9 Best Whitening Toothpastes in 2022 for Super-Sparkly Teeth
Cue “My Shiny Teeth and Me.”
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Let's be real—I want white teeth, but I also am absolutely not willing to stop drinking coffee and wine (like, er, are you kidding?!). See the problem here? That's why I invest in really good whitening toothpaste and at-home whitening products to keep my pearly whites sparkly asf. And because I know a lot of products promise great results without actually delivering, it can be a pain trying to sort through toothpaste tubes that actually work. But don't fret, because I've got news for you: So many cool new whitening toothpaste formulas exist, and I've selected nine of the best to try now.
Although whitening toothpaste will not be nearly as effective as in-office professional whitening services, it can help to remove stains on the teeth over time that stick onto the enamel surface (think wine! coffee! berries!), explains Dr. Jonathan Levine, a NYC-based celebrity dentist and prosthodontist. So let's dive into what makes a whitening toothpaste expert-approved, safe, and effective, shall we?!
Our top picks for the best whitening toothpastes in 2022:
Best SLS-Free Whitening Toothpaste
Sprinjene Natural Total Care Cavity Protection Toothpaste
Read more
Ahead, I rounded up the nine best whitening toothpastes—from brands like Twice, Crest, Tom's, and Moon—that are gentle, affordable, and actually effective for yellow, stained teeth.
Twice Oral Wellness Toothpaste
Pros
- Three flavor options to choose from
Cons
- Some testers say the cap can be difficult to open
If you're looking for a dentist-backed whitening toothpaste, this here is your baby. Founded and created by the Levine family (aka dentist, Dr. Jonathan Levine) and Lenny Kravitz (um, hiiii), the Twice toothpaste is packed with vitamins that naturally whiten your teeth, prevent cavities, and reduce any sensitivity. Plus, every purchase of a TWICE product helps provide free dentistry to people in need.
THE REVIEW: "I have been using this toothpaste for three years now and LOVE it! I am a dental hygienist and ingredients are very important to me. I appreciate that this does not include those that cause irritation for so many patients, yet it includes those for not only whitening but sensitivity as well," one tester writes.
Sprinjene Natural Total Care Cavity Protection Toothpaste
Pros
- Great for your gums as well as your teeth
Cons
- Leaves a unique taste behind, so if you only like regular mint, this may not be for you
Finding a whitening toothpaste that's formulated without sodium lauryl sulfate (aka SLS, which is a super-gnarly detergent) isn't the easiest of tasks, which is why this formula from SprinJene is so special. It's clean, cruelty-free, and leaves behind a unique peppermint taste—all without potential mouth sores or irritation.
THE REVIEW: "I was impressed with how effective this toothpaste was. For it to be a noticeable improvement from other toothpaste I've used, making it quite a nice experience brushing my teeth," one tester writes.
Moon Activated Charcoal Whitening Toothpaste
Pros
- Can buff off surface stains
Cons
- May be too abrasive for some teeth
The hero ingredient in this whitening toothpaste is activated charcoal. Not only does it give the paste its jet-black color, but it's also a natural alternative to classic whitening agents like hydrogen peroxide. The formula works to clean, polish, and whiten your teeth every time you use it.
THE REVIEW: "I don't write reviews. Ever. I never thought my first review would be about toothpaste...from Ulta, but here I am. I've used this for four days and my teeth are ACTUALLY whiter. I have tried countless brands of whitening toothpaste and white strips, but nothing helped my coffee-stained teeth. This toothpaste not only lightened the shade of my teeth, but it also freshened my breath AND removed plaque buildup I thought only the dentist could scrape off," one review reads.
Colgate Optic White Whitening Toothpaste
Pros
- Made with an enamel-safe formula
Cons
- Reviewers say that it can stain clothing or towels
Make your life a hell of a lot easier by scooping up this three-pack of Colgate's whitening toothpaste. It's legit $10 and features the brand's cult-favorite whitening formula that helps brighten your teeth in four weeks.
THE REVIEW: "This is the most effective whitening toothpaste out there. I've used this toothpaste daily for five years, and it keeps my teeth nice and bright. It is more effective than products that cost much more. When I stopped using this toothpaste for a couple of weeks, I noticed that my teeth were becoming dingy and seemed to have plaque forming; within days of reusing this product, my teeth were back to a nice white that looks like I have had them professionally whitened," one customer writes.
Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste
Pros
- Aluminum-Free
Cons
- Some reviewers wish it had a mintier taste
If you've got sensitive teeth (hi, it me), you're well aware that the majority of whitening toothpastes are too harsh. That's where this gentle toothpaste comes in, using just fluoride to lighten stains and spots without any discomfort.
THE REVIEW: "I bought this a few days ago, and I already see the results that I’ve been searching for for years! Believe me when I say that I’ve tried it all—from expensive to cheap, this will save you money and stop your search!" one review reads.
Linhart Teeth Whitening Gel
Pros
- Gentle on sensitive teeth
Cons
- Users have had trouble with the packaging
Already love your toothpaste but wish it did a better job at whitening? Grab this teeth-whitening gel, which you can combine with your favorite toothpaste to gently lift stains. Just drop a pea-sized dollop on top of your toothpaste and brush as usual.
THE REVIEW: "After one week of adding a dab of whitener to my usual toothpaste, and brushing twice a day, I can see the effects. I love my new whiter smile! I have sensitive gums, but this whitening paste didn’t irritate them at all," one review reads.
Crest 3D White Arctic Fresh Whitening Toothpaste
Pros
- Really effective at removing surface stains
Cons
- Doesn't lather up enough some testers say
You can't go wrong with this tried-and-true drugstore product from Crest. Perfect for stains and yellow spots, the formula works to whiten your teeth and keep 'em that way. It's also spiked with fluoride as an extra protector against cavities.
THE REVIEW: "I was very skeptical when I purchased this toothpaste because a lot of products advertise their teeth whitening ingredients, but never deliver. However, I used this for less than a week, and my teeth are already whiter and cleaner than ever before. The smell of arctic fresh also lasts a long time and smells good," writes one tester.
Supersmile Professional Whitening Toothpaste in Rosewater Mint
Pros
- No harsh abrasives
Cons
- unique taste OG mint toothpaste lovers may not like
If you aren't into the overwhelmingly minty taste of most whitening toothpastes, you'll love this option from Supersmile. Alongside the brand's hero ingredient—Calprox, which whitens surface stains and strengthens your enamel—it's topped off with a rosewater-mint fragrance.
THE REVIEW: "I've been using this toothpaste daily for over a month now. I don't have really white teeth naturally, but between the red wine and coffee, they were getting stained and I do believe this toothpaste is reversing some of that," reads one review.
Tom's of Maine Luminous White Toothpaste
Pros
- Totally natural
Cons
- May take extra time to see results
Every time you use this whitening toothpaste from Tom's of Maine, it helps prevent cavities, lift stains, and freshen up your breath (which, for $5, is a total steal). BTW: It's also free of artificial dyes, sweeteners, flavors, and preservatives.
THE REVIEW: "I got this Tom's Luminous White Toothpaste recently, and my family and I absolutely love it. It gives our mouth a super fresh clean feeling, and we love how it is not too minty. The best part is that Tom's is a natural brand, and you can always count on them to bring you the best of the products," writes one tester.
Does whitening toothpaste actually whiten?
No, whitening toothpaste does not actually whiten, as real whitening occurs from the inside of the tooth, and can only occur with in-office or at-home whitening systems specifically designed to whiten and oxidize the color pigments inside the tooth, explains Dr. Levine. However, whitening toothpaste can keep the plaque and sticky substance off the surface (if you brush twice daily and floss as well!), which helps to prevent the stain from forming on the enamel surface, he says. (Think: anything that can stain a white shirt, coffee, red wine, tea, soy sauce, etc.)
If you're still unconvinced, Dr. Levine paints us a picture: You brush your teeth for (hopefully!) two minutes at a time. The active ingredient—which is hydrogen peroxide—will not be left on for long enough, or be applied at a high enough concentration, to have any real effect on whitening the teeth. So just remember, "whitening toothpaste can only lift stains to make the tooth appear lighter, but it cannot significantly change the color of the teeth," says Dr. Levine.
Is whitening toothpaste good for your teeth?
In order to determine if a toothpaste is good for your teeth, you have to keep in mind a few factors: "Toothpaste usually contains an abrasive—either a silicate or charcoal—and it is critically important for the abrasive not to scratch the enamel surface," says Dr. Levine, adding that there are very mild abrasives or very aggressive abrasives that can mark and scratch the enamel surface. If this happens, the damage to the tooth surface is irreversible. In order to avoid this, it's important to watch out for too high of a concentration of big particle silicates and charcoal abrasives. This leads us to...
How to choose the best whitening toothpaste:
Examine the RDA
The RDA, aka the Relative Dentin Abrasion, is the scale that determines "how abrasive the toothpaste is, which means how damaging the toothpaste performs as YOU brush your teeth," says Dr. Levine. It is imperative that the RDA be below the number 200. Otherwise, it will scratch and mark the enamel where more stain can accrue, he explains. In order to figure out your toothpaste's RDA, simply search it on Google.
Consider the ingredients
The number one ingredient in whitening toothpaste is hydrogen peroxide, however, there are other ingredients you should look out for. Dr. Lawrence Fung, a cosmetic dentist, has suggested to Cosmo to look for controlled amounts of fluoride (for cavity protection), xylitol or stevia rebaudiana leaf extract (for sweetening and cavity control), potassium nitrate and coconut oil (for a soothing effect and sensitivity control), and peppermint oil (for flavoring). If you're unsure about fluoride because you've heard mixed reviews, Dr. Fung actually recommends it: "Fluoride is a natural mineral that not only helps prevent cavities, but also helps remineralize teeth at the very beginning stages of tooth decay," Dr. Fung said.
Meet the expert:
- Dr. Jonathan Levine is a NYC-based celebrity dentist and prosthodontist. He owns and practices at JBL New York City, and is the founder of GLO Science, an in-office and at-home teeth-whitening system designed to whiten teeth sans sensitivity.
- Dr. Lawrence Fung is a cosmetic dentist and the founder of Silicon Beach Dental in Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Fung recently spoke to Cosmo about natural toothpaste.
Why trust Cosmo?
Siena Gagliano is a contributing beauty editor at Cosmopolitan and has three years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing beauty stories, like the top lip masks and the best lip balms, and feels especially knowledgeable about whitening toothpaste thanks to wanting white teeth and using them on the reg. She regularly tests and analyzes toothpaste on her own teeth for efficacy.
Ruby Buddemeyer was the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan for nearly three years and has five years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and celebrity news across print and digital, including the best gel eyeliners on the market, and SPF lip balms. Her whitening toothpaste picks were based on product reviews, ratings, and recommendations from experts.
Ruby was the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covered beauty across print and digital. Her work has appeared on The Zoe Report, Fashionista, and StyleCaster. Follow her on Instagram.
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