Best Teeth Whitening Strips of 2024
These at-home whitening products will give you a brighter smile.
Our Experts
- Carl R. Greer/Andrew D. Hepburn Award for Best Nonfiction Essay (Miami University, 2020)
What to consider
Fit
Make sure the white strips fit snug on your teeth and don't touch the gums.
Coverage
Make sure the teeth whitening strips cover the majority of your teeth.
Ease of use
Whitening strips should be easy to apply.
Sensations
Those with sensitive teeth should look out for products without hydrogen peroxide.
Length of wear
Decide what length of time you're comfortable wearing white strips. Sensitive teeth should avoid prolonged wear.
Our Picks
What to consider
Fit
Make sure the white strips fit snug on your teeth and don't touch the gums.
Coverage
Make sure the teeth whitening strips cover the majority of your teeth.
Ease of use
Whitening strips should be easy to apply.
Sensations
Those with sensitive teeth should look out for products without hydrogen peroxide.
Length of wear
Decide what length of time you're comfortable wearing white strips. Sensitive teeth should avoid prolonged wear.
Professional teeth whitening is effective but expensive. If you want to save hundreds and a trip to the dentist's office but still get whiter teeth, at-home whitening strips can produce surprising results when used regularly. Even if you have tooth sensitivity or gum sensitivity, these whitening products are gentle on your pearly whites.
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A note before you get started. Wanting a brighter smile is valid, but maintaining healthy teeth and oral health is more important. It's a good idea to consult with your dentist before you try any at-home whitening kit. This may be especially important if your dentist has told you in the past that you have enamel erosion (enamel is the protective layer on your teeth) or if you know you need dental work -- like a cavity filled. Also, make sure to take precautions when using whitening strips on existing dental work like veneers, filings, crowns or caps.
What is the best teeth whitening strip overall?
Crest 3D Whitestrips are our pick as the best teeth whitening strips overall because our tests determined that they had the best results with the most effective active ingredients. If you have surface stains from years and years of tea, coffee and wine, the whitening agent in Crest 3D Whitestrips can effectively whiten teeth by as much as 23 levels.
Best teeth whitening strips of 2024
- Up to 23 levels whiter teeth in about 24 days
- Remove up to 14 years of stains
- Active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide
- You might find the coverage to be less than you want
- Most expensive on this list
Crest 3D Whitestrips are truly a classic. They're easy to find and easy to use, and I've used them many times in the past. Each Crest 3D Whitestrips Professional Effects box contains 48 strips for 24 treatments. Wear one strip a day for 30 minutes, and Crest claims that you can remove up to 14 years of stains by the end of your last treatment.
One thing to keep in mind is the coverage is a little less than other brands on this list (such as the Rembrandt strips). I found that the cover was OK, I just wished the strips would reach over my canines more. Despite that, Crest 3D is still my No. 1 on this list, because time and time again they're effective.
- Dissolves within 15 minutes
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- A refreshing mint flavor
- On the expensive side
- Must avoid eating and drinking for 30 minutes after application
If you don’t like the feeling of whitening strips sitting on your teeth for up to 30 minutes, you can try dissolving strips, instead. Moon Dissolving Whitening Strips are applied just like any other strips, but after 15 minutes, they completely dissolve. There’s no unnecessary waste or mess and no need to rinse. The strips are also peppermint flavored.
Moon states that in two weeks or less, you can whiten your teeth up to seven shades lighter. In addition to being vegan and cruelty-free, these dissolving whitening strips are free from SLS/SLES (which can irritate skin), triclosan, parabens and artificial flavors.
- Natural alternative -- coconut oil is the active ingredient
- Contains 21 treatments in one box
- Up to 14 shades lighter in a maximum of three weeks
- On the pricey side
- May slip around
Anyone who has sensitive teeth should check out Lumineux Oral Essentials. Lumineux products don't include hydrogen peroxide and instead use a combination of dead sea salt, essential oils, coconut oil and aloe vera. The fit and coverage were great, although they did slip around a bit. Lumineux products are also cruelty-free.
I tested these for three consecutive days, so I can't speak to the long-term efficacy compared with other brands, but Lumineux did conduct a clinical trial that concluded Crest 3D Whitestrips were no more effective than Lumineux natural whitening strips. (The study was funded in part by Lumineux, so keep that in mind.) Still, I think they're worth a shot for people with sensitive teeth and gums.
- Price: $$
- Number of pieces: 42
- Active ingredient: Coconut oil
- Cruelty-free: Yes
- Results in: 3 weeks or less
- Level of whitening: Up to 14 shades
- 10 flavors to choose from including mint, coconut, strawberry and wintergreen
- Nonslip design
- Results in two weeks or less
- The brand doesn’t say how many levels of whitening is possible
- May not be suitable for sensitive teeth
Zimba whitening strips are both affordable and effective at lightening the shade of your teeth. One pack comes with 28 strips for results in 14 days or less. Wear one strip for 30 minutes a day.
This cruelty-free brand has found a way to combat one of the negatives of whitening strips -- the strong, bitter taste. Zimba offers 10 different flavors to choose from, like watermelon or spearmint. On top of that, the strips have a nonslip design that grip the teeth during each treatment.
Best Teeth Whitening Strips of 2024
| Teeth Whitening Strips | Number of Strips | Results in... | Level of whitening | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crest 3D Whitestrips | 48 | About 24 days | 23 shades | $36 |
| Moon Dissolving Whitening Strips | 56 | 14 days or less | 7 shades | $40 |
| Lumineux Oral Essentials Whitening Strips | 42 | 3 weeks or less | 14 shades | $50 |
| Zimba Teeth Whitening Strips | 28 | 14 days or less | Not listed | $25 |
How we chose teeth whitening strips
I began this list of teeth whitening strips with teeth whitening products that could potentially make it into this roundup, looking at things like brand reputation, buyer reviews on Amazon and full reviews by other writers. After narrowing the lengthy list of teeth whitening strips, I started testing.
It would be impossible to test the long-term efficacy of all of these whitening strips without annihilating my enamel and gum tissue or distinguishing results with back-to-back testing on my own teeth, so I judged each product against a few criteria that I think will help you make a buying decision.
Factors to consider when choosing teeth whitening strips
Before buying your next box of teeth whitening strips, consider these factors.
Fit
You want your strips to fully cover your teeth and not go up over your gums, which can cause gum sensitivity. Additionally, their fit should be snug. While you go about your day, waiting for it to be time to take the strips off, they should not slip and slide around your mouth.
Coverage
While whitening your molars is not necessary (since you hardly see them anyway), your teeth whitening strips should still cover a good percentage of your teeth. After you apply the strip, smile and look in the mirror. Is the strip touching all of the teeth you can see in your normal smile? If not, time to try another brand.
Ease of use
Whitening strips should be simple. Apply the product, wait a specified amount of time and take them off. If the teeth whitening strips require other steps or seem difficult to use, try another brand.
Sensations
If you have sensitive teeth or gums, look for products that will give you the least amount of sensitivity. Oftentimes, hydrogen peroxide is too strong for sensitive teeth, so try coconut oil, instead. Don’t suffer through a product if it burns your gums or hurts your teeth.
Length of wear
Most strips require at least 30 minutes of wear in order to get the best results. If you have sensitive teeth or not enough time for teeth whitening strips, look for products that don’t require much wear.