Along with five out of five stars for flavor, this toothpaste earned five out of five stars for comfort for its smooth and gentle feeling. It contains silica and mica, which can remove stains in as little as five days, and it offers 24-hour stain prevention when used twice daily. Our tester noted that the difference in tooth color was not significant with this whitening toothpaste but felt this was a good option if you want an everyday toothpaste that tastes great and also has a whitening component. A number of factors can impact tooth wear, which makes RDAs an imperfect gauge for determining the best toothpaste. Other factors such as your diet, whether you grind your teeth, whether you brush too hard or too softly, GI conditions, and more can have an impact on how your teeth respond to abrasive ingredients. A beauty trend that you may have seen when scrolling through your social media feeds (via an ad, perhaps), is purple toothpaste. In what looks to be after a second of application, in the videos shared, the colour-correcting paste is seen to transform teeth by removing yellow stains which, as a result, then reveals a glimmering, Hollywood smile – one that we're sure Simon Cowell would approve of. This toothpaste from Burt's Bees, a company known for natural ingredients and no animal testing, received five out of five stars for effectiveness and comfort and has a pleasant minty taste which is why we selected it as our best overall whitening toothpaste. This toothpaste uses silica rather than chemical whitening agents, and our tester noted a significant whitening of teeth even after a single use. Our tester also noted that they didn't feel any sensitivity while using this product.

Brushing your teeth removes plaque buildup and bacteria to help prevent cavities. This toothpaste from MOON helps you do just that while also whitening your teeth. Our tester noted that there was no sensitivity at all when using this toothpaste and it had a nice texture which is why it received a five out of five stars for comfort. However, it's whitening effect wasn't as effective as some others on this list. I have sensitive teeth (I usually use Sensodyne) which is usually most noticeable with cold food and beverages. I didn't notice any issues with this toothpaste. It was comfortable to brush with if a bit grainy." — Elizabeth Theriot, Food Commerce Methodology Writer One ingredient to avoid is charcoal because of the harm it can cause to the teeth. “Charcoal can be used as an abrasive, but it should be avoided [because it is] too abrasive,” Dr. Morgano says.

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This toothpaste is vegan, cruelty-free, free of parabens and has hydrated silica as an abrasive whitener. It also contains a proprietary blend of antioxidants and essential oils. It has a mild mint flavor that our tester noted didn't leave their mouth feeling as fresh as other toothpastes but tasted fine. It contains sodium fluoride and is accepted by the ADA for preventing cavities. to 5 stars: These are the best whitening toothpastes we tested. We recommend them without reservation. Fluoride: When selecting any toothpaste—whitening or not—fluoride is an important ingredient. “Toothpaste should also contain fluoride, which doesn’t whiten the teeth but fights cavities,” Dr. Morgano says. Every toothpaste available online or at your local drugstore has abrasives; those ingredients are necessary for effectively cleaning your teeth. Abrasives also work to remove stains from teeth, and whitening toothpastes often feature more of them or feature them in greater quantities.

Another thing to consider when choosing a whitening toothpaste is the taste or flavor. The flavor of a toothpaste often contributes to the fresh feeling you have when you're done brushing. Some toothpastes have a strong mint flavor that can be overpowering for some. Toothpastes that contain baking soda can have a harsh flavor or aftertaste that is unpleasant for some people. The baking soda neutralizes the acid in your mouth so it's gentle on your enamel. Our tester noted that this toothpaste was a bit grainy but still comfortable to use and didn't cause any sensitivities. Our tester also noted that the taste was initially slightly bitter, but they got used to it after continued use. An RDA score reflects how erosive a toothpaste can be. Lower RDA scores reflect gentler toothpastes, while higher RDA scores reflect higher levels of abrasive ingredients. This is why whitening toothpastes may cause or increase sensitivity for some—highly abrasive toothpastes can erode your enamel and even expose the dentin (middle layer)of your tooth. This toothpaste may not whiten as fast as some others on our list but protecting your teeth from sensitivity and pain is worth it. Our tester noted that this toothpaste didn't irritate their gums or make their mouth feel dry compared to other whitening toothpastes which is why it earned a five out of five stars for comfort. It also has a light mint taste that isn't too strong, and our tester noted the foam was finer than regular toothpaste, which helped coat teeth better and get into hard-to-reach places. One of the most important characteristics to look for when shopping for whitening toothpaste is the types of ingredients that are included in the formula.

Whitening toothpastes FAQs

Abrasive whiteners: Silica is an abrasive whitening agent that removes stains on the teeth's surface. “Generally, the abrasives are silica or chalk, which are harmless to enamel,” Dr. Morgano says. In addition to our testing, we spoke to dentists to get their expertise on whitening toothpastes, including how these toothpastes work and how they should be used. These dentists were: Steven Morgano, DMD, chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine Chemical whiteners: Hydrogen peroxide is a common chemical whitening (or bleaching) agent often found in whitening kits and whitening toothpaste because of its ability to remove stains. “Peroxides, when used the way they're designed to be used, can whiten teeth,” Dr. Hewlett says. He warns, though, that for best results, this ingredient needs to remain on the teeth for longer periods to remove stains. So if you are finding that peroxide-based toothpaste is not giving you the results you want, you might want to consider a whitening kit or professional whitening treatment.Chemical ingredients have a leg up on abrasive ingredients: They can continue to work after you finish brushing—as long as you don’t rinse your mouth out after.

Whitening toothpaste can only accomplish so much when it comes to removing stains from the teeth. “Whitening toothpaste removes superficial staining on the teeth (such as from coffee or red wine) by using an abrasive in the toothpaste,” Dr. Morgano says. “These toothpastes do not make the teeth lighter than their natural shade.” Using whitening kits or professional treatments from a dentist improves the results. “Bleaching can make teeth lighter than their natural shade,” Dr. Morgano says. “There are OTC bleaching kits found at the pharmacy that can be used, and there are professional bleaching kits that can be obtained from a dentist.” I would absolutely recommend Burt's Bees Whitening Toothpaste to everyone I know! It's effective and tastes amazing compared to other natural brands on the market." — Brit Haines, Associate Editor, Verywell Healthand below: We don't recommend whitening toothpastes with this rating; you won't find any on our list. How We Tested When determining the best whitening toothpastes to test, we reviewed dozens of toothpastes from the top oral care brands. Then, we selected fifteen whitening toothpastes for home testing. Our testers evaluated and recorded their pre-test teeth color using the VITA Guide, brushed with the toothpastes as directed for several weeks, and then reevaluated teeth color. I didn't experience any discomfort. My teeth are not particularly sensitive, but my gums can be. The toothpaste went on smoothly and its texture was smooth. The mint did not burn, but had a pleasant minty feel." — Elie Levine, Social Media Editor, Verywell Health