2021’s Best Teeth Whiteners

There’s nothing quite like a fresh coat of lipstick and dazzling white teeth. But, between a few cups of coffee, a few herbal teas, some tasty berries and a glass of red wine, our teeth can really use a freshening up every now and then. The question is — how do you get white teeth quickly, relatively cheaply, and without the sensitivity?

I’ve tried many (many) whitening products…everything from Zoom (watch for those zingers!) to dentist-made trays…to pretty much every over-the-counter whitening product, including baking soda.

With all my whitening experience in mind, I thought I’d give you the lay of the land of which systems have worked best for me. (Spoiler alert: I saved the best, the Crest strips for last! They’re my favorite.)

1. Zoom Laser Teeth Whitening

Before there were zoom meetings, there was (and still is) Zoom laser teeth whitening. A light-activated 25% hydrogen peroxide gel is applied to the teeth and a blue light is then put on the teeth to activate the solution.

I’ve done this process at the dentist’s office twice. Both times my teeth looked amazingly, gleamingly, dazzling white. Perhaps the whitest I’d ever seen.

A side effect of Zoom for some people (in addition to the price) are the so-called “zingers.” Not everyone experiences these but, I did. Both times. They were little shocks that seemed to strike a nerve in a tooth every hour or so. As such, I highly recommend this kind of procedure be done on a Friday afternoon so you have at last a full day Saturday and Sunday to recover! I was better by day 3. The good news was — it was done. I didn’t have to wait days or weeks for my whitening.

COST: $500-$700

TIP: No red wine. No red pasta sauce. And, no coffee drinking after your treatment.

2. Tanda Pearl Ionic Whitening System

For those of you that don’t want to drop all that money on the Zoom system, this is a very good at-home bet. It’s a 5-day system that produces significant results. One of the things I like about this system is that it whitens both the front and the back of the teeth simultaneously.

COST: $50 

3. Colgate Optic White Overnight Teeth Whitening Pen

This is a good option for the money. All you need to do is apply it to your teeth at bedtime, go to sleep, and you wake up with a brighter smile. One thing I especially like about the Colgate Pen is that you can control which teeth you want to whiten. For example, we all have a few stubborn teeth that tend to be more yellow than the others. This device allows you to control for that. As for sensitivity, it’s 3% hydrogen peroxide so, if you’re teeth begin to feel painful, I encourage a rest from the pen for a few days.

COST: $28

4. My FAVORITE: Crest Glamorous White Strips

This is my favorite whitening product of all! An oldie but a goodie. I’ve tried all different versions of the Crest strips and I keep coming back to these. The originals. They really do work. I have no complaints. They’re snug on your teeth and I put them in after I brush my teeth in the morning, just as I’m getting ready.

Bottomline, Crest White Stripes are a great product.

COST: $40.

TIP: If you find yourself experiencing a little sensitivity now, try using some Sensodyne toothpaste. It definitely helps. 

Good luck with it all! Let me know how you’re doing and which systems are working best for you by logging in and leaving a comment below.