We all want to have a perfect set of pearly whites, but sometimes that’s easier said than done. Even when you’re brushing three times a day, drinking coffee—a staple of collegiette life—or red wine can discolor your teeth, as can a variety of other factors, like indulging your sweet tooth.
But before you book an appointment with your dentist, we’ve got all the information you need about both in-office and at-home teeth whitening products. With a variety of whitening options at various price points, you’ll have a brighter smile in no time.
According to the American Dental Association, the hydrogen peroxide—an active ingredient in tooth whitening products—is generally not strong enough to damage your tooth enamel and gums. However, the ADA notes, “severe mucosal damage,” or damage to the mucous membranes in your mouth, can occur from tooth whitening products if you’re not cleaning your mouth regularly, so make sure you’re keeping your teeth and gums healthy while using whitening products, and talk to your dentist if you experience excessive gum pain or bleeding.
Here’s a chart with the top teeth whitening options and their pros and cons, which we break down in detail below. Happy teeth whitening, collegiettes!
Whitening strips: $17 to $60, drugstores
One of the most common methods of teeth whitening among collegiettes, whitening strips deliver results equal to a professional peroxide treatment. Whitening strips can cost anywhere from $17 to $60, depending on what brand and type you use. Whitening strips can be quite effective and will not damage your tooth enamel in the long run—most formulas are mild enough that you can do two whitening strip treatments a year.
A common complaint about whitening strips is the increased tooth sensitivity that may accompany their use. After a few days of using whitening strips, many people report an increased sensitivity to cold temperatures, and the application process may become painful for people with sensitive gums. According to the ADA, tooth sensitivity can occur in up to two-thirds of those using at-home bleach treatments, but these effects are generally not long-term, as long as you use the whitening strips correctly. In fact, Raleigh, NC dentist Dr. Anna Abernethy, D.D.S., recently attended a dental conference where doctors presented research showing that whitening can strengthen your tooth enamel. So don’t be afraid to use whitening products—just make sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day and that your teeth are clean before you apply any products.
Whitening strips only work if you use them consecutively (as the directions tell you), though, so you’ll have to endure the pain in order to achieve your brightest smile. If you’re worried about sensitivity, look for a sensitive variety that will be gentler to your mouth. In her professional bleaching treatments, Dr. Abernethy uses Opalescence gels by Ultradent because they contain potassium nitrate and fluoride, which strengthen teeth and reduce sensitivity. If you can’t afford professional treatment, look for these two ingredients when shopping for whitening strips and other at-home whitening products.
You’ll need to be patient during the application process: Most whitening strips have to stay on your teeth for half an hour twice a day for two weeks, so you’ll need a set time aside when you’re studying or watching TV to let them do their magic. No matter what brand you use, most whitening strips require an hour of application a day, during which you can’t eat or drink.
Some at-home whitening strip companies offer special, time-saving formulas, like Crest’s 5 Minute Touchups or 2 Hour Express. These products are appealing, especially to collegiettes, because you need to wear them for shorter amounts of time, but Dr. Abernethy says that a “low and slow” method of tooth whitening is the most safe and effective, i.e., using a low-grade bleach for a longer amount of time than you would with quick treatments. You’ll still get a radiant effect, but you’ll be less likely to damage your tooth enamel or gums.
Dr. Abernethy says that Crest Whitestrips® are effective, and they’re a great alternative to in-office procedures if you’re on a budget. However, Dr. Abernethy does warn that whitening strips can be difficult to apply, particularly if you have crowded teeth. “They also do not reach to the back areas of your mouth, so if you have a wide smile and show a lot of posterior teeth, you may not be able to bleach all of these teeth,” Dr. Abernethy says. If you want to perfect your teeth, Crest Whitestrips® won’t give you flawless results, but if you just want your prominent teeth to be a few shades lighter, they’re a good option.
Here are some of our picks for teeth whitening strips. You can buy these kits online or at your local drugstore—no visit to the dentist required.
Crest 3D White Whitestrips® Gentle Routine Dental Whitening Kit, $37.99, drugstore.com
Crest Whitestrips® are the most commonly recommended whitening strips by beauty magazines, and collegiettes swear by them. The gentle routine formula is great for tooth and gum sensitivity.
Crest 3D White Whitestrips® Professional Effects, $54.99, Walgreens.com
If you’re willing to spend a bit more on whitening strips, Crest’s professional products are the best you can buy without a professional peroxide treatment. They promise a whiter smile in just three days, with full results in 20 days. All you have to do is wear the strips for half an hour a day for 20 days, and afterwards, your smile will be gleaming.
Reba Wilson, a collegiette at McGill University, has used both Crest 3D White Whitestrips® Professional Effects products as well as the original, more affordable variety. “The first time, I used their highest end ones, and my gums became extremely sensitive but I pushed through it,” Reba says. “I again used the same ones about a year after that, and my gums were so sore, I had to stop the treatment midway through and use them sporadically afterwards until I’d finished the box.” While the Professional Effects line caused extreme sensitivity in Reba’s case, she does say that she noticed a “huge difference” in her teeth and received numerous compliments. For Reba, the regular strips were a better option as they caused less sensitivity, but she says that both options gave great results. If you have a little more cash and don’t have sensitive gums, the Professional Effects line is the best over-the-counter option for whitening strips.
Walgreens Whitening Dental Wraps, $17.49, Walgreens.com
These whitening strips are significantly less expensive than the Crest varieties, and they promise to whiten teeth up to five shades. They need to be worn for half an hour twice a day for two weeks, and after that you’ll be on your way to a brighter smile.
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Whitening mouthwash and toothpaste: $4 to $10, drugstores
For a long-term whitening option that’s more affordable than whitening strips, specially formulated whitening mouthwashes and toothpastes can be great alternatives. Crest 3D White toothpaste and mouthwash, for example, have the same active ingredients as Crest Whitestrips® and are safe enough to use year-round.
Other products offer similar guarantees. Colgate Optic White products promise to make teeth noticeable whiter in just three to seven days. Listerine Whitening Plus Restoring Post-Brush Fluoride Rinse promises whiter teeth in two weeks and offers the same powers as other Listerine products, like fighting cavities and tooth decay. Some brands, like Crest, even offer whitening floss.
Whitening mouthwash and toothpaste products won’t cost much more than other, non-whitening alternatives and can be quite effective if used often enough. Plus, the fluoride will keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong.
Here are some of our top choices:
Listerine Whitening Pre-Brush Rinse, $5.79 for 16 oz., Walgreens.com
Kara Schmeig, a collegiette at North Carolina State University, swears by this mouthwash for the whitest possible smile. Use it before brushing twice a day to add a whitening effect to your everyday teeth cleaning routine. Plus, it has all the germ and bad breath-fighting powers of original Listerine, so you’re knocking out two dental goals with this affordable product.
Crest 3D White Vivid Toothpaste in Radiant Mint, $4.49 for 5.8 oz., Walgreens.com
Several collegiettes at UNC-Chapel Hill swear by this toothpaste and its results. It has the same active ingredients as Crest’s whitening strips and costs a fraction of the price. The results won’t be as dramatic as with a two-week set of Whitestrips®, but if you want to actively whiten your teeth year-round, this toothpaste is a great option.
Oral-B Glide 3D White Floss Picks in Radiant Mint, $4.59 for 75, drugstore.com
I swear by these floss picks and have convinced several of my friends of their power, too. If you have trouble with regular floss, pre-threaded floss picks are a great and easy alternative, and these ones have whitening power in addition to their plaque removing skill. When you skim the floss over each tooth surface, it will also help prevent surface stains, which will help brighten your smile. The results aren’t immediate or blinding, but since you’ll be flossing your teeth anyway, you may as well add whitening to the mix, right?
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Whitening pens: $6 to $30, drugstores
If you can’t afford a professional treatment but aren’t seeing enough results from whitening toothpaste and mouthwash, a whitening pen is an effective substitute for whitening strips, especially if you’re worried about gum sensitivity. Whitening pens are also a great option if you’re concerned about time—while whitening strips generally have to stay on your teeth for half an hour, the pens can take just a few seconds and are safe enough to be used twice a day.
Dr. Abernethy’s office, for example, sells the professional-quality Zoom whitening pen for about $20. She recommends the whitening pen option for patients whose mouths are too sensitive for whitening trays, and she says that some patients prefer the ease of a whitening pen. This is also an effective way to whiten,” Dr. Abernethy says, “but it can take longer—three to four weeks—to see results.”
As with whitening strips, look for whitening pens that have fluoride and potassium nitrate to strengthen your teeth and reduce tooth and gum sensitivity. If the product you choose doesn’t have these ingredients, make sure you’re using a fluoride rinse and brushing regularly to keep your mouth healthy during the whitening process.
Here are a few whitening pen options:
GoSmile On the Go Teeth Whitening Pen, $22, beauty.com.
The pen comes pre-filled with a set supply (usually about a week’s worth) of whitening serum that you can glide onto your teeth for a brighter smile. Just brush the serum over your teeth twice a day for a week.
BriteSmile Whitening Pens, $29.99 for three-pack, smilox.com
These whitening pens are safe to use twice a day and promise visible results in two weeks. Each pen has a 30-day supply of whitening serum, so you can save the extras for later or divide the package with your friends. The gel only takes 30 seconds to apply and dries quickly, so you can whiten your teeth without disrupting your everyday schedule.
Walgreens Teeth Whitening Pen, $6.99, walgreens.com
This whitening pen costs less than name brand whitening pens and promises noticeable results within two weeks of use. It only takes 30 seconds to apply the whitening gel and is safe to use up to three times a day, so this whitening pen is great if you’re in a time crunch and on a budget.
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Professional peroxide treatment and dental trays: various prices, dentists’ offices
An in-office whitening procedure will give you more immediate results than at-home whitening strips, though it will be more costly—professional treatments generally start at around $500. According to Linda Dyett and Dr. Larry Addleson at Your Dentistry Guide, in-office peroxide treatments typically cost around $650, though the specific cost depends on your dentist and your health insurance plan. And if you find a deal on in-office treatments that’s too good to be true, it might be—Hannah Orenstein, a sophomore at NYU, found this out the hard way.
“I had been considering teeth whitening for a while but didn’t want to splurge on it, until I found a Groupon for an in-office treatment,” Hannah says. It cost $99 for two back-to-back, 15-minute sessions. I could see a huge difference right away, but the effect didn’t last for as long as I thought it would—no more than a few weeks. While I might consider doing it right before a big event, I don’t think it’s worth spending so much on a treatment that fades so quickly.” Take a cue from Hannah and ask your dentist how long the professional effects will last before you fork over your hard-earned cash.
The peroxide treatment procedure generally takes around an hour, and your teeth will likely be more sensitive to cold temperatures for a day or so following the peroxide treatment. According to the ADA, maximum teeth whitening procedures can take up to three visits, but your dentist will help you decide what’s right for you and your teeth whitening needs.
If the peroxide idea makes you uncomfortable or won’t work with your teeth, there are still professional options you can consider. Dentists are continually coming up with new ideas for in-office treatments. Dr. Abernethy’s office, for example, uses an in-office power bleaching gel, Opalescence Boost by Ultradent, which requires just 40 minutes of treatment and doesn’t use lights or lasers. For sensitive teeth, gels can be a great alternative to peroxide treatments.
With in-office procedures for gel treatment, your dentist will use custom whitening trays. Dr. Abernethy recommends this option because it provides “more predictable results with little or no sensitivity,” as would be caused by a peroxide treatment. Dr. Abernethy’s office charges $400 for this procedure, though again, prices will vary based on your dentist and insurance plan.
Dr. Abernethy says that in-office treatments will typically require you to continue using bleaching trays at home afterward to maintain the professional whitening effect. She also says that bleaching trays with a low-strength bleaching gel are the safest and most effective way to whiten your teeth. Her office recommends the Opalescence gel tubes, which cost between $20 and $35, in addition to the cost of the trays. These prescription-strength formulas are only available through your dentist’s office. Dr. Abernethy’s office and other dental offices across the country may also recommend prescription-strength alternatives to whitening strips—the one Dr. Abernethy uses, the Opalescence TresWhite system, costs $50, not including the cost of your appointment and consultation.
According to the ADA, teeth whitening trays may be used for sensitive teeth, either on their own or in advance of a peroxide treatment. The ADA notes that when used before an in-office procedure, these trays are typically worn for 10 to 30 minutes to manage tooth sensitivity. The ADA also says that “with tray bleaching, teeth normally lighten in three days to six weeks,” so the time period for which you’ll use dental trays will vary depending on your teeth discoloration and your dentist’s advice.
If you want to brighten your smile, there are a variety of teeth whitening options available that will fit your budget and availability. Now that you have all of the information, you’re on your way to a more beautiful smile.
Have you ever tried tooth whitening products or had an in-office whitening treatment? Let us know in the comments section.