Perhaps you’ve noticed your smile is looking a little dull after indulging in one too many glasses of red wine. The best teeth-whitening toothpastes can help amp up the sparkle without going all in on professional whitening treatments or a full-blown arsenal of . So, how do teeth get stained in the first place? “All teeth are made out of tubes—like pores,” , founder of Brooklyn Mint, a dental practice in New York City, previously told .
When you eat or drink something richly pigmented—red wine, turmeric, tomato sauce, coffee—those pigments can penetrate the porous structure of enamel, creating that stained or dingy appearance. To help you find the best teeth-whitening toothpastes, we spoke to dentists who use them and recommend them to their patients. All products are independently selected by our editors.
If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. Amazon “This is my favorite over-the-counter whitening product because it gives patients noticeable results in under a week’s time and won’t break the bank,” Dr. Becker previously told .
can be bulky, annoying, and require consistency and time, while all this requires is the two minutes (the recommended time you should already be brushing your teeth), she says. The two-step formula contains a cleanser to help remove plaque and prevent whitening-induced sensitivity thanks to the inclusion of stannous fluoride, an ingredient that helps strengthen enamel, prevent plaque, and relieve sensitivity pain. After brushing with step one, step two helps whiten teeth with a peroxide-based whitening gel.
While she hasn’t used this two-step product specifically, , a journalist and longtime user of . “I drink coffee every morning and never seem to have stains,” she says. “I’ve always found it to be a really great, not overpowering minty flavor and ever since I started using it I always have people asking me how I get my teeth so white.
” Kristen S., who works in consulting in Denver, also trusts Crest for lifting stains. She’s used Crest 3D White for roughly 10 years, noting how much she loves the taste, texture, and how it foams up.
Amazon If you’re concerned about the potential damage to tooth enamel, Dr. Hoang recommends Colgate Optic White Toothpaste. It’s effective (the formula contains 2% hydrogen peroxide) and gentle.
“It’s one of the least abrasive options, so it’s gentler on enamel and less likely to exacerbate tooth recession and sensitivity,” she previously told . “I’ve been using this formula for years and am consistently impressed by how white it keeps my teeth,” says contributor . “I had a professional whitening treatment done years ago to address deeper stains and since then have mostly kept up the results by brushing daily with this baby—even my dentist is impressed.
The flavor isn’t too minty or chalky like other toothpastes I’ve used over the years, and the stand-up tube is super convenient.”.
