Still, while teeth may not naturally be bright white, society has grown an obsession with the aesthetic, leaving folks with three whitening options : expensive veneers, pricey in-office whitening treatments , or our personal recommendation, affordable and convenient at-home whitening strips. We thoroughly tested 16 options, focusing on everything from comfort and ease of use to effectiveness and value. Ahead, we reveal the best teeth whitening strips for your glow-up.
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Even if you brush your teeth every morning and night like clockwork, there&#;s still a chance that your smile looks less than pearly white. And, believe it or not, it's no fault of your red wine or coffee consumption. According to celebrity cosmetic &#;Smile Makeover&#; dentist Daniel Rubinshtein, D.D.S. , the natural color of teeth is actually not even pure white to begin with. &#;They are typically a shade of either yellow or gray, and tooth color varies from person to person,&#; he says.
Best Whitening Strips Overall
Crest 3DWhitestrips 1-Hour Express
PHOTO:
Amazon
$27 at Amazon
View on Crest.com
$56 at CVS
Why We Like It: The strips are easy to apply, stay put once stuck on, and lead to brighter, whiter teeth over a week&#;s time.
It&#;s Worth Noting: The strips may make teeth slightly sensitive to cold temperatures.
We found the Crest 3DWhitestrips 1-Hour Express Dental Whitening Kit to be the best whitening strips for a number of reasons. For starters, they&#;re easy to use. The kit says not to brush your teeth before use (as it&#;s supposed to help prevent excess sensitivity), so we simply wiped our teeth dry and applied the strips so that they would adequately stick. The side meant to hug your teeth is slightly textured and gummy, making them adhere easily. From a comfort stance, these strips fit easily over teeth and stay in place once on. While it&#;s apparent that you have a film over your teeth, we found the strips to be smooth and comfortable.
Most importantly, they&#;re effective, and the value can&#;t be beat. When we cycled through the entire kit, our teeth got six shades whiter&#;a welcome surprise in just a week. Best of all, the results are said to last upwards of six months.
Duration: 60 minutes | Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide | Usage: Daily for seven days
Shape / Jessica Juliao
Shape / Jhett Thompson
Shape / Jessica Juliao
Shape / Jessica Juliao
Best Whitening Strips for Sensitive Teeth
iSmile Teeth Whitening Strips
PHOTO:
Target
$45 at Target
View on Shopismile.com
Why We Like It: The strips are made with natural oils to help make them more gentle &#; while still offering stellar whitening results.
It&#;s Worth Noting: The box comes with more strips than necessary for treatment, which may be confusing to some.
One of the biggest complaints about teeth whitening strips is that they cause sensitivity. iSmile Teeth Whitening Strips are formulated with this in mind. With mint and coconut oils at the forefront, these whitening strips are more pleasant to use and gentler, too. To see just how well these strips live up to their claims, we tested them on someone who has long avoided whitening strips in favor of whitening toothpastes due to how sensitive the strips make their teeth. After wearing the strips for 30 minutes a day for seven days straight, we found that they adequately whitened their teeth a full eight shades&#;all without triggering any pain.
Duration: 30 minutes | Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide | Usage: Daily for seven days
Shape / Jessica Juliao
Shape / Jhett Thompson
Shape / Jhett Thompson
Shape / Jhett Thompson
Best Dentist-Approved Whitening Strips
Crest 3DWhitestrips Glamorous White
PHOTO:
Amazon
$40 at Target
View on Crest.com
$40 at Walgreens
Why We Like It: This kit is quick, convenient, effective, and dentist-approved to boot.
It&#;s Worth Noting: The bottom strips aren&#;t fitted quite as well, which may lead to gum irritation.
If you&#;re looking for quick, dentist-approved results, we found that the Crest 3DWhitestrips Glamorous White Dental Whitening Kit works well. (It also happens to tout the American Dental Association&#;s Seal of Acceptance, which means that the product is safe to use, of the utmost quality, and proven effective). The teeth whitening kit comes with strips designed for the upper and lower rows of teeth, designed to hug each set securely. Although we didn&#;t find these strips the most comfortable to wear &#; simply because they trigger excess saliva production, which in turn makes them slip out of place if you&#;re not keeping your teeth clenched &#; we were admittedly impressed by the strips&#; whitening effect.
Duration: 30 minutes | Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide | Usage: Daily for seven days
Shape / Jessica Juliao
Shape / Jhett Thompson
Shape / Jessica Juliao
Best Dissolving Whitening Strips
Moon Oral Beauty Dissolving Whitening Strips
PHOTO:
Ulta
$40 at Nordstrom
$40 at Ulta
View on Moonoralbeauty.com
Why We Like It: They dissolve in your mouth, so you don&#;t have to worry about taking them off.
It&#;s Worth Noting: They&#;re very gradual, so you may not notice drastic results in one full treatment.
If you&#;re looking for the best whitening strips that work well on the go, consider Moon Oral Care Dissolving Whitening Strips. These fan-favorite teeth whitening strips are slim rectangles that can be comfortably folded over the top and bottom rows of teeth. The very best part about these strips is that once on, they immediately get to work and start dissolving in the process, so there&#;s no cleanup at the end.
The only downside is that while dissolving, the strips become a bit slimy, which may be uncomfortable for some (though never painful or sensitive). While these teeth whitening strips are particularly easy to use, it&#;s worth mentioning that the results aren&#;t long-lasting. Because of this, you may want to reserve these dissolving whitening strips for special occasions like dates, parties, weddings, and other big events where you want a burst of brightness for a few hours.
Duration: 15 minutes | Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide | Usage: Daily for two weeks
Shape / Jessica Juliao
Shape / Jessica Juliao
Shape / Jhett Thompson
Best 30-Minute Whitening Strips
Crest 3DWhitestrips Bright Dental Whitening Kit
PHOTO:
Walmart
$30 at Target
Why We Like It: The kit is fast-acting and effective.
It&#;s Worth Noting: The strips feel a bit awkward in your mouth.
If wearing whitening strips for an hour feels miserable to you, The Crest 3DWhitestrips Bright Dental Whitening Kit takes just 30 minutes to process, making it the perfect option to add to your dental hygiene routine. The kit comes with enough strips for 11 days' worth of whitening. These strips were easy to apply, but taking your time is important. The strips are designed to be pressed into teeth and folded over the edge. When done with care, these thin strips will stay in place; however, if done hastily, they will slide around and be less effective. After seven days of consecutive use, we noticed that our teeth had shifted a full four shades whiter. And considering our tester is a self-proclaimed coffee addict, that&#;s saying something!
Duration: 30 minutes | Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide | Usage: Daily for 11 days
Shape / Jessica Juliao
Shape / Jhett Thompson
Shape / Jhett Thompson
Shape / Jessica Juliao
Best Whitening Strips Under $15
Persmax Teeth Whitening Strips
PHOTO:
Amazon
$13 at Amazon
Why We Like It: They&#;re affordable, effective, and sold in two flavors.
It&#;s Worth Noting: The strips are a bit wider and have to be folded over the teeth.
Not all teeth whitening strips require shelling out $30 or more. PERSMAX Teeth Whitening Strips are an Amazon top seller, and for good reason. The textured rectangular strips are designed to fit the upper and lower teeth with ease. Said to be safe for enamel and formulated not to trigger sensitivity, we were eager to put them to the test. When we did, we found that these strips grip teeth exceptionally well without slipping around or edging into the gumline. More remarkably, they offer instant results. When we removed these strips after 30 minutes of processing, our teeth looked a full two shades whiter.
Duration: 30 minutes | Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide | Usage: Daily for two weeks
Shape / Jessica Juliao
Shape / Jessica Juliao
Best Whitening Strips for Dramatic Results
Rembrandt 1 Week Teeth Whitening Kit
PHOTO:
Amazon
$32 at Amazon
Why We Like It: These strips brighten and whiten teeth better than any others we tried.
It&#;s Worth Noting: The strips are a bit wider, so they may edge into your gumline.
The Rembrandt Deeply White + Peroxide 1 Week Teeth Whitening Kit promises 90 percent whiter teeth in just seven days. Thinking it was too good to be true, we tested the top-rated strips. In doing so &#; by wearing them on our top and bottom teeth for 30 minutes a day for seven days straight &#; we found that our teeth looked a whopping 14 shades whiter. As if the stunning results weren&#;t enough to make us lifelong fans, the easy application process certainly is. These strips are a bit larger than the others we&#;ve tried, but we found that they stick firmly to teeth to deliver stellar whitening results without discomfort in the process.
Duration: 30 minutes | Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide | Usage: Twice a day for seven days
Shape / Jessica Juliao
Shape / Jhett Thompson
Shape / Jessica Juliao
Best Gradual Whitening Strips
Burst Teeth Whitening Strips
PHOTO:
Amazon
$30 at Amazon
View on Burstoralcare.com
Why We Like It: They&#;re gentle and easy to use.
It&#;s Worth Noting: They don&#;t dramatically brighten teeth.
Formulated with coconut oil and aloe vera alongside hydrogen peroxide, the Burst Oral Care Teeth Whitening Strips are said to be some of the gentlest whitening strips on the market. During our testing, we found that the textured adhesive strips were easy to apply and stayed put once stuck on. While they lived up to their gentle claim and even brightened our teeth two shades, the strips didn&#;t offer the most dramatic results. That said if your goal is to gradually transform your teeth, these gentle strips might fully align with your wants and needs.
Duration: 15 minutes | Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide | Usage: Daily for seven days
Shape / Jessica Juliao
Shape / Jhett Thompson
Shape / Jhett Thompson
Shape / Jessica Juliao
Best Natural Ingredients
Lumineux Teeth Whitening Strips
PHOTO:
Amazon
$45 at Amazon
$30 at Walmart
$32 at Target
Why We Like It: These strips use coconut oil and essential oils as an alternative option for sensitive teeth.
It's Worth Noting: These work more gradually than other choices.
These whitening strips may be best known for what's not in them. They are certified nontoxic and have no harsh bleaches, artificial dyes, alcohol, or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Instead, they rely on coconut oil, sage oil, lemon peel, and Dead Sea salt as a more natural approach to teeth whitening. Don't expect instant results, but we did find that these worked gradually over time and are a great option if you're looking to avoid peroxide whiteners. We loved the taste of these and had no sensitivity.
Duration: 30 minutes | Active Ingredients: Coconut oil, sage oil, lemon peel | Usage: Daily for seven to 21 days
Best Splurge
Supersmile Superstrips Teeth Whitening Dissolving Strips
PHOTO:
Supersmile
View on Supersmile.com
Why We Like It: They offer good results as an alternative to professional whitening.
It's Worth Noting: These dissolve within 15 minutes, but you need to wait at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking.
Supersmile Superstrips are worth a try if you want professional-looking brightness without the in-office appointment and price tag. They'll run you much more than other at-home kits, but they work quickly and have been shown to whiten teeth by an average of up to eight shades in seven days. Supersmile Superstrips also include Calprox, a clear bleaching agent (calcium peroxide) that targets a protein on your teeth that stains and bacteria often stick to. Thanks to this ingredient, you may benefit from preventing plaque buildup.
We liked that these strips dissolve, so you can just put them on and go about your day without the need to rinse. Overall, they were easy to use, and the whitening results impressed us. The downside is that they are pricier than other at-home options.
Duration: 15 minutes to dissolve, 30 minutes wait time | Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide, calcium peroxide | Usage: Daily for seven days
Best Flavor Options
Zimba Teeth Whitening Strips
PHOTO:
For more peroxide whitening stripsinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
ZIMBA
$20 at Amazon
$20 at Walmart
$24 at Shopzimba.com
Why We Like It: These strips are available in a variety of flavors.
It's Worth Noting: Some slippage can occur while wearing them.
We love that Zimba Teeth Whitening Strips come in various fun flavor options that you can select based on your preferences. There are several mint varieties&#;including spearmint and peppermint&#;as well as coconut, peach, strawberry, and watermelon. These are a budget-friendly choice that still offers visible whitening. Just be sure you press them firmly to ensure that they fully adhere to your teeth.
Duration: 30 minutes | Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide | Usage: Daily for two weeks
Most teeth whitening strips are safe for occasional use, but there are some that contain ingredients like chlorine dioxide, which can damage tooth enamel if used excessively. If the whitening strip doesn't adhere perfectly to your teeth, it can cause the bleaching agent (like hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide) to touch your gums directly, which can lead to gum irritation, inflammation, or even a temporary burning sensation. If you experience significant discomfort or have serious discoloration on your teeth, consult your dentist to find the best approach for you.
We put more than 20 at-home whitening strips to the test . We used the strips at home once a day for the full treatment time (about a week or two), noting how easy they were to apply, how comfortable they felt, how well they whitened and brightened their smiles, and whether or not they caused any sensitivity. Our team then combined these results with dentists' recommendations and our thorough research to put together this list of truly worthwhile whitening strips.
If you&#;ve been wishing your smile was a little brighter, you&#;re not alone. While there&#;s no shortage of over-the-counter and professional whitening treatments ranging from pens and gels to LED whitening kits and trays, whitening strips offer one of the easiest ways to score pearly (or, at the very least, pearlier) whites.
Best Overall
Crest 3DWhitestrips Bright Dental Whitening Kit
PHOTO: Walmart
$30 at Target
What We Like
Easy to apply
Effectively whitens teeth a few shades
Process is relatively quick
What to Consider
Unpleasant taste
Number of Pieces: 22 strips | Cruelty-Free: No
The box comes with 22 strips to be used for 30 minutes a day for 11 days, and we found that they worked to lighten the teeth nearly three shades. The strips were easy to apply, relatively comfortable, and didn&#;t cause sensitivity, making the entire process simple and painless. We also found that the whitening effect was noticeable after just a few treatments, so they're a great choice if you&#;re looking to whiten your teeth quickly ahead of a special occasion. Note that they do have a bit of an unpleasant taste, but that&#;s pretty common among whitening strips.
Best Overall Runner-Up
Crest 3DWhitestrips 1-Hour Express
PHOTO: Amazon
$27 at Amazon
View on Crest.com
$56 at CVS
What We Like
Don't slip while wearing
Fast results
What to Consider
Whitening plateaued after five treatments
Number of Pieces: 38 strips | Cruelty-Free: No
We thought these were particularly easy to use, and stayed stuck to the teeth pretty well, even over an hour. While we were quite active around the house while wearing them, they weren't annoying or uncomfortable. We got noticeably whiter teeth after just five treatments, so much so that friends actually commented on them. We felt the whitening plateaued after that point, but the change was significant enough that we were quite satisfied with the experience overall. We noticed the slightest bit of tooth sensitivity at the end, but nothing to write home about.
Best Budget
Persmax Teeth Whitening Strips
PHOTO: Amazon
$13 at Amazon
What We Like
Easy to apply
Adhere to teeth nicely without moving around
Visible whitening can be seen after only one week
Comfortable to wear
What to Consider
Some online reviewers say the results could be a bit more dramatic
Number of Pieces: 28 strips | Cruelty-Free: Not known
If you&#;re on the hunt for a budget-friendly option, these are for you. We were especially impressed by how well they applied and adhered to the teeth without moving around. They were comfortable to wear for the directed 30 minutes at a time&#;we didn&#;t experience any pain or sensitivity with these. We also noticed brighter teeth after just a few sessions, and it&#;s nice that the kit comes with a color chart so you can keep track of your progress. Regardless of price point, these whitening strips are a great option for lifting staining and achieving a whiter smile.
Best Splurge
Crest 3D White Whitestrips with Light
PHOTO: Amazon
$71 at Amazon
$65 at Target
$77 at Walmart
What We Like
Effectively whiten the teeth at least a few shades
Results are long-lasting
Starts working within the first few treatments
What to Consider
Can cause tooth sensitivity
Number of Pieces: 1 light, 20 strips | Cruelty-Free: No
This kit pairs the same efficacy of the brand&#;s beloved strips but kicks it up a notch with the inclusion of an LED light. You wear the strips for an hour every day for 10 days. After you wear them, you hold the LED-light mouthpiece against the strip for another 10 minutes, five on top and five on the bottom. The blue light works to help the whitening gel better penetrate the tooth enamel, ultimately upping the efficacy, particularly when it comes to removing super stubborn stains. Byrdie contributor Jenna Igneri is a big fan, raving about her whitening results and pointing out that she only experienced mild sensitivity that dissipated over 10 days.
Byrdie / Jenna Igneri
The Crest 3D Whitestrips With Light Tester
Jenna: &#;While I still noticed some slight staining in between some of my teeth (and I&#;m dealing with a bit of sensitivity), I&#;d say that, overall, the 14-day treatment was a success. Do they yield as dramatic results? No, but I&#;m still pretty pleased with my newly whitened smile. They&#;re effective, they&#;re affordable, and trust, they&#;re way stronger than the average whitening toothpaste.&#;
Best Rapid Results
Crest 3D Whitestrips, Radiant Express
PHOTO: Amazon
View on Instacart.com
What We Like
Stay in place while on teeth
Easy to apply
Whitened teeth after first use
What to Consider
Can cause tooth sensitivity
Number of Pieces: 28 strips | Cruelty-Free: No
Teeth whitening kits make a lot of claims. This one from Crest, for example, says it will whiten your teeth a whopping 18 shades. While we didn't experience that much of a change, we did notice these strips whitened after just one hour-long application. That's pretty impressive compared to others we've tried where it's taken at least a few rounds of whitening to clock any noticeable difference.
We felt the strips were relatively easy to apply&#;just peel and stick&#;and they stayed in place the entire hour we had to wear them. At times, we even forgot we were wearing them. Unfortunately, at about halfway through, one tester had to discontinue use because she was dealing with some tooth discomfort. However, she normally has sensitive teeth, so we think these would still work well for someone who's got less tooth sensitivity. And, despite only using half of the kit, she still got her teeth a full two shades whiter.
Best Dissolving
Supersmile Superstrips Teeth Whitening Dissolving Strips
PHOTO: Supersmile
View on Supersmile.com
What We Like
Dissolves in 15 minutes
Good taste
More sustainable
Noticeably brighter teeth after each session
What to Consider
Didn't feel great on teeth
Number of Pieces: 56 strips | Cruelty-Free: Yes
These strips tout a unique technology that ensures they gradually dissolve after you apply them. They&#;re meant for quick whitening boosts on the go&#;think on your way to a big even, and are less sensitizing. We didn't love how they felt as they dissolved (they sort of made our teeth stick to the inside of our lips), but we were incredibly impressed by the results&#;we noticed a brightening effect after each session and appreciated the convenience factor they provided. Also nice: They leave behind a fresh, peppermint flavor to freshen breath, although you must wait 30 minutes after use before eating or drinking.
Best for Sensitive Teeth
iSmile Teeth Whitening Strips
PHOTO: Target
$45 at Target
View on Shopismile.com
What We Like
Simple and easy to use
Effectively whitens teeth a few shades
Doesn&#;t cause sensitivity, even for those with very sensitive teeth
Comes with extra strips for touch-ups down the line
What to Consider
A bit of excess gel makes them slightly messy and tricky to remove
Directions could be a bit more clear
Number of Pieces: 44 strips | Cruelty-Free: Not known
These strips claim to cause &#;zero sensitivity,&#; and, according to one of our testers with extremely sensitive teeth, the claim is accurate&#;these were the first whitening strips ever that she could use for the allotted time frame&#;30 minutes a day for seven consecutive days. They effectively whitened the teeth by about three to four shades, and we also appreciate that the kit comes with extra strips for touch-ups down the line.
Best for Dramatic Results
Rembrandt 1 Week Teeth Whitening Kit
PHOTO: Amazon
$32 at Amazon
What We Like
Starts working after just two uses
Strips cover front and back of teeth
Comfortable to wear
What to Consider
Can cause sensitivity
Number of Pieces: 28 strips, 14 treatments | Cruelty-Free: No
We love these strips for how quickly they work to deliver a dramatic, bright smile. We saw a fairly significant, visible improvement in teeth whiteness after just the first two uses. At the end of the test, the teeth were several shades whiter. We also appreciate that they're simple and easy to apply (there's no gel, tools, or light required), and they feel comfortable while wearing them for the allotted 30 minutes at a time. Another bonus is that the kit comes with enough strips for two full rounds of treatment. They're affordable, effective, and comfortable, what's not to love?
Most Comfortable
Burst Teeth Whitening Strips
PHOTO: Amazon
$30 at Amazon
View on Burstoralcare.com
What We Like
Easy to apply
Comfortable to wear while doing other things
Don't slip and slide around
Each session only takes 15 minutes
What to Consider
Results are quite subtle
Number of Pieces: 20 strips | Cruelty-Free: Yes
We were pleasantly surprised by how comfortable these were to wear. They were quick and easy to apply, and once they adhered to the teeth, they remained totally comfortable to wear for the allotted time. Plus, we love that you only need to wear them for 15 minutes a day for seven days&#;the extra six strips in the box are meant to be used for touch-ups down the line. While the results weren&#;t as dramatic as other options we tested, given how fast, comfortable, and affordable these are, we still highly recommend them.
Best Flavors
Zimba Teeth Whitening Strips
PHOTO: ZIMBA
$20 at Amazon
$20 at Walmart
$24 at Shopzimba.com
What We Like
Comes in a variety of flavors
Adheres to teeth
Produce noticeable results gradually
What to Consider
Can cause sensitivity
Number of Pieces: 28 strips | Cruelty-Free: Yes
An unpleasant flavor is one of the most common drawbacks to any tooth whitening strip. Enter these, which alleviate that issue and come in tons of yummy flavors like mint, peach, coconut, and more. The strips are also super grippy so they won't slip and slide around on your teeth. They work gradually throughout the two-week treatment period. However, if sensitivity is an issue for you, you might find this option a little uncomfortable.
Byrdie / Jhett Thompson
Byrdie / Jhett Thompson
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