The Best Teeth Whitening Products

Best for maintenance: Philips Zoom Whitening Pen

• Price: around $22.99
• Type: whitening pen
• Active ingredients: 5.25% hydrogen peroxide gel
• How long it lasts: no information available

This product is designed to help a person maintain already whitened teeth.

The user clicks the pen to dispense hydrogen peroxide gel onto the brush to dispense it onto the teeth. Philips writes that people should use it twice daily for 2 weeks to touch up already whitened teeth. The company recommends it for yellow stains.

People had mixed results with this product. Some buyers report they saw moderate results and experienced less sensitivity than from whitening strips, while others did not get the results they wanted.

Pros

• convenient and portable
• affordable
• higher potency of hydrogen peroxide may have more noticeable effects
• simple to use

Cons

• people must avoid eating or drinking for 30 minutes after applying
• may not stay put on teeth
• stronger peroxide gel increases risk of irritation
• may be most effective on yellow stains

Best LED light treatment: SmileDirectClub Bright on Teeth Whitening Kit

• Price: $40
• Type: LED kit
• Active ingredients: hydrogen peroxide
• How long it lasts: 6 months

This kit comes with four pens, which the company says is enough to whiten teeth for 6 months. The pens come with an LED accelerator light to enhance the gel’s effectiveness. A person uses the pens to apply the hydrogen peroxide gel to their teeth. They must then place the LED light in their mouth, bite down, and keep it in place for 5 minutes.

The LED light works with a smartphone, which may not be convenient for people who do not have one.

Many users say the kit gave them whiter teeth for a more affordable price. Some reviews said the accelerator light broke quickly and needed to be replaced.