I Tried the Viral At-Home Snow Teeth Whitening Kit: See My Results (2024)

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A bright smile can light up a room, but keeping teeth white often takes a little extra effort —especially for coffee and red wine lovers. At-home whitening kits are effective, but many get a bad rap for causing sensitivity and discomfort. That’s where Snow stands out: the popular brand's gentle products are designed to be safe for sensitive teeth and gums and they're a hit on TikTok, where users say that while they may not whiten your teeth multiple shades instantly, they don't cause pain or stinging.

To see what the buzz is about, Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Analyst Chiara Butler put one of their newest kits to the test.

What is Snow Teeth Whitening?

DiamondSeries Wireless Teeth Whitening Kit

$88.00 at trysnow.com

First things first, there are two kits you can choose from: the DiamondSeries Teeth Whitening Kit with Hydroxyapaite & Potassium Nitrate and the DiamondSeries Wireless Teeth Whitening Kit with Hydroxyapatite & Self-Sanitizing Charging Case. Butler tried the wireless system, which includes a wireless LED mouthpiece, one whitening serum, a UV Self-Sanitizing Case and teeth shade guide. The mouthpiece has triple-LED technology which, according to the brand, uses a specific wavelength of blue light to activate the whitening serum to erase teeth stains faster and provide longer-lasting results.

Curious as to what makes your teeth whiter? The Snow whitener serum contains hallmark whitening agents hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, plus peppermint oil for a nice flavor. "Peroxide gels break down into water, oxygen and reactive oxygen molecules," according to Sophia Nichols, D.M.D., owner of the eponymous dental practice in Brick Township, New Jersey. "These reactive oxygen molecules treat both the enamel and dentin, oxidizing the bonds of discolored stain molecules. By changing the stain molecules, the tooth becomes lighter."

Teeth whitening happens during peroxide's contact time with teeth — it needs an appropriate amount of time to permeate the enamel, Dr. Nichols says. So, DIY kits like Snow's has less to do with an LED light and more to do with peroxide as an ingredient. The light is most often used as a means to activate the gel as it may help break apart the gel and accelerate the whitening reaction process. "This doesn’t necessarily mean longer-lasting results, as that depends on the patient’s diet and lifestyle which will re-stain the teeth over time," she says.

DiamondSeries® Teeth Whitening Kit

$58.65 at trysnow.com

DiamondSeries® Wireless Teeth Whitening Kit

$88.00 at trysnow.com

How to use Snow Teeth Whitening at home

The kit came with instructions on its best practices and steps to follow but even without a guide, it's pretty straight forward. After brushing her teeth with regular toothpaste, Butler brushed the whitening serum onto her teeth using the brush applicator. "The serum was very easy to apply and I couldn’t feel any stinging on my gums or taste the serum at all, which was great," she says.

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Next, she pressed the power button to activate the blue light on the mouth piece and put the mouthpiece into her mouth. She left it in for 10 minutes, but it can be used with the serum for up to 30 minutes at a time. "I felt that the mouth piece was a bit heavy with the battery on the front and I was aware of tension in my bite while holding it in my mouth," Butler shares.

Finally, she removed the mouthpiece, rinsed it off with water and rinsed out her mouth. When she took it out, she did notice a lot of saliva buildup in her mouth, while is why she kept her whitening time to 10 minutes. "There’s also a DiamondSeries kit with a wired version of the mouthpiece, so that might be more comfortable," she notes. The instructions say not to eat or drink for 30 minutes after a treatment.

The before and after

Butler captured her whitening results 21 days (the recommended time per the brand) after she first started, although she used it three times a week, instead of the recommended daily dose.

Does Snow Teeth Whitening work?

The short answer: yes, according to Butler. "My teeth were lightened by one shade after using it about three times a week for three weeks, and I’m a daily coffee drinker." It can also be used daily, which is suggested by the brand for an initial 21-day period.

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Is Snow Teeth Whitening safe?

A class action lawsuit was brought against Snow in 2020 for false advertising, with regards to the "product’s overall popularity, FDA approval, awards and accolades and germ-fighting capabilities." That said, the lawsuit didn't allege that the product is unsafe; rather, "the consumer says the company commits flagrant false advertising about the efficacy of its products." In August 2021, Snow filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit and it was dismissed in 2022.

According to Dr. Nichols, the FDA regulates teeth whitening products on a case-by-case basis, depending on the formulation and use. However, most teeth whitening products are classified as cosmetic, and therefore may not be subject to FDA approval.

Consumers can protect themselves against potentially harmful teeth whitening products by having a complete dental check-up. "Teeth that are decayed or broken down should not be bleached as this could cause sensitivity and irritate the pulp tissue (nerve of the tooth)," Dr. Nichols says. "Whitening under dental supervision, either in-office or at-home, is most likely to create the most positive patient experience and best results."

What are the side effects of Snow Teeth Whitening?

Butler didn’t experience any side effects at all, during or after she finished the treatment. "The instructions do warn against applying the serum to the gums or lips, and say to minimize swallowing the serum," she says.

Does Snow Teeth Whitening damage enamel?

Snow teeth whitening won’t damage the enamel if used as directed, but Snow recommends not to exceed 30 minutes per day of teeth whitening. “It’s important not to overdo over-the-counter teeth whitening. There is a limit as to how much teeth will whiten by bleaching them,” Dr. Nichols explains. “It could burn the gum tissue if it's not used properly, just like other bleaching systems." Over bleaching can make teeth look unnatural and give off a blue-grayish, translucent look.

How long do the Snow Teeth Whitening results last?

Results can last for around a full calendar year, according to Snow. The company shared that it depends a lot on outside factors like intake of foods and beverages that are more prone to staining teeth, though some users may see results last for multiple years. The kit comes with 75+ treatments, so you can refresh with a session anytime you feel your smile needs a touchup.

The bottom line: Is Snow Teeth Whitening worth it?

"It definitely works," says Butler. "I can see in my after photos that it did visibly whiten my teeth and I didn’t experience any sensitivity while testing out this kit." She typically experiences a little bit of sensitivity just after using a whitening gel, so she feels that the sensitivity protection in the serum really works. It is a pricier option but Butler felt it was worth the investment.

If you’re seeking to whiten your teeth in the short term (perhaps for a special event) there are plenty of cheaper options, such as Crest Whitestrips and Snow teeth whitening strips. Whichever option you choose, your pearly whites will thank you for it.

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