Do Whitening Toothpastes Actually Work? These 6 Editor-Tested Options Impressed Us (2024)

• Ingredients to Look For and Avoid in Whitening Toothpaste

• What Healthcare Professionals Want You to Know

• When to See a Healthcare Professional

• Our Picks

• How We Tested

• Our Experts

• Why Trust Verywell Health

Key Specs:

Key Ingredients: Sodium fluoride, hydrated silica | Size: 4.7 ounces | Flavor: Mint

Why We Recommend It

Burt's Bees Deep Clean Whitening With Fluoride Toothpaste was our top-performing natural pick for its effectiveness and comfort. This toothpaste uses silica rather than chemical whitening agents, and we noted significant whitening even after a single use. As a bonus, we didn't notice any sensitivity while using this product.

It also has a pleasant, minty taste. We loved the fresh flavor over the baking soda-like taste other natural toothpastes tend to have. Like other Burt's Bees products, the toothpaste isn't tested on animals and is free from artificial flavors, sweeteners, and dyes.

Keep In Mind

This toothpaste has a slight aftertaste that may be unpleasant for some people. If that's a concern of yours, we suggest Tom's of Maine Simply White Toothpaste as another effective, natural alternative. The formula isperoxide-free, cruelty-free, and vegan. The fresh mint flavor isn't overpowering; and best of all, there'sno aftertaste. The only drawback is that results are more subtle than other options, so it's not the best for people looking for a drastic change in their smile.

Key Specs:

Key Ingredients: Sodium fluoride, hydrated silica | Size: 4.1 ounces | Flavor: Mint

Why We Recommend It

Sometimes, whitening toothpaste can worsen tooth sensitivity, making eating or drinking food uncomfortable. Luckily, Crest Gum & Sensitivity Gentle Whitening Toothpaste brightened our smile comfortably with no increased sensitivity during testing.

When we used this pick, it didn't irritate our gums or make our mouth feel dry like other options did. The light mint taste wasn't too strong, either. We noticed the foam was finer than we're used to but liked that it cleaned hard-to-reach places better.

Keep in Mind

Although the toothpaste may not whiten as fast as others on our list, it's worth it if you want to protect your teeth from sensitivity and pain.

Key Specs:

Key Ingredients: Sodium fluoride, baking soda, silica | Size: 4.3 ounces | Flavor: Mint

Why We Recommend It

Arm & Hammer Advance White Baking Soda & Peroxide Toothpaste protects the enamel while whitening teeth. The formula uses sodium fluoride and baking soda to strengthen the enamel gently. Paired with the chemical whitening agent carbonate peroxide and silica as a second abrasive whitener, it has an effective and powerful ingredient list for a brighter, whiter smile.

This pick does its job well, especially with prolonged use. One of our editors has been using this pick for three years and loves how bright and white her smile is after struggling with coffee-stained teeth.

That being said, Arm & Hammer toothpaste tends to have a unique taste that can be offputting due to the baking soda. If taste is a priority, Crest 3D White Brilliance Toothpaste in vibrant peppermint had the best flavor by far during testing. It contains sodium fluoride, silica, and mica, which can remove stains in as little as five days but the results aren't as drastic as other options.

Keep in Mind

We found the texture a bit grainy and thought the taste was slightly bitter at first, but we got used to it after continued use.

Key Specs:

Key Ingredients: Sodium fluoride, silica | Size: 4.2 ounces | Flavor: Mint

Why We Recommend It

Moon Anticavity Whitening Toothpaste With Fluoride is formulated to remove plaque buildup and bacteria while whitening teeth. Despite its multi-tasking ingredient list: antioxidants, essential oils, silica and sodium fluoride, we experienced no sensitivity when using this toothpaste and found the texture pleasant. Lastly, the toothpaste is ADA-approved for cavity prevention, vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free.

Keep in Mind

We struggled to squeeze this product out of the tube, so it may not be for you if you struggle with hand dexterity or grip. We also didn't find the flavor as fresh-feeling as other toothpastes.

Key Specs:

Key Ingredients: Cellulose, glycerin, silica | Size: 1 fluid ounce | Flavor: Mint

Why We Recommend It

We love Laser Glow Purple Toothpaste Color Corrector for an instantly brighter smile. Like other purple whitening toothpastes, it creates a temporary illusion of whiter teeth. It's not a long-term solution, but it works for short-term purposes or spot treating.

You use this whitening pick after your regular toothpaste. At the end of testing, our smiles looked brighter. It also made our teeth feel smoother and cleaner than ever before. At first, we worried that the bright color would stain the sink, but we were pleasantly surprised at how easily it cleaned up. We didn't experience tooth sensitivity and also enjoyed the refreshing mint flavor.

If you aren't too keen on adding an extra step to your routine, we also experienced fast results with Crest 3D White Professional Enamel Protect Toothpaste. After three days of use, we noticed our teeth were whiter, so it's a great choice for last-minute brightening before an event or photo shoot. This toothpaste features hydrated silica to remove stains and sodium fluoride to prevent cavities and strengthen enamel. You should keep in mind that it comes in a small tube, so you may need to re-up more often than other picks which can add up financially.

Keep in Mind

This isn't meant to replace your toothpaste. Using it will add an extra step to your daily routine.

Key Specs:

Key Ingredients: Sodium fluoride | Size: 4.6 ounces | Flavor: Luminous purple (mint) or unflavored

Why We Recommend It

Crest 3D White Brilliance Luminous Purple Toothpaste combines the whitening effects of purple toothpaste with the health benefits of sodium fluoride. Unlike many other kinds of purple toothpaste, it can be used as a standalone toothpaste to prevent cavities and whiten teeth.

We were amazed at the effectiveness of this toothpaste, and the affordable price is another plus since many purple toothpastes can be costly. We highly recommend this toothpaste if you're looking for a quick brightening product before photo shoots or other events that would benefit from a whiter smile.

Keep in Mind

We found this toothpaste's intense taste and goopy, thick texture unpleasant. It works, but it's not enjoyable to use. If you want to avoid that drawback, you should tryColgate Baking Soda and Peroxide Whitening Toothpaste. It's another great pick with fluoride, and it uses chemical and abrasive whitening agents (hydrogen peroxideandhydrated silica). We enjoyed the mild, pleasant, minty flavor,which wasgentleon our sensitive gums. This unique formula releases oxygen bubbles as you brush for a fresh, clean feeling, but the bubbling can be a little intense.

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