For teeth that look a little dingy no matter how much you brush, there’s a convenient alternative to in-office bleaching. The best teeth whitening strips can brighten dull teeth with professional-quality results—and minimal discomfort or sensitivity. Our top pick, the Crest 3D Professional Effects White Strips, are enamel-safe and easy to use. And if you’re looking for a peroxide-free solution, you can’t go wrong with the gentle yet effective Lumineux Teeth Whitening Strips.
“Teeth whitening strips work by absorbing stains from the outer surface of the teeth,” says Dr. Joyce Kahng, a cosmetic and restorative dentist. In looking for the right ones for your needs, choose options with safe, effective ingredients and follow the directions carefully, she says. After speaking with several dentists, we’ve rounded up the best teeth whitening strips to get the brightest, whitest results.
Best Teeth Whitening Strips Overall: Crest 3D Professional Effects Whitestrips
Best Value Teeth Whitening Strips: Moon Midnight Enamel Care
Best Teeth Whitening Strips For Sensitive Teeth: Crest 3D Whitestrips Sensitive
Best Peroxide-Free Teeth Whitening Strips: Lumineux Whitening Strips
Best Dissolving Teeth Whitening Strips: Elims Teeth Whitening Strips
Best Flavored Teeth Whitening Strips: Zimba Teeth Whitening Strips
Best Teeth Whitening Strips Overall
A Highly Rated Pick That Gives Visible Results From Day One
Crest 3D Professional Effects Whitestrips
Active ingredient: Hydrogen peroxide | Treatment time: 30 minutes | Treatment length: 22 days
What’s notable: They visibly brighten teeth after just one treatment and whiten up to 20 shades in 22 days.
What could be better: The recommended treatment time is lengthy, and these strips don’t dissolve.
These Crest 3D White Strips are designed for simplicity and visible results. The drugstore staple, which made our list of the best teeth whitening kits, delivers noticeably brighter teeth after the first treatment and continued whitening by up to 20 shades in 22 days, according to the brand. The kit includes 20 treatments with a 45-minute application method and two one-hour express treatments with a 60-minute application window. The strips have a no-slip grip, so they adhere securely to your teeth until it’s time to remove them. They’re also incredibly well-reviewed, with tens of thousands of 5-star reviews that rave about their effectiveness and ease of use.
Best Value Teeth Whitening Strips
A Four-Week Treatment For Less Than $1 Per Strip
Moon Midnight Enamel Care
Active ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyapatite | Treatment time: 15 minutes | Treatment length: 28 days
What’s notable: These strips are designed to be applied at bedtime and dissolve in about 15 minutes with no rinsing required.
What could be better: The treatment time of four weeks is the longest on our list.
Along with hydrogen peroxide for whitening, the Moon Midnight Enamel Care Dissolving Whitening Strips are made with soothing essential oils and hydroxyapatite, a mineral that protects and restores enamel. The close-fitting strips should be used before bed and dissolve within 15 minutes—no rinsing required. Unlike other options that must be fitted over dry teeth, these strips adhere to naturally moistened teeth, which is better if you have sensitivity. The slimmer height also helps keep the strips off the gums, minimizing irritation. Over the four-week treatment time, these strips are designed to whiten teeth up to seven shades.
Best Teeth Whitening Strips For Sensitive Teeth
Effective Whitening Without The Zing
Crest 3D Whitestrips Sensitive
Active ingredient: Hydrogen peroxide | Treatment time: 30 minutes | Treatment length: 18 days
What’s notable: The reduced potency makes these a good option if sensitivity is an issue.
What could be better: Since the potency is lower, these strips may not be as effective as options with higher concentrations of whitening ingredients.
The Forbes Vetted team ranked these strips the best whitening product for sensitive teeth, thanks to their lower percentage of hydrogen peroxide, which makes them gentler overall. Kahng says over-the-counter whitening strips typically range from 5.5% to 12% hydrogen peroxide, but these have closer to 5.25% of the key whitening ingredient. The reduced potency still does the trick—these work in 30 minutes to gently lift stains during the 18-day treatment window without aggravating sensitive teeth. Plus, they’re accepted by the American Dental Association to whiten effectively. Reviewers confirm they do a good job of brightening without causing the potentialy pain associated with regular strength strips.
Best Peroxide-Free Teeth Whitening Strips
An Enamel-Safe Strip That Uses All-Natural Ingredients
MOST POPULAR
Lumineux Whitening Strips
Active ingredients: Coconut oil, sage oil, citrus lemon peel oil, Dead Sea salt | Treatment time: 30 minutes | Treatment length: 21 days
What’s notable: These enamel-safe, peroxide-free strips use all-natural ingredients to whiten teeth.
What could be better: Results may not be as dramatic as what you'd get from peroxide-based strips.
If you want to avoid hydrogen peroxide entirely, these white strips from Lumineux offer a solid alternative. They’re made with Dead Sea salt, coconut oil and citrus lemon peel oil to gently lift stains without resulting in any dental pain (while simultaneously freshening breath). Not convinced? Clinical studies validate these strips' efficacy: One found that the Lumineux whitening strips significantly improved luster, while another confirmed whitening effects without adverse reactions.
Best Dissolving Teeth Whitening Strips
Minty Strips That Disappear In About 15 Minutes
Elims Teeth Whitening Strips
Active ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide | Treatment time: 15 minutes | Treatment length: 7-14 days
What’s notable: These dissolving strips are made with ten food-grade ingredients and are safe for sensitive teeth.
What could be better: Since they start dissolving on contact, the thin, dry film can be a little tricky to apply.
These doctor-designed whitening strips begin dissolving when they touch your teeth and disappear entirely in about 15 minutes. They have a mild peppermint flavor, so there’s no need to rinse away an unpleasant taste afterwards. According to the brand, they remove surface stains on teeth to make them up to seven shades whiter. We also like that the packaging includes around 33% less plastic, and the food-grade-or-higher ingredients make them completely safe to swallow as they dissolve. Reviewers say it’s a great product to use while on the go.
Best Flavored Teeth Whitening Strips
A Two-Week Treatment That Comes In Eight Flavors
Zimba Teeth Whitening Strips
Active ingredient: Hydrogen peroxide | Treatment time: 30 minutes | Treatment length: 14 days
What’s notable: These enamel-safe strips have a 30-minute treatment window and come in various flavors.
What could be better: Whitening effects are gradual during the two-week treatment time.
While a pleasant taste isn’t usually a standout feature for teeth whitening strips, that’s not the case with Zimba. This option comes in various fruit flavors, including strawberry, watermelon, coconut, peach and cherry, and several traditional mint varieties. According to the brand, the 14-day treatment window helps remove stains from coffee, tea, wine, soda and tobacco. Like some on our list, Zimba’s teeth whitening strips aren’t dissolvable, so you’ll need to peel them off after each 30-minute session. Reviewers say they taste good, stay in place and whiten effectively.
MORE FROMFORBES VETTED
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
While tapping into our personal expertise as well as the insights of qualified professionals, the Forbes Vetted Team has written and published a library of deeply researched stories on personal care topics.
- Author of this piece Jessica Timmons has been covering beauty, health and home for the last 12 years, and also compiled a roundup of the best whitening products for sensitive teeth.
- This story was assigned and produced by deputy editor Jane Sung, who leads the beauty and grooming category and has 15-plus years of experience covering lifestyle topics. She has overseen other oral care stories, including the best teeth whitening kits and the best electric toothbrushes.
- Timmons also gathered key insight and guidance from several industry professionals: Dr. Joyce Kahng, a cosmetic and restorative dentist and the owner of Orange and Magnolia Dental Studio; Dr. Irina Kessler, a dentist and partner of New York Family Dental Arts; Dr. Parul Makkar, a dentist and founder of P.D.M. Family Dental; and Dr. Fatima Khan, a dentist at Altus Dental.
How We Chose The Best Teeth Whitening Strips
To select the best teeth whitening strips, we carefully evaluated options from top retailers and brands, including Crest, Lumineux and more. We also consulted with several industry experts for insights on what to look for.
- We examined ingredients and usage directions to find teeth whitening strips designed for different needs and preferences, ranging from sensitive teeth to fun flavor options.
- Our experts also made recommendations based on their experiences and provided advice on what ingredients to look for.
- We took customer reviews and average star ratings into careful account, sticking to models that have garnered an average rating of at least 4 stars and only a negligible amount of concerning reviews, if any.
- The final products on this list reflect in-depth research conducted by our writer and meticulous vetting by the editorial team.
What To Consider In The Best Teeth Whitening Strips
Since the goal is to brighten your smile safely, it’s important to find strips made with appropriate concentrations of key ingredients. Here’s what to look for.
Active Ingredients
“Whitening strips typically contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide as active ingredients,” says Kahng. “When applied, hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and bleaching factors, including free radicals. These free radicals help break the bonds between the stain molecules, lifting them from the teeth.” If you’re looking for peroxide-free strips, Kahn says they tend to be a gentler option for sensitive teeth, but be prepared for less dramatic results.
It’s also a good idea to scan the label for inactive ingredients, which could affect efficacy. “Over-the-counter whitening strips often contain heat stabilizers to maintain their effectiveness during transport and storage,” says Kahng. “One common stabilizer is phosphoric acid, which can make the strips more acidic. This stability can sometimes prevent the hydrogen peroxide from breaking down effectively.” Chlorine dioxide is another ingredient worth avoiding, says Kahn, since it can be really hard on your enamel.
Potency
Makkar says the higher the potency of a particular teeth whitening strip, the faster the whitening effect. “Usually, the over-the-counter strips are around 7%,” she says. That means they may not offer the improvement you’re after if your teeth are heavily stained. In that case, you should speak to your doctor about in-office bleaching, which is the same product, but at a higher dosage, says Kessler.
Ease Of Use
Regardless of the brand, most whitening strips work the same way. “By placing the strip over the teeth, the hydrogen peroxide gets in contact with the stains and helps to break them up and lift them away,” says Kahng. But some strips are dissolvable, while others will need to removed and thrown away following the recommended treatment window.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Teeth Whitening Strips Work Best?
Crest 3D Whitestrips, Professional Effects, promise to whiten teeth by 20 shades in 22 days, and they’re incredibly well rated. We also like the peroxide-free whitening strips from Lumineux. Not only are they microbiome-safe, they're clinically proven to safely lift stains for brighter teeth.
What Brand Of Teeth Whitening Is Best?
While Crest is widely recommended by experts and our editors as a solid brand for teeth whitening, there are several others to consider as well. We found Lumineux, Elims and Moon to provide top-rated strips for teeth whitening.
Do Dentists Recommend Teeth Whitening Strips?
Many do, but not all. “Dentists have mixed feelings about over-the-counter teeth whitening strips,” says Kahng. “While they offer an affordable and accessible option for achieving a whiter smile, they come with some caveats.” Since the acidic nature of the stabilizers and hydrogen peroxide in most whitening strips can potentially harm the enamel if teeth aren’t healthy, she says dentists generally recommend these strips only for individuals with healthy enamel and no cavities.
