Whether we’re sipping on a Starbucks latte, eating a bowl of pasta doused in our favorite marinara sauce, or munching on a piece of dark chocolate, our pearly whites are constantly in contact with teeth-staining foods. And, just like we might turn to at-home skin treatments for evening skin tone and erasing dark spots, we can use at-home treatments, such as teeth whitening strips or LED whitening kits, to target yellowing teeth and provide an overall brighter, whiter smile.
Similar to sheet masks, these whitening strips are simple and easy to apply to the teeth — and most only require a 30-minute treatment time. Additionally, at-home teeth whitening strips are a cost-effective solution for achieving a whiter smile, as a majority of options cost less than $60 for a week’s worth of treatment.
“The average cost of getting your teeth professionally whitened ranged from $650 to $1,000, and professionally-dispensed kits that you get from the dentist's office average $100 to $400,” says Brittany Ang, DMD, MDS, MBS, of Curve Orthodontics. She explains that, although an in-office whitening treatment is more involved, at-home whitening strips can yield effective results.
If you experience tooth or gum sensitivity, Ang says at-home whitening strips can also be worth trying as they are typically designed with more gentle formulas. “Most at-home whitening strips use a hydrogen peroxide concentration under 16 percent, whereas in-office treatments use a concentration of 25 to 40 percent,” she explains. Because of this, Ang says patients with a history of tooth or gum sensitivity might have a more comfortable experience with at-home teeth whitening strips.
With all of these benefits to consider, it’s no wonder there are dozens of teeth whitening strips on the market. Our PEOPLE Tested team tried 23 different options from Amazon, Crest, Burst, and more to find the 10 best teeth whitening strips. Throughout the process, variations of Crest Whitestrips stood out among the rest, and the only major drawback was tooth sensitivity after a few applications.