Teeth can be discolored for a number of reasons — factors like the food and drinks you consume, smoking, aging, injury to your teeth, medications, and even genetics can all play a role. An electric toothbrush is a great way to start brightening stained teeth, but professional teeth whitening is really the way to go if you’re striving for that yearbook smile. What if you can’t make it to the dentist, though? No worries. You can shine your pearly whites from the comfort of your own home.
In today’s world, where you can buy just about anything online, you can purchase teeth-whitening kits for at-home use that are designed to mimic your dentist’s teeth-whitening process. These home whitening kits typically contain a teeth-bleaching product, a light that’s supposed to speed up the bleaching product’s activity, and a mouth guard that molds to your teeth. Some kits also contain extra items like remineralization gels or vitamin E gels to help reduce teeth and gum sensitivity.
Not all teeth-whitening kits are created equal, though, and some work better than others. We’ve gathered some of the best teeth whitening kits that you can have shipped right to your door.
Note: This guide only discusses the effectiveness of teeth-whitening kits and not the safety of any specific teeth-whitening products. Discuss the safety of at-home teeth-whitening products with your dentist if you have concerns.
Bright On Premium Whitening kit by Smile Direct Club
Smile Direct Club, a company that provides at-home teeth straightening solutions, also offers a teeth whitening kit. The kit, which works rather effectively, contains nine peroxide whitening pens you paint on your teeth. The company advertises that the pens contain the “same enamel-safe whitening agent used by dentists.” The whitening pens work well, and they have a mint flavor, so they don’t taste too bad. Also, the bleach doesn’t seem to cause as much sensitivity as some other gels.
In addition to the whitening pens, the kit also includes a 20 LED accelerator that’s designed to speed up whitening. It does work quickly, too. You can use the kit for just five minutes in the morning and five minutes at night.
If you really want to have the perfect smile, you can also add on an impression kit. The impression kit takes a mold of your teeth that you send to Smile Direct Club. They can then set you up with a cost-effective plan for at-home invisible aligners to straighten your teeth.
Glo Brilliant Teeth-Whitening kit
One of the more expensive at-home teeth-whitening products, Glo Brilliant uses its patented Guided Light Optics (G.L.O.) technology in an effort to whiten teeth faster. G.L.O. involves using a combination of warmth and blue LED light. You only have to wear the mouthpiece for eight minutes per use, and most people say they see some results after their first use.
In the kit, you get the G.L.O. mouthpiece, case, control and lanyard, a power adapter, and a universal USB cable. You also get peroxide whitening vials (40 applications), a lip treatment, a storage and travel case, and instruction manuals.
AuraGlow Deluxe Home Teeth-Whitening System
AuraGlow’s whitening kit also combines a peroxide whitening agent and an accelerator light. The whitening gel is 35% carbamide peroxide, and the kit contains two 5-milliliter syringes of it.
The mouthpiece can attach to the accelerator light for easier use, and you get a storage tray for when you’re not using the product. While this kit works incredibly well, the mouthpiece is one-size-fits-all, as opposed to one you mold to your teeth. You also don’t get as much gel as you do with some other kits.
ActiveWow 24K White Premium Teeth-Whitening Kit
ActiveWow’s teeth-whitening kit is similar to AuraGlow’s in terms of how it works, but you get a bit more in this kit. It provides three syringes with a carbamide peroxide whitening gel, applicator tips, an accelerator light, and a retainer case. Plus, you get three separate thermo-molded mouth trays. The moldable mouth trays make it so the whitening gel gets right up on your teeth. Plus, the fact that you get three trays means more than one person can use the kit. The whitening gel works effectively, and each treatment takes between 10 and 20 minutes.
Cali White Deluxe Whitening System
Made with organic peroxide, the whitening gel in this kit works exceptionally well. What really takes this kit a step above some of the others is the included trays, though. The comfort fit, thermo-form trays are BPA-free, 100% silicone, and contain ventilation holes so you can breathe through your mouth while you whiten.
You also get three trays, which is an added bonus, and you can attach the mouth tray to the accelerator. Each treatment takes between 10 and 30 minutes, and you see results pretty quickly.
Zero Glow Premium Teeth-Whitening Kit
Zero Glow’s carbamide peroxide formula is guaranteed to get your teeth sparkling white in as little as seven days. This incredible kit comes with three syringes of whitening gel, custom boil and bite mouth trays, and an LED accelerator light.
On top of discreet packaging and a helpful guide for using the equipment, this is one of the most responsive whitening kits on this list, with many customers experiencing results right after their very first treatment! Customers were also pleased with how long supplies last.