The Best Whitening Products For Sensitive Teeth That Minimize Discomfort
The best whitening products for sensitive teeth use lower percentages of active ingredients to ... More minimize discomfort.
When choosing whitening products, two of the most important considerations are the delivery (for example, strips, gels or molded trays) and concentration. 'The concentration of active ingredients significantly affects whitening results,' says Dr. David Wagner, a cosmetic dentist in L.A. 'It's a best practice for people with sensitive teeth to go low and slow, meaning use a low concentration gel over 3-4 weeks for shorter application time, even skipping days to reduce sensitivity.' Want to know more? Read on for our choices of the best whitening products for sensitive teeth, from strips to toothpaste to devices for a complete oral care routine.
Amazon
Product type: Strips | Active ingredient: 5.25% hydrogen peroxide | Frequency of use: 30 minutes daily
Pros:
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Whitening strips are an easy, 'low lift' way to whiten and brighten. (The Forbes Vetted team also ranked the original version of these Crest 3D strips as one of the best teeth whitening products.) This product is formulated with hydrogen peroxide, a common active ingredient in over-the-counter whitening treatments, but it has a lower concentration that gently improves surface level staining.
Amazon
Product type: Strips | Active ingredients: Coconut oil, sage oil, citrus lemon peel oil, Dead Sea salt | Frequency of use: 30 minutes daily for one week
Pros:
Cons:
Although peroxide is safe for sensitive teeth in lower concentrations, it may still trigger some sensitivity. As an alternative, the Lumineux Teeth Whitening Strips use natural ingredients like coconut oil, sage oil and citrus lemon peel oil to provide long-lasting results. 'Whitening strips can deliver much better results since the whitening material is in contact with the teeth much longer than whitening toothpaste,' says Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, founder and CEO of Lumineux. Like the Crest Whitestrips, apply the strips for 30 minutes daily for four days, then reduce the frequency to once a week thereafter.
Amazon
Product type: Toothpaste | Active ingredients: Potassium nitrate, sodium fluoride | Frequency of use: Twice daily
Pros:
Cons:
While toothpaste will have less dramatic results than strips or trays because it isn't in contact with your teeth for as long, it works well with other whitening products. The Potassium nitrate and sodium fluoride work to remove surface stains while calming the nerves within the tooth. This toothpaste also protects the enamel, prevents tartar buildup, and protects against cavities and tooth decay.
Amazon
Product type: Gel | Active ingredient: 6% hydrogen peroxide | Frequency of use: Three times per day
Pros:
Cons:
This whitening system is convenient and doesn't cause any sensitivity, thanks to the low peroxide concentration. This gel comes in small, squeezable vials with a brush tip for precise application without a mess. Each portable Glo vial has three to four applications, and an airtight seal keeps it from spilling. Plus, it comes with a hydrating lip balm.
Snow
Product type: LED mouthpiece | Active ingredient: Hydroxyapatite, carbamide peroxide | Frequency of use: Daily for 9 minutes
Pros:
Cons:
This effective whitening system is one of the quickest ways to whiten and brighten your teeth at home. The active ingredients include hydroxyapatite, a naturally occurring mineral that can help restore your enamel, and carbamide peroxide, a derivative of hydrogen peroxide that releases at a slower rate. After brushing your teeth, apply the Snow serum and insert the USB-powered LED mouthpiece for a nine-minute treatment. The kit also includes a shade guide to track your whitening progress throughout the 3-week treatment.
Moon Beauty
Product type: Gel | Active ingredient: Carbamide peroxide | Frequency of use: Twice daily
Pros:
Cons:
The Moon Teeth Whitening Pen uses carbamide peroxide and a proprietary blend of essential oils and extracts—including lavender oil, strawberry fruit extract and honeysuckle flower extract—to gently whiten without sensitivity or pain. The formula also includes light-reflecting pigments for an immediate brightening effect. Another benefit? The simple design can be used on the go and easily fits into a small purse or handbag.
At Forbes Vetted, we've researched and written dozens of stories on personal care products, including the best teeth whitening strips, best teeth whitening kits and more.
To narrow down our options for the best whitening products for sensitive teeth, we tapped into our deep market knowledge and extensive testing experience, highlighting products and brands that whiten and brighten without discomfort.
When shopping for a whitener for sensitive teeth, the most important considerations are the whitening agent and the concentration. After consulting with three experts, here's what to look for.
'The most common active ingredient in whitening products is peroxide, which can either be hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide,' says Dr. Kevin Sands, a cosmetic dentist in L.A. 'Hydrogen peroxide quickly breaks down any discoloration and it tends to be a more effective agent, while carbamide peroxide releases both hydrogen peroxide and urea when it comes in contact with water.' Hydrogen peroxide requires less contact time with your teeth. In contrast, carbamide peroxide has more of an 'extended release' approach and requires about 4 to 6 hours of contact time. 'These ingredients effectively bleach the tooth enamel to lift stains,' says Wagner. Other active ingredients that you might see are coconut oil, lemon peel oil and sage oil.
Our experts agree that the concentration of the active ingredient directly correlates to the results. 'Whitening products with a higher active ingredient concentration result in a more powerful formula and more visible results. On the other hand, whitening products with a lower active ingredient concentration can still produce optimal results, but it will take a bit longer to see a difference,' says Sands. When in doubt, consult your dentist, who can best advise you on the ideal concentration or product for your needs.
Whitening products come in strips, gels, toothpastes, mouthwashes, molded trays and LED mouthpieces. Products directly applied to the teeth for extended periods, like strips and gels, are typically more effective than toothpaste, which isn't in contact with your teeth for very long. Toothpaste and mouthwash can offer subtle results when used consistently and work best with other whitening methods. They can also prolong the results of whitening strips and trays.
After extensive research, we deemed the Crest 3D Whitestrips Sensitive the best teeth whitening product for sensitive teeth. It contains about half the peroxide content of the original (5.25%) to lift stains from the tooth, and it's uncomplicated to use; there are no trays or mess when applying. The affordable price also makes it easy to re-purchase if you need to touch up the results down the road.
Yes, even with sensitive teeth, you can use whitening products. Make sure you look for a formula with a lower concentration of the active ingredients or natural extracts like coconut oil and lemon peel oil. 'When choosing a whitening product for sensitive teeth, opt for formulations specifically designed for sensitivity, such as those containing potassium nitrate or nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp),' says Wagner.
The Moon Teeth Whitening Pen is the best option as it uses carbamide peroxide and a proprietary blend of essential oils and extracts to whiten teeth effectively. The formula also includes light-reflecting pigments that add a brightening effect the minute you swipe this gel on.
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Hausman, the UnitedHealth spokesperson, said the insurer had decided not to designate Potter's center as in-network before she posted her video. In May, The Guardian published an investigation that said UnitedHealth had sought to save money by discouraging nursing homes from sending sick residents to the hospital. The article -- which was based on lawsuits, internal company documents, patient records and interviews -- noted that UnitedHealth disputed its findings. Last month, UnitedHealth sued The Guardian for defamation. The lawsuit accused the news organization of deliberately publishing false accusations and 'brazenly trying to capitalize on the tragic and shocking assassination' of Thompson. The Guardian said it stood by its reporting and was preparing to defend itself against the lawsuit. The timing of the lawsuit was notable. It was filed the day before The Guardian was scheduled to publish a second investigation into UnitedHealth, according to people familiar with the plans. The news organization had informed UnitedHealth about the article's timing. After the lawsuit was filed, editors at The Guardian decided to postpone publication of the second piece, the people said. It hasn't yet run. It was around this time that Strause, the filmmaker from Wisconsin, logged on to Amazon's video-streaming service to get a link to share with a friend. Strause and her father, Dan Strause, who had helped run a small chain of pharmacies in Wisconsin, had hoped that the docuseries, called 'Modern Medical Mafia,' would reveal the inner workings of drug industry middlemen known as pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. One of the largest PBMs, Optum Rx, is a UnitedHealth subsidiary. The show's central premise was that PBMs operated like an organized-crime ring, using their dominant market positions to push prescription prices ever higher. The first episode included interviews with two members of Congress and several prominent critics of PBMs and featured computer-generated animations of shadow-cloaked businesspeople and gangsters. A trailer for the series went online late last year, and UnitedHealth learned that it was going to be available on platforms including Amazon Prime Video. In January, Clare Locke flagged UnitedHealth's concerns in a letter to Amazon's outside counsel. The episode nonetheless became available on Prime Video in late March. On May 21, Clare Locke wrote again to Amazon's lawyers. The 16-page letter claimed that the docuseries 'spreads a vociferous and false screed in a thinly-veiled call to violence for anyone who is dissatisfied with the American health care system. Recent history and Brian Thompson's murder demonstrates the devastating and irreversible consequences of ginning up such hatred with false claims designed to inspire violence.' The letter said the video violated Amazon's terms of service and should be removed, in part because it 'doxxed our clients' physical address' by showing a street sign for Optum Way in Minnesota. Within days, the video -- which had no more than a few hundred views -- had been removed from Prime Video. Strause contacted Filmhub, the company that had helped place the documentary on the platform, to ask why. 'Channels occasionally decline and remove titles that they say are not aligned with their ever-changing content policies,' Filmhub responded, noting that Amazon's decision was not subject to appeal. (An Amazon spokesperson, Katie Barker, said in a statement that Filmhub decided to have 'Modern Medical Mafia' removed after Amazon flagged its 'low video quality.' Filmhub executives did not respond to requests for comment.) In early June, Strause received an email from Vimeo, where 'Modern Medical Mafia' had also been available for streaming. 'This content was removed due to a complaint Vimeo received concerning defamation,' the email said. 'Vimeo is not able to evaluate the truth or falsity of such a claim, and it asks that you resolve the dispute directly with the complainants, Optum Rx and UnitedHealth Group.' To Strause, UnitedHealth's determination to get her video taken down showed that she and her father were exposing the truth. 'They're intimidated by what we're saying,' she said. The video remains available on YouTube, which said it had not received a request to remove it, and Strause said she planned to upload the rest of the series to that platform later this year. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Copyright 2025
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