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From whitening toothpaste to whitening strips to even laser teeth whitening—there are a ton of brightening methods out there. And if you are particularly curious about teeth whitening kits, then come on in! We've got the 411, plus a list of the best teeth whitening kits out there that you can do from the comfort of your own bathroom.
But before we jump into this list of dentist-approved products, let's get a brief overview of what exactly teeth whitening kits are and how they work. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Stephanie Dumanian spells it out simply, “Whitening kits are an easy way to help remove surface stains off your teeth. But they're also a good way of boosting previous whitening treatments you might have had and therefore, maintaining those results."
But of course, that's just generally speaking. As you may have personally experienced (hi, I'm "you"), some teeth whitening kits simply... don't work. The workaround? Well, Dr. Daniel Rubinshtein, another cosmetic dentist, explains that most at-home whitening kits contain concentrations of either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, aka active ingredients that aid in the removal of surface stains (and are safe when used properly). So look for either of those ingredients if you don't want to waste your time (and hard-earned money). But if you're someone that would rather have peroxide-free kits, that's no problem at all! I found top-rated options that are just as effective. Scroll on down to get a peek at some of the best kits in the game.
Keep on reading for 15 of the best teeth-whitening kits—from LED trays to gel pens to cult-favorite strips that actually work—based on my own testing and product reviews along with expert-backed recommendations and insights. Even if you have sensitive teeth and/or gums, there is something here for you. Promise!
Teeth Whitening Kit
Nearly 40,000 (!!) customers have left rave reviews about this kit—which must mean it's great! For less than 30 bucks, it comes with a light unity, three syringes of whitening gel, one syringe of remineralizing gel, two moldable whitening trays, and a plastic storage case to keep your LED whitening tray clean. The five powerful LED bulbs in the light unit speed up the process of removing stubborn stains caused by things like food, coffee, and wine.
THE REVIEWS: "This whitening kit is easy to use," wrote one reviewer. "It offers options if you don’t want to bother with fitting the upper and lower molds. I did follow instructions to fit mine to maximize the whitening. It also has a remineralizing solution to apply after whitening for sensitivity. I have sensitive teeth and this is key for me. I highly recommend this kit and would purchase it again."
GLO Brilliant Deluxe Teeth Whitening Device Kit with Patented Blue LED Light & Heat Accelerator for Fast, Pain-Free, Long Lasting Results. Clinically Proven. Includes 10 GLO Gel Vials+ Lip Care
Leading New York City cosmetic dentist, Dr. Stephanie Dumanian, highly recommends this kit by GLO. “GLO products are top of the line. Their take-home whitening kit provides fast whitening results without being abrasive to your teeth or gum. The advanced technology GLO’s kit offers can help to amplify whitening results received in-office and help maintain those results over time.” Mind you, Dr. Dumanian is the reason behind the popular glimmering smiles of celebs like Busy Philipps and Ashley Park, so you know she'll only suggest the best of the best.
THE REVIEWS: "I love this product!" one reviewer wrote. "I’m on the last day and my teeth are truly four shades lighter. I love the hands-free ability. I make my kid’s lunch, fold a load of laundry, do a little work, and watch some TV. It is a mild pain to have to reapply the lip protectant and whitening gel every eight minutes, but it’s better than any other option. I love how well this worked! I didn’t experience any sensitivity or issues with my lips. I’m so so so glad I invested in this product. It’s given me so much more confidence in my smile!"
Teeth Whitening Kit
Customers love this kit by iSmile Whitening because it is affordable, doesn't have an odd taste, and is user-friendly. Plus, you can see a difference in your teeth in a day's time. And the fact that it's eligible for Prime shipping isn't shabby either!
THE REVIEWS: "I have normally sensitive teeth and the gel didn’t over-sensitize my teeth what-so-ever!" wrote one reviewer. "Every white strip I’ve tried zings my teeth but no extra sensitivity with this product. I also noticed a big difference after three nights. Great results for the price!"
Optic White ComfortFit Teeth Whitening Kit
Get this: You'll never have to replace the battery for this LED light or find an outlet to charge it because it'll work if you just plug it into your phone or tablet! Tons of buyers say that they were able to see super speedy results with this kit, and you only have to use it 10 minutes a day. Easy peasy!
THE REVIEWS: "I had never used a whitening product before, other than whitening toothpaste, because I have sensitive teeth. But this Colgate whitening kit caused no issues," one reviewer wrote. It also visibly lightened the color of my teeth. Overall, I'm very satisfied."
Go 15% Teeth Whitening Trays (4 pack, Mint Flavor, Boxed)
Another one of Dr. Dumanian's favorites! Here's what she has to say about her top second pick that is known to be mess-free: “These prefilled teeth whitening trays are a convenient kit and easy to use. They eliminate the need for messy gels, and you can just pop them into place. They are a great option for individuals with sensitive teeth. Do keep in mind that trays are not one size fits all so they may not fully cover longer teeth, leading to an uneven whitening result.”
THE REVIEWS: "I am a coffee drinker and started to notice in photos my teeth were not as white as they use to be. It's been about 3 months and I've purchased another box," wrote one reviewer. "With the first box, I noticed a slight difference in three applications but by the 10th application, my teeth were four to five shades whiter. I use the whites of my eyes for comparison. I was very impressed. With the second box, I see dramatic results with just the second application. I'm thinking the stains are not as deep since I've used the product before. I absolutely recommend this product!"
6 Minutes To A Whiter Smile 5-Piece Teeth Whitening Kit
Oh, it's not just any whitening kit... It's a kit comprised of Supersmile's best-selling whitening products all in one! It includes a pre-rinse that you'll use at the beginning of the process to prime, and then a toothbrush, toothpaste, accelerator, and activating rods to really do the heavy whitening work.
THE REVIEWS: "I have been using the Supersmile whitening kit for 3 weeks now and I can tell a major difference," wrote one reviewer. "I enjoy drinking coffee and wine and now I can do so without worrying about staining because the Supersmile kit works great. It's so easy to use and it doesn't leave behind a film or aftertaste."
Whitening Kit
If you're looking for something that'll give you pearly whites without breaking the bank, this bad boy is your ideal option. Ahem, where do I start? It's near five-star rating? The 2,100 glowing reviews? Its under-$10 price tag? Clearly, it checks off a lot of boxes, but let's get into the official stuff... You can use a mouth tray, toothbrush, or even a Q-tip for it to whiten your teeth which makes it very convenient. (Just follow the designated instructions on the box for the form of application you go with.) Because the gel can be manually applied to your teeth in multiple ways, this allows for the product to reach every single one of your teeth for an even look.
THE REVIEWS: "I've been using this product for several years. I get a lot of compliments on how white my teeth look," wrote one reviewer. "I only use this three times a week. It's not as expensive as the popular brands. I'm glad I found it on Amazon."
Teeth Whitening Kit with LED Light
Depending on how bright you wanna go, you can choose between two different wands with this kit. The silver wand will whiten your teeth up to eight shades in nine minutes, while the gold one will white them up to 12 shades.
THE REVIEWS: "I was apprehensive to try this at first. The last few times I’ve whitened with my opalescence trays from my dentist, I’ve had extremely irritated and almost blanched-looking gums, so I haven’t been doing anything since. I decided to try Snow and with only 10 minutes on my first go, I was lightened two shades," wrote one reviewer. "No irritation, no pain, no gross taste or consistency in mouth. I see I’ll have to do it more regularly, but I won’t mind because it’s a pleasant experience."
Whitening Emulsions Leave-on Teeth Whitening Gel Pen Kit
Perfect for people who are always on the move, this option will take 60 seconds to apply—and you don't have to rinse it off or brush it afterward! Keep it handy in your purse or in the glove compartment of your car so you can grab it whenever you need it. Heads up though: You must dry your teeth before application or it won't be effective.
THE REVIEWS: "This stuff really works!" one reviewer wrote. "I am on my third bottle. It very gently whitens and doesn't bother me while it's on. It has an extremely subtle mint flavor. The texture is a little thick but I'm not licking my teeth while it's on. I barely notice it. Best of all, I don't get terrible pangs of sensitivity like I used to with strips!"
Teeth Whitening Kit
Sometimes the gel and LED mouthpiece can get a bit sticky and slippery to work with. But with MOON's whitening kit that uses dissolving whitening strips instead of gel, that doesn't have to happen anymore. Plus, it's super travel-friendly too thanks to its cordless design and the travel case that comes with the set.
THE REVIEWS: "I’m glad I went with this kit!" one reviewer wrote. "Whitening pens are more of a gimmick than a true whitening solution… and strips kill my teeth. I happened upon this kit in a search, and I’m happy I did! They legitimately made my teeth much, much whiter in the 14-day treatment cycle. I honestly don’t know how to tell whether they’re '12 shades whiter', but I can say it definitely works. It’s a fantastic product!"
White Enamel Anti-Aging Serum
It definitely is worth a lot more than a pretty penny, but it'll def be worth your buck. I mean, the fact that it only requires two small products—a brush and a serum—to whiten your teeth up to 10 shades in just a week is pretty wild! And it's got the stamp approval from Dr. Dumanian... “VVARDIS's whitening serum kit which comes with a brush offers fluoride, bleach, and peroxide-free healthy whitening from the first application. It regenerates and strengthens enamel (the first of its kind to be recognized by the American Dental Association CDT).”
THE REVIEWS: "I applicated a very thick layer every night before going to bed for SIX nights in a row until the bottle was empty. My teeth are definitely whiter and they feel smooth and healthy," wrote one reviewer. "I had no sensitivity or gum issues. I can really recommend this one-week intense healthy whitening treatment!"
Teeth Whitening Strips
The iconic Lenny Kravitz is one of the brains behind these whitening strips, and I feel like that's all I gotta say?? But really though, with these strips, you won't have to worry about your teeth or gums hurting during or after as they were thoughtfully made for those with high sensitivity. It contains dentist-recommended levels of hydrogen peroxide and coconut oil to whiten and reduce that sensitive/delicate feeling. THE REVIEWS:
Teeth Whitening Kit
After practicing dentistry for nearly 30 years, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi founded his own brand of oral care that didn't use harsh chemicals and alcohol. Then, Lumineux was born. Dr. Maddahi's brand consists of fan-favorite products like whitening strips, whitening mouthwash, and a whitening toothpaste that includes natural ingredients like coconut oil, sage oil, and dead sea salt. And in this kit, you can get all of them in a single bundle! That glowing smile you've been dreaming of is just days away, my friend!
THE REVIEWS: "Okay, this stuff works amazingly well," wrote one reviewer. "I have tried other higher-end whitening brands and they didn’t come close to what these products do. I think the star in this set is the mouthwash. It’s pretty powerful at whitening and it doesn’t make my teeth sensitive. None of these products do. The taste is unique but it’s not bad to me at all. My only gripe is the mouthwash bottle is usually the first thing I run out of because it’s easy to go through fast. I only use it once a day to make it last longer. But other than that I love this set!!! Highly recommend."
3DWhitestrips Bright At-home Teeth Whitening Kit
Personally, I love these strips because they don't slip off. And honestly, that's the number one thing I look for when it comes to this type of teeth-whitening method. Because if they're constantly slipping and sliding off, what's the point!! These puppies have a great grip and they've made my teeth look so luminous for years. I swear by 'em!
THE REVIEWS: "I really like these strips," one reviewer wrote. "They are great for sensitive teeth, but still get the job done. I love how convenient they are. I can throw them on while doing my makeup and by the time I'm ready to hit the door my teeth are sparkling."
VIO405 Teeth Whitening Kit
What's so cool about the VIO405 Teeth Whitening Kit is that the mouth tray device uses 32 LED violet lights instead of the typical five which activates the brand's PAP+ formula. The researchers behind this Hismile formula found that PAP (aka Phthalimidoperoxycaproic Acid), an organic peracid, is a safer alternative to peroxide. Used together, they'll give you game-changing, noticeable results without the side effects that could happen with peroxide-filled kits just after one to two treatments.
MY REVIEW: I love that with the VIO405 Teeth Whitening Kit you're basically getting ~exclusive~ treatment. It includes the world’s first at-home VIO405 light and its own whitening formula. And the fact that this set has over 12,000 glowing reviews to back it up with a near five-star rating explains it all, IMO.
Meet the experts:
Stephanie Dumanian, D.D.S is a cosmetic dentist and the owner of Park Lex 60 Dental—the go-to for stylish New Yorkers like Busy Philipps, Emily in Paris’ Ashley Park, and celebrity stylist Micaela Erlanger. Park Lex 60 Dental is composed of an all-women team. Dr. Dumanian originally experienced the transformative power of dentistry at a very young age when a dentist, who thought outside of the box, restored her smile by correcting a dental trauma (a congenital missing tooth). The self-confidence which resulted from this treatment changed her life and inspired her to help others.
Daniel Rubinshtein, D.D.S. is a cosmetic dentist. He graduated from Yale University, where he did his general practice residency. Dr. Rubinshtein also is a graduate of New York University College of Dentistry where he received his doctor of dental surgery degree. At NYUCD, Dr. Rubinshtein was a member of the Aesthetic Honors program where he displayed his artistic and keen eye for beauty. He won the Empire State Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry first place for his smile makeover and placed among the top at the national American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Conference.
Why trust Cosmo?
Megan Uy is an associate editor who writes beauty at Cosmopolitan and has five years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She regularly tests and analyzes teeth whitening kits for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top dentist to assess new treatments, formulas, and products.
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