to 5 stars: These are the best whitening toothpastes we tested. We recommend them without reservation. Hydrogen Peroxide: Hydrogen peroxide removes both surface and intrinsic stains, leaving noticeably brighter, whiter teeth. Those patients with sensitive teeth should look for brands like Sensodyne that incorporate potassium nitrate into their toothpaste formulas, as potassium nitrate helps to soothe inflamed nerves,” Dr. Kunen suggests. If you're unsure which toothpaste will best fit your individual needs, ask your dentist for guidance. Gentle, low abrasive cleaning:Baking soda is an ideal cleaning agent for teeth – in fact baking soda is less abrasive than virtually any other cleaning agent used in most toothpastes. Less abrasion means less tooth wear, which helps keep your teeth healthier, longer. It’s also worth saying that while Truthpaste’s toothpastes as a whole were not certified, it did provide full ingredients lists with its products and the majority of these were marked as certified organic.

Optical: This method uses blue-toned brighteners, which coat your teeth as you brush. When you see the claim “instant whiteness” or “instant brightness”, it's usually this method that provides that immediate difference. It's also the reason why whitening toothpaste may produce a blue coloured foam when brushing. 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. It’s not just animal testing that you have to look out as many toothpaste can also contain animal ingredients. Many toothpastes list glycerin as an ingredient which, while it can come from vegetable oil, can also be derived from animals. It often appears in the ingredients list simply as ‘glycerin’ and does not say what it is derived from, despite that being important information for both vegetarians and vegans. I do think this toothpaste will do a good job of helping to maintain whiter teeth after using a whitening treatment. I did notice my teeth were whiter immediately after brushing, so it would be good to use right before an event or before taking photos." — Ashleigh Morley, Director of Commerce, Health Group

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.

It’s worth remembering that fluoride is a poison and needs treating with respect. There are many poisons that we use to our benefit that are harmful if misused. So the topical use of fluoride might be viewed as good by those who feel that the fluoridation of water is not.What makes Colgate Baking Soda and Peroxide Whitening Toothpaste one we recommend is that it combines both chemical and abrasive whitening agents. It features peroxide and hydrated silica. Fluoride is another active ingredient included in the product to help protect the teeth from cavities. This unique formula releases oxygen bubbles as you brush for a fresh, clean feeling. Animal testing is obviously a key issue for any personal care products. The following brands received our best rating for animal testing policy because they were either certified by Cruelty Free International (Leaping Bunny) or they had a fixed cut-off date for animal testing: We researched dozens of toothpastes and evaluated them for key ingredients, flavor, cavity prevention and other dental benefits, and price. A dentist from our Medical Expert Board also reviewed the contents of this article for medical accuracy surrounding dental hygiene and the efficacy of different active ingredients in toothpastes. Avoid products that contain ingredients you’re sensitive or allergic to, such as flavorings, dyes, or artificial sweeteners. Some people are also allergic to cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and propylene glycol, two ingredients commonly found in toothpaste. Yes. As it's classed as a cosmetic product, it must adhere to strict EU regulations safety guidelines.