One of the most important characteristics to look for when shopping for whitening toothpaste is the types of ingredients that are included in the formula. Every toothpaste available online or at your local drugstore has abrasives; those ingredients are necessary for effectively cleaning your teeth. Abrasives also work to remove stains from teeth, and whitening toothpastes often feature more of them or feature them in greater quantities. An RDA score reflects how erosive a toothpaste can be. Lower RDA scores reflect gentler toothpastes, while higher RDA scores reflect higher levels of abrasive ingredients. This is why whitening toothpastes may cause or increase sensitivity for some—highly abrasive toothpastes can erode your enamel and even expose the dentin (middle layer)of your tooth. Another thing to consider when choosing a whitening toothpaste is the taste or flavor. The flavor of a toothpaste often contributes to the fresh feeling you have when you're done brushing. Some toothpastes have a strong mint flavor that can be overpowering for some. Toothpastes that contain baking soda can have a harsh flavor or aftertaste that is unpleasant for some people.

Brushing your teeth removes plaque buildup and bacteria to help prevent cavities. This toothpaste from MOON helps you do just that while also whitening your teeth. Our tester noted that there was no sensitivity at all when using this toothpaste and it had a nice texture which is why it received a five out of five stars for comfort. However, it's whitening effect wasn't as effective as some others on this list. 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.

The best teeth whitening toothpaste to buy

Whitening toothpaste is a simple way of getting even more out of the twice-daily habit of brushing your teeth. While you brush away plaque and debris and prevent cavities, the addition of whitening ingredients like hydrogen peroxide can also remove stains caused by things like drinking coffee, tea, red wine, or even smoking. “Most toothpastes, whether they're labeled whitening or not, have some kind of a mild abrasive in them to safely remove surface stains from the teeth,” says Edmond Hewlett, DDS, professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry and consumer advisor for the American Dental Association (ADA). This toothpaste may not whiten as fast as some others on our list but protecting your teeth from sensitivity and pain is worth it. Our tester noted that this toothpaste didn't irritate their gums or make their mouth feel dry compared to other whitening toothpastes which is why it earned a five out of five stars for comfort. It also has a light mint taste that isn't too strong, and our tester noted the foam was finer than regular toothpaste, which helped coat teeth better and get into hard-to-reach places. Aqua, Sorbitol, Hydrated Silica, PEG-12, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Aroma, Cellulose Gum, Potassium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Phosphoric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Fluoride, Sodium Saccharin, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Eugenol, CI 17200, CI 42090, CI 73360, CI 74160. Contains: Sodium Fluoride Inspired by the colour science of purple shampoos, meet Colgate's first purple toothpaste to instantly* correct yellow tones. It's efficacy is clinically proven to remove up to 100% of surface stains** caused by food and drink and is enamel-safe for daily use.Optic colour-correcting technology lets you reveal your whiter smile from the first brush. The toothpaste has a fresh mint flavor that doesn't overpower and is a significant improvement over other natural toothpastes that often have a baking soda-like taste. Our tester noted that this toothpaste had a slight aftertaste that may be unpleasant for some people, but it wasn't too bad. It also has no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or dyes, so you're just getting a fresh, clean flavor.

I would absolutely recommend Burt's Bees Whitening Toothpaste to everyone I know! It's effective and tastes amazing compared to other natural brands on the market." — Brit Haines, Associate Editor, Verywell Health I have sensitive teeth (I usually use Sensodyne) which is usually most noticeable with cold food and beverages. I didn't notice any issues with this toothpaste. It was comfortable to brush with if a bit grainy." — Elizabeth Theriot, Food Commerce Methodology Writer to 5 stars: These are the best whitening toothpastes we tested. We recommend them without reservation. This cream toothpaste is our best choice from the trusted brand Crest and has a gentle feeling that doesn't cause sensitivity and a mild mint flavor that isn't overpowering. This toothpaste features hydrated silica to remove stains and has the key ingredient sodium fluoride to prevent cavities and strengthen enamel. It also has ingredients that help prevent new surface stains in as little as three days. 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

I would definitely recommend Tom's of Maine Simply White Toothpaste. Its subtle flavor and gentle mouthfeel make it easy to use day and night. If you're looking for dramatically whiter teeth, this may not be your best option, but it will help with stains accumulated throughout the day." — Ally Trapp, Contract Editor, Verywell Health Our tester noted that this toothpaste has a mild gritty feeling but is not uncomfortable, and they also noted a mild whitening of their teeth after just a single brushing. This toothpaste comes in 3oz tubes which makes it small but travel-friendly. By working with a variety of trusted Range Plus Partners, we’re able to offer our customers a wider selection of products. Not only do you want your toothpaste to work as it should (and help noticeably whiten your teeth), but you want it also to taste good when brushing twice a day. That's why we like this Crest 3D White Brilliance toothpaste in vibrant peppermint flavor. Our tester noted that the flavor tasted good and wasn't too bitter or too strong compared to other toothpastes. Additionally, the toothpaste is formulated with sodium fluoride, which works well to strengthen the enamel and prevent cavities. No, the products that you typically find over the counter that are branded as whitening toothpaste are safe,” Dr. Hewlett says. “If you have any questions, your dentist is always your best source of advice and direction about that.”

One ingredient to avoid is charcoal because of the harm it can cause to the teeth. “Charcoal can be used as an abrasive, but it should be avoided [because it is] too abrasive,” Dr. Morgano says. Along with five out of five stars for flavor, this toothpaste earned five out of five stars for comfort for its smooth and gentle feeling. It contains silica and mica, which can remove stains in as little as five days, and it offers 24-hour stain prevention when used twice daily. Our tester noted that the difference in tooth color was not significant with this whitening toothpaste but felt this was a good option if you want an everyday toothpaste that tastes great and also has a whitening component. 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. Edmond Hewlett, DDS, professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry and consumer advisor for the American Dental Association (ADA) verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{

The best teeth whitening toothpastes for 2023 are:

One downside of using whitening toothpaste and treatments is that it sometimes causes increased sensitivity to the teeth. This sensitivity can make it uncomfortable to eat or drink food because of the discomfort it causes in the mouth. Crest Gum & Sensitivity Gentle Whitening Toothpaste is our choice for helping to remove stains while minimizing the discomfort of sensitivity. The baking soda neutralizes the acid in your mouth so it's gentle on your enamel. Our tester noted that this toothpaste was a bit grainy but still comfortable to use and didn't cause any sensitivities. Our tester also noted that the taste was initially slightly bitter, but they got used to it after continued use. This Crest toothpaste was amazing with my sensitive teeth and gums and left my mouth feeling clean and refreshed. I can't say that the results were very drastic; perhaps with longer-term use, I might see a more noticeable change, but I liked this toothpaste better than my regular toothpaste, so I might just switch to this brand permanently." — Hildara Araya, Commerce editor, Verywell Family