direct-to-consumer kit includes a LED mouthguard to act as a catalyst for the hydrogen peroxide whitening formula. For safety reasons, in the UK, at-home teeth whitening kits may contain hydrogen peroxide at concentrations at up to 0.1%, whereas your dentist, using a custom-fitted mould, is able to safely use a concentration of up to 6% without harming teeth or gums. To use, brush and dry the teeth and place the strips on for one hour, then rinse away excess gel. For 12 you get 56 strips (28 days worth of treatment when applied to both rows of teeth) which is double the recommended 14-day course of treatment for full whitening benefits. Contact info: rschultz@insider.com // Instagram @RachaelSchultz, Best teeth whitening kit for professional-level results, how Insider Reviews tests and researches health products, Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips, available at Walmart, $30, Opalescence Go 15% kit, available at Amazon, $79.50, Zimba white strips, available at Amazon, $24.99, SmileDirectClub Teeth Whitening Kit, available at Amazon, $39.91, Miswak Club Natural Teeth Whitening Kit, available at Amazon, $17.99, Linhart Teeth Whitening Collection, available at Linhart, $95, Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips, Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips kit, Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, stop using peroxide-based whitening products, The best flossing alternatives, according to dentists, Johns Hopkins' contact tracing course designed to fill thousands of remote jobs, Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here, Learn more about how we review educational and personal development products, The best pieces of plus-size outdoor gear, according to athletes and influencers, Your ultimate guide to summer camping trips, including how to find a campsite and everything you need to bring, The 5 best cross-training shoes for agility, traction, and high-intensity workouts, The best healthy, non-alcoholic drinks and mixers that actually taste good, Insider Reviews team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here, test health, fitness, and outdoor products. Overall, 62% were happy with the look of their teeth by the end of the trial. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Ira Handschuh, DDS, cosmetic dentistatThe Dental Design Center in White Plains, NY and Ania Mohelicki, DDS, a cosmetic dentist in Boulder, CO both told Insider they don't recommend these because they can be abrasive and only remove surface stains. Also, they cannot whiten fillings, dentures, veneers, crowns, or caps. "That said, it's still important to exercise caution and make sure you purchase a reputable kit from a trusted seller, as some can do more harm to teeth than good by damaging their enamel. The bleaching temporarily weakens your enamel so the bleach can pass through it and further lift those stains, explained Dr. Mohelicki. We asked them to visit our lab where we took pictures of their teeth before and after treatment using our VISIA Complexion analyser. The bleach then gets to work breaking down stains at a deeper level than toothpaste alone can penetrate. When it came to brightening, 69% said they were left with a whiter smile by the end of the trial. The process is simple and clean, and the longer than average processing time of one hour is the result of a gentle bleaching process that is great for sensitive teeth.

Look for products containing gentle natural abrasives such as bicarbonate of soda or charcoal, which cant penetrate the enamel of the tooth in the way that bleach in your whitening product does, but can be very useful after bleaching to help maintain whiteness. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. When I tested the device, I found the company's estimates to be conservative I got more than double the use out of the pens than expected, which is a great value for the money. "Any buildup of plaque or food debris will not allow for the whitening agent to contact the tooth and therefore not allow the whitening agent to do its job," Dr. Campbell explained. The Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips kit comes with 40 strips for 20 treatments (each treatment consists of a strip on the upper teeth and one on the lower teeth.) "Your gums may also be sensitive to the chemicals, particularly if you already have sensitive teeth. She's most interested in personal development, skill-building, industry shifts, and increased accessibility for learners of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. You might want to pop to the dentist for at least a thorough dental clean before starting your treatment, as plaque and tartar on the teeth can stop the bleaching agents penetrating stains, so getting everything scrubbed clean first is bound to boost results. Got a party or special event to attend and need whiter teeth in a hurry? We asked 318 testers to try a range of teeth whitening products. Key specificationsTreatment time: 20-30 minutesTreatment duration: 6 daysFormat: LED light and mouth piece. The kits often contain a whitening gel formula, plastic tray (to insert into the mouth) and an LED light, which helps to speed up the whitening process. "To minimise the risk of a shoddy DIY job, always follow the treatment programme for the number of days advised on the packet.". If you're looking for teeth whitening strips but have had issues with teeth sensitivity in the past, Kunen suggestedZimba white strips. The mouthpiece is very comfortable to bite for the suggested 10 minutes and plugs into your phone for power. The at-home alternatives can still be effective, but they're usually much weaker and best used as a top-up.". I've gotten amazing results with the Opalescence 35% formula, which is a syringe you squirt into your own trays and is slightly more intense. Most of the improvement took place by day eleven. Other ingredients such as sodium bicarbonate, sodium perborate, activated charcoal or even coconut oil offer a more natural alternative, although these are usually considered less effective, as they mainly only remove surface stains.

Theyre gentle, easy to use, and, at 18, much more accessible than professional whitening. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in.

Some at-home kits require you to either brush the whitening gel onto teeth or place it in a tray that sits inside the mouth, but teeth-whitening strips include the whitening agent in a thin strip of plastic that sticks to the teeth. "They have 15% hydrogen peroxide, which means you only need to wear them for 15 to 20 minutes a day for five to 10 days. Key specificationsTreatment time:3 minutesTreatment duration:10 daysFormat:3-step brush-ontreatment, 14 best suitcases for your summer holidays, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. With no gum protection, users can experience increased sensitivity and even burns in severe cases.". Our testers found the kitstraightforward to use and said teeth were whiter after four days. If you consume any strongly coloured foods or drinks, rinse with water as soon as possible afterwards to reduce the chance of staining; using a straw will also reduce the time staining drinks are in contact with your teeth. These whitening strips, which lighten teeth by up to six shades, are peroxide-free, so are especially suitable for sensitive teeth. Key specificationsTreatment time: 5 minutesTreatment duration: InstantFormat: Pen. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. Testers gave it the thumbs up for how compact and quick it was to use, with one liking the natural-looking whiteness it left their smile with. But that's not surprising considering the formula is gentler, and considering these are about as cheap as you can get for an effective whitening kit, these are a great way to whiten before an event without breaking the bank. It also isn't suitable for children under 14 years old. As usual, youll need to clean and dry teeth before applying and leaving in place for 30 minutes. In actuality, the most effective way to whiten your teeth is at the dentist's office; however, that's expensive and inaccessible for many people. We still recommend strips over gel and mouth trays over LED light options, though. Teeth may also become more sensitive during and just after treatment. We'd always recommend having a consultation with your dentist before starting any new treatment, but these are the ones that impressed us the most: Teeth whitening products aim to remove surface stains on the tooth and penetrate the enamel, to break down the discoloured molecules within. This means the professional treatment is usually able to achieve more noticeable lightening results. Note that some salons may offer teeth whitening but this is illegal if not performed by a qualified dental professional. Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number, Please enter a name between 1 and 40 characters, You must be over 18 years old to register.

Wanting whiter teeth in a world of first impressions and social media needs no explanation. GLO Teeth Whitening Kit ($159): Glo Science sells a similar device to SmileDirectClub; both use an LED mouthpiece to reportedly act as a catalyst for hydrogen peroxide. Miswak Club offers a 120-day money-back guarantee if you do not have noticeably whiter teeth after using their kit. The Good Housekeeping Institute put the most popular teeth whitening kits to the test, to see if they were as quick and effective as they claimed. The vanilla mint flavour of this vegan formula was a hit with our panel, while the simple brush applicator made it a handbag essential.

They also said there was little to no gum or tooth sensitivity triggered. The strips stick on in a simple application (brush and dry teeth and stick on the contoured strips), and lighten teeth visibly in just 30 minutes a day over three days. Pros:Few reports of sensitivity issues, more precise application of whitening gel, reusable mouth guard, Cons:Expensive, dentists agree the LED light will not make a noticeable difference, The idea of LED teeth whitening kits has mixed reviews: Brands claim the light helps make teeth whitening more effective than traditional whitening strips or trays, but there aren't any studies to support this claim and many dentists feel like they don't speed up the process. Pros: Professional-grade results, easy to use, Cons: Expensive, LED has minimal proven advantage. Claiming to remove deep-rooted stains and restore natural whiteness, this treatment includes a brightener serum, tooth polish and a whitening activator serum that can all be applied with your regular toothbrush. Key specificationsTreatment time: 30 minutesTreatment duration: 14 days Format: Strips. This means they aren't as strong as professional whitening treatments, as a qualified dentist can legally use up to 6% hydrogen peroxide. Testers found the strips simple to use and less messy than most other kits. Crest claims that after the 20 daily treatments, you can remove 14 years of tooth stains. Copyright Expert Reviews Holdings Ltd 2022. Sadly this didnt happen in the span of 72 hours, which did seem too good to be true, but by day six there was a slight improvement on our most significantly stained teeth. Each stick will last for three weeks of daily use. If you prefer to avoid peroxide, these strips offer a safe and effective alternative - and theyre suitable for vegans, too. The kit was a breeze to use too, with one tester appreciating the sleek and tidy design. Get a brighter, whiter smile from the comfort of your own home. Even though its totally natural, this staining can also take a toll on your self-confidence. That said, it has a pleasant taste and left little to no tooth or gum sensitivity. Dentist-only treatments such as laser whitening (in which the bleach solution is activated by a laser shone onto teeth) are also much faster, taking only 1-2 hours. And, you should not use peroxide for longer than two weeks of daily use without the supervision of a dentist. For the studies conducted in actual patients (in vivo), most found no added benefit for light-activated systems," Charles Sutera DDS, FAGD, a professional dentist atAesthetic Smile Reconstruction in Waltham, MA told Insider.

Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Before using a teeth whitening kit, brush your teeth so your whitening agent can make contact with the surface of your teeth to improve efficacy, and so it doesn't accidentally create an uneven white. Dr Hanna Kinsella, cosmetic dentist and founder of Icy Bear Dental, explains: "Hydrogen peroxide is a weak acid with strong oxidising properties, meaning it steals the electrons that hold the staining molecules together, causing them to fall apart.

Enriched with coconut oil - which supposedly helps to reduce plaque-causing bacteria - our testers found this one had a pleasant aftertaste, without being too harsh on sensitive areas. Pros: Produces results in four or five uses, recommended by dentists, low peroxide levels. Pregnant or nursing women may want to stop using peroxide-based whitening products. Be cautious buying stronger products that are not licenced for use in the UK (Crest Whitestrips are a popular example sold over the counter in the US but not in the UK). In the UK, teeth whitening kits can be bought over the counter but only if they contain less than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. Snow LED Kit ($149): This well-designed LED teeth whitening kit comes with 4 serum pens (no syringes) that are easy to apply precisely to your teeth. "Any other ingredients in the product are inactive fillers needed to create the right consistency of the product.". You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, The best hair straighteners for every hair type, 10 best facial tanning drops to buy this summer, The best shaving subscription services for 2022, 10 best teeth whitening kits for DIY brightening, Products tested by Orla Badger at the Good Housekeeping Institute, Billion Dollar Smile USB Teeth Whitening Kit, Billion Dollar Smile Teeth Whitening Strips, Boots Expert Teeth Whitening Kit with Blue Light Activation, Beverly Hills Professional 2 in 1 whitening kit, Pearl Drops Professional 3 Step Whitening Treatment, Good Housekeeping, Part of the Hearst UK Fashion & Beauty Network. Key specs Treatment time: 5-7 minutes twice per day; No. of strips in pack: 56 (14 days), Best hair dryer: The finest hair dryers we've tested, The best blood pressure monitors you can buy, Best nail strengthener to repair and protect damaged nails, 23andMe review: The most flexible DNA test, GHD Air review: Stylish, powerful, and quiet but not cheap, Oral-B Pro 3 3000 review: The price is white, Oral-B iO Series 6 review: State-of-the-art cleaning, Oral-B iO review: The smart toothbrush with a smart app, Best Oral-B Toothbrush head: Find the best clean for you, The most effective at-home teeth whitening strips to buy, Find the best Oral-B electric toothbrush for your needs.

Whitening trays and strips have been the standard for decades and generally rely on carbamide or hydrogen peroxide. Results werent as noticeable on teeth with minimal staining, so anyone with already very light teeth probably wont see the benefit. As the bleach used is at a weaker concentration than your dentist can supply, most at-home whitening methods take around two weeks to yield results. That being said, LED whitening kits are probably as effective as the other options so they're not a waste of money if you can find a well-priced option. HiSmile Whitening ($103.20): If whitening kits have left your teeth or gums sensitive in the past, Kunen suggested this brand which uses Pthalimidoperoxycaproic acid (PAP) as its principal whitening agent as opposed to the more traditional and harsher peroxides. Opalescence is known for its whitening products in the dental industry.

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It only requires 10 minutes a day of use and comes with nine whitening pens (enough for two full treatments). Waiting at least 30 minutes after bleaching to brush teeth can help, as does switching to a softer toothbrush. It's made with a gentle formula that uses a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide. It wasnt messy to use either,and didnt cause any teeth or gum sensitivity for 92% of our panel. It also contains potassium nitrate and fluoride to help reduce sensitivity while strengthening enamel.". Save on the best whitening strips for sensitive teeth at Amazon, The 10 best electric toothbrushes tried and tested for cleaner, whiter teeth in 2022, Best mouthwash 2022: The best mouthwashes for fresh breath, gum health and all-round protection, Best teeth whitening gel 2022: Brighten your smile from just 2.85 a day, Our pick of the best teeth whitening kits, Smile Science Harley Street - Professional Teeth Whitening Strips - 28 Strips - Up to 6 Shades Whiter in 14 Days - 100% Enamel Safe - Vegan - Stain Remover for Teeth - Clinically Proven, Best teeth whitening strips 2022: The most effective at-home teeth whitening treatments we've tested. But finding an at-home teeth whitening kit that won't make your pearlies sensitive after one round that's much harder. The FDA does not recommend using any whitening gels with a peroxide concentration of higher than 18%. The ability to pop them on and go about your evening routine as usual sounded like a game changer as long as they actually worked. Best overall:Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips, available at Walmart, $30Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips are effective, won't slide around during treatment, easy to find at any drugstore, and have a less-concentrated formula for minimal sensitivity. "There is only one active ingredient in all teeth whitening products: hydrogen peroxide. Best natural: Miswak Club Natural Teeth Whitening Kit, available at Amazon, $17.99The Miswak Club Natural Teeth Whitening Kit is your best alternative if you're looking for a natural, chemical-free approach to whitening your teeth. Boots Expert Teeth Whitening Kit With Blue Light Activation, Beverly Hills Formula Professional 2 in 1 Whitening Kit. Each evening we followed the instructions to a tee, applying strips to freshly-brushed teeth. If you have any doubts, the NHS recommends visiting a dentist to talk about your options.

If youre looking for cost-effectiveness, these are the strips for you. Worried about any post-whitening pain? This is a minor issue though. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Our testers liked how quick this kit was to use, taking just three minutes a day, butthey found steps one and two slightly messy - as the serum must be left for 30 seconds without being removed. Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, While testing, we were on the lookout for taste, texture, and how comfortable the strips were to wear. Over the course of 14 days, we applied strips to our top and bottom teeth until they dissolved. But with 14 days of minimal effort, you can minimise staining and help ease your teeth back towards their natural colour even if they cant get them all the way. The strips need to be applied daily for up to 30 minutes.

The Miswak Club Natural Teeth Whitening Kit is your best alternative if you're looking for a natural, chemical-free approach to whitening your teeth.