Best Teeth Whitening Kits in 2022 [Buying Guide] - GearHungry (2024)

Teeth Whitening Kit Buying Guide

How We Chose Our Selection of Teeth Whitening Kits

Finding the best over the counter teeth whitening kit can be difficult – there’s just so many options to choose from and all you want is to smile with confidence! While home kits are convenient (both in use and for our bank account), there are a few dodgy brands out there which might do more harm than good. So, in an effort to enhance your smile instead of deteriorating it, we’ve gathered a list of our favourite kits which include a variety of strip, gel and powdered products.

All of the brands included in our 10 Best Teeth Whitening Kits list have been thoroughly researched and reviewed while keeping the following key factors in mind:

Quality

What does quality mean to you? Does it mean the use of safe ingredients? Assurance that the product will stick to its promise? Perhaps the quality you look for in a product is ease-of-use and practical functionality? Well, we’ve rounded up a selection of dental whitening kits that take a holistic approach to the quality they deliver.

Reviews

We take our reviews straight from the horse’s mouth, and in this case, the horse is boasting a shiny set of pearly white teeth. We read what people have to say about the products they use, we then measure their experiences with what the product promises to deliver, and then make our own researched consensus.

Brand

A brand holds a reputation and when we scoured the net for the best teeth whitening system, we took this reputation into account. Not only do we consider the functionality and quality of a brand, but we also seek to find manufacturers who offer pleasant after sale experiences and assured warranties.

Price

OK, so it’s a bummer that we have to shop according to a budget, but budget we must! When we compiled our list of teeth whitening kits, we looked at their prices and rounded about a variety of products that would fit into varying budget scopes – all while keeping quality and a shiny bright smile in mind.

Features To Look For In Teeth Whitening Kits

The last thing we want is for you to spend your hard-earned cash on a kit that doesn’t work for you, leaving you rather glum. We want to see that toothy grin, not a frown, so, to help you find the best teeth whitening method that suits your lifestyle, we’ve listed key features for you to consider before making your choice:

Ease-to-use - We’re all busy people and while whitening devices that come equipped with mouth-trays and LED lights might offer the best results in the shortest time, often our rushed lifestyles simply don’t accommodate this palaver. If this sounds like you, perhaps strips or gels that can be applied with a quick rinse after use are your best bet?

Pain tolerance - If you find yourself flinching in pain when you bite into something hot or very cold, then you want to settle on a kit that offers teeth whitening for sensitive teeth. At first, it might be best to avoid cold gel whiteners while you work on your tooth (and gum) sensitivity. You can also look out for brands that help strengthen teeth and gums while whitening – a double whammy!

Type of whitener - This all narrows down to a personal choice. Some prefer strips and gels because they are slightly more convenient to use, while the charcoal powders tend to be more natural and even vegan friendly. The type of whitener you choose will depend on your values, what you feel comfortable putting into your body and what will fit snugly into your daily routine.

Treatment time - While treatments that take a little more time to do their thing tend to be the ones offering more instant results, there are a few products (also included in our list) which offer just as quick results when compared to their more timeous counterparts. Treatment times vary anywhere from 8 minutes to an hour. Some of the treatments can be done while you carry on with your daily routine, while others need you to be a little bit more on the still side. What kind of time do you have on your hands?

Taste - Some people aren’t fussy on taste, they just want to get the job done. Others, however, might have a more sensitive gag reflex and are a little fussier when it comes to flavour (and even texture). Before you make a purchase, make sure you select a product that mentions flavour, and that the flavour will be suited to your taste buds.

Price - With most things in life, you get what you pay for! In most instances, a more quality product is going to be on the pricier side. If you do a little research however, you’ll be surprised to see that often there are brands who care about customer satisfaction and can cater to your budget while still offering a superior experience.

Types of Teeth Whitening Products

Even those who brush, floss, and see their dentist for regular check-ups may find that lifestyle and even just the passage of time will eventually take a toll on the colour of one’s teeth. Luckily there’s a solution, two solutions in fact! Pay a visit to your dentist and ask them about what professional whitening treatments they offer, or, grab yourself a DIY kit from your local store.

At-Home Teeth Whitening

This is a convenient and affordable way for the average person to maintain a healthy smile; keeping teeth stain-free, polished and bright. Choose between the following at-home teeth whitener solutions:

Whitening toothpaste – Superbly convenient! Simply brush your teeth with a tooth-whitening paste twice daily, as you normally would, and combat germs and protect your teeth from cavities at the same time!

Whitening gels – Gels usually contain peroxide for fast whitening results and are often used together with a mouth tray, which fits snugly around your teeth to hold the gel in place.

Whitening strips – These are sticky strips that cover your teeth while removing stains and bleaching them.

Whitening kits – These kits generally come with gel applicators (or syringes), a mouth-tray and a LED light which work together for fast and professional results.

Professional Teeth Whitening

If you’re not 100% sure that even the best teeth whitening kit is going to work for you, or perhaps DIY is just not your thing, then off to the dentist you go! Most professional dentists use bleaching gels made from hydrogen peroxide (the same ingredients found in most kits) and much like the LED lights that you can purchase, they will intensify the treatment by shining a powerful light onto your gel-covered teeth for a certain period of time.

Another more recent practice that dentists are using to whiten smiles is to use a Laser Whitening technique. During this process, the dentist will add a whitening compound to your teeth and then use a pen-like laser to activate the compound. The compound is activated to form a foam, which removes stains as it bubbles.

Tips For Using Your Teeth Whitening Kit

1. Don’t expect instant results after just one treatment. While you might notice that your chompers look a little less yellow after one whitening application, more visible results can be seen after a week of continuous use.
2. Take breaks in between kit usage. Constant use of teeth whitening kits could weaken your tooth enamel, or give them a grey/blue tone.
3. Most at-home kits contain peroxide, which varies in percentage (anywhere from 10% to 22%). The higher the peroxide level, the stronger the treatment will be. To avoid tooth sensitivity or a “burning” sensation however, start with the lower peroxide leveled products and work your way up.

Teeth Whitening Kit FAQ

Q: What is a Teeth Whitening Kit?

A: A teeth-whitening home kit comes equipped with the ingredients and apparatus you will need to whiten your teeth while at home, without a professional’s assistance. Each kit will include a gel solution, sticky strips, a paste or a powder which contains the necessary resources to bleach and whiten teeth, either naturally or with the help of safe chemicals.

Q: Why do teeth turn yellow?

A: Tooth discoloration falls into two main categories: extrinsic and intrinsic stains. Extrinsic stains are caused by food, drink, medication and bad habits, like smoking cigarettes. These stains are easy to remove and can be prevented by following healthier lifestyles. Intrinsic stains, however, appear due to genetics or health problems which affect the inner structure of your teeth. Extrinsic stains are harder to treat and remove.

Q: Should some people avoid teeth whitening kits?

A: The short answer, yes. If you have cavities or teeth that are very sensitive, then it’s best to avoid whitening kits until you have sought professional advice and assistance. Whitening agents can make cavities worse and tend to make sensitive teeth even more sensitive.

Q: Are the effects of a teeth whitening kit permanent?

A: While some teeth whitening solutions may rid your teeth of stains and some yellowing, no treatment offers permanent whitening results. There are treatments that last for quite some time however, or at least until bad habits re-stain teeth. This simply means that you should apply a whitening treatment at least every 3-4 months, for a continuous bright smile.

Q: Are at-home teeth whitening kits as good as the whitening treatments in a dentist’s office?

A: There certainly are over-the-counter whitening systems that meet professional dentistry standards and are often endorsed by leading dental practitioners. Most kits include the exact ingredients and equipment that a dentist would use in a whitening procedure, although they might not meet a professional’s quality standards.

Sources:

1. Why Do Teeth Turn Yellow? -Live Science
2. Choose the Best Teeth Whitener -WebMD