11 best whitening toothpastes, according to dentists

If you wish your teeth were less yellow and had fewer stains, you’re not alone — teeth whitening is a common topic patients ask dentists about, says Dr. Samantha Rawdin, DMD, a prosthodontist at Gallery 57 Dental in New York City. Out of the numerous at-home teeth whitening products you can choose from,  whitening toothpaste is one of the easiest options to incorporate into your daily oral hygiene routine. It cleans teeth and helps prevent cavities just like standard toothpaste, plus has additional ingredients that can help remove surface stains. But how well does it work?

“You’re not going to notice anything dramatic,” says Dr. Amr Moursi, DDS, a professor at the NYU College of Dentistry. Whitening toothpaste’s efficacy pales in comparison to a professional whitening treatment, so it’s no guarantee of a sparkling smile. With that said, however, it works well for maintenance after a more potent treatment and is worth a try if you’re curious. 

I spoke to dentists about how to shop for whitening toothpaste and what results to expect. I also rounded up whitening toothpastes with the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Seal of Acceptance and options the NBC Select staff tested.

SKIP AHEAD The best whitening toothpaste to shop | How does whitening toothpaste work? | Is whitening toothpaste effective? | Why trust NBC Select?

How I picked the best whitening toothpaste

While shopping for a whitening toothpaste, experts recommend considering the following factors.

• Whitening agent: Whitening toothpaste mainly relies on mild abrasives to scrub surface stains off teeth, says Dr. Edmond Hewlett, DDS, a professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry. Common abrasives include silica and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), says Rawdin. Some whitening toothpastes may have bleaching ingredients like hydrogen peroxide in their formulas, but mild abrasives are more common. Learn more about how these whitening agents work below.
• ADA Seal of Acceptance: The American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance is considered the gold standard when it comes to dental care products, says Moursi. It means a brand submitted scientific evidence to the ADA showing that their products meet specific safety and efficacy requirements, which the agency validated. This doesn’t mean products without the ADA’s Seal of Acceptance are ineffective — it just means brands have not voluntarily submitted their products for the ADA to review.
• Fluoride: All the dentists I spoke to recommend choosing a toothpaste made with fluoride, a cavity-fighting ingredient. All ADA-approved toothpastes are made with fluoride, so if you’re considering a toothpaste that’s not ADA-approved, read its ingredient label to make sure at least one of the following types of fluoride are included, all of which dentists say are equally effective: sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride and sodium monofluorophosphate.
• Sodium lauryl sulfate: This ingredient, commonly called SLS, acts as a detergent for teeth, making some toothpastes foamy. People can be sensitive to SLS — if you are, look for a SLS-free option.
• Flavor and texture: Toothpaste comes in various flavors, like mint and peppermint, and textures, like pastes and gels. Flavor and texture is a personal preference, so it may take some trial-and-error to figure out what you like best.

The best whitening toothpaste to shop

Best overall: Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle Whitening (3 pack)

What we like

• Made for sensitive teeth
• SLS-free

Sensodyne’s NBC Select Wellness Award-winning toothpaste is one of the most frequently re-purchased varieties among our staff. It’s specifically designed for sensitive teeth and made with potassium nitrate, which can help soothe and relieve tooth pain, says Rawdin. But anyone can use this toothpaste, making it a great all-around option. Sensodyne’s toothpaste removes surface stains, protects against acid erosion and remineralizes teeth to strengthen enamel, according to the brand.

Whitening agent: Hydrated silica | Texture: Paste | Flavor: Mint

Best gel: Colgate Total Whitening Toothpaste Gel

What we like

• ADA-accepted
• Antibacterial protection

Colgate’s toothpaste has a smooth texture and offers ten benefits, including surface stain removal, sensitivity relief, enamel strengthening, tartar control and plaque and gingivitis prevention. It also provides whole-mouth antibacterial protection for up to 24 hours after use, according to the brand, because it’s made with stannous fluoride.

Whitening agent: Hydrated silica | Texture: Gel | Flavor: Mint

Best deep clean feeling: Made by Dentists Ultra Whitening

What we like

• ADA-accepted
• Three whitening agents
• SLS-free

After using this toothpaste, Rebecca Rodriguez, NBC Select editorial projects manager, feels like she just left the dentist. “This toothpaste makes my breath feel fresh and gives my mouth a deep clean feeling,” she says. “It has a stronger fluoride taste compared to most other toothpastes I’ve tried, which threw me off at first. But it’s grown on me, especially because I feel like I got a professional cleaning every time I brush,” she says. The toothpaste is made with gentle abrasives to remove surface stains and hydrogen peroxide to brighten teeth.

Whitening agent: Hydrated silica, hydrogen peroxide, sodium bicarbonate | Texture: Paste | Flavor: Mint

Best baking soda formula: Arm & Hammer Advance White Toothpaste (4 pack)

What we like

• Helps prevent future stains
• Strengthens enamel
• Can lighten tooth color

Something to note

• Contains SLS
• Not ADA-approved

Arm & Hammer’s whitening toothpaste is made with the brand’s dental-grade baking soda, which helps buff surface stains off teeth. The formula also contains peroxide, which can lighten tooth color over time. According to the brand, the toothpaste strengthens enamel to prevent new stains from setting in, removes plaque and controls tartar.

Whitening agent: Sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate peroxide | Texture: Paste | Flavor: Mint

Best for gum health: Parodontax Teeth Whitening Toothpaste (3 pack)

What we like

• ADA-accepted
• Helps prevent bleeding gums

While gentle abrasives remove surface stains from teeth, the stannous fluoride in this toothpaste fights cavities as well as removes plaque to help prevent bleeding gums, according to the brand. It also aids in maintaining the seal between the gums and teeth.

Whitening agent: Hydrated silica | Texture: Paste | Flavor: Mint

Best hydrogen peroxide formula: Colgate Optic White Renewal Whitening Toothpaste (3 pack)

What we like

• Can lighten tooth color
• 5% hydrogen peroxide

Something to note

• Contains SLS
• Not ADA-approved

Colgate Optic White’s toothpaste is made with 5% hydrogen peroxide, which penetrates enamel to lighten tooth color and remove stains, especially those from pigmented food and beverages like coffee, tea and wine. It’s safe to use daily and won’t damage enamel, according to the brand.

Whitening agent: Hydrogen peroxide, silica | Texture: Paste | Flavor: Mint

Editor’s pick: Moon Whitening Anticavity Toothpaste

Because I’m a coffee drinker, I’ve used Moon’s whitening toothpaste for about two years, which I find prevents my teeth from developing additional surface stains or yellowing. It’s a thick paste so it can be challenging to squeeze out of the tube, but I like the subtle yet detectable minty flavor and how fresh it makes my mouth feel after I use it. The toothpaste is made with a blend of antioxidants and essential oils that help reduce plaque and support gum health, according to the brand.

Whitening agent: Hydrated silica | Texture: Paste | Flavor: Mint

Best peppermint flavor: Hello Naturally Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste

Something to note

• Nothing to note at this time

Beyond removing surface stains via gentle abrasives, Hello’s toothpaste has tea tree oil to freshen breath. The formula is also made with coconut oil, an ingredient that helps reduce bacteria in the mouth, according to the brand.

Whitening agent: Hydrated silica, calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate | Texture: Paste | Flavor: Peppermint

Best for dry mouth: SprinJene Natural Teeth Whitening Toothpaste (2 pack)

If you’re interested in whitening your teeth and have dry mouth, consider using this SprinJene toothpaste. According to the brand, it’s made with black seed oil and coconut oil, which lubricate the inside of your mouth to prevent dryness and freshen breath. The formula also contains zinc, which helps prevent tartar growth.

Whitening agent: Hydrated silica | Texture: Paste | Flavor: Mint

Best subtle flavor: Tom’s of Maine Simply White (3 pack)

What we like

• ADA-accepted
• Easy to squeeze out of tube

I prefer toothpaste with a subtle mint flavor rather than one that’s super strong and lingers in my mouth after brushing my teeth. Tom’s of Maine’s Simply White toothpaste is exactly what I look for, and it leaves my teeth feeling clean. The paste is smooth and easy to squeeze out of the tube, too. It also remineralizes enamel, according to the brand.

Whitening agent: Hydrated silica | Texture: Paste | Flavor: Mint

Best natural option: Burt’s Bees Extra White Toothpaste (3 pack)

Something to note

• Nothing to note at this time

In addition to being SLS-free, Burt’s Bee’s toothpaste isn’t made with preservatives or artificial flavors and sweeteners. It removes stains with gentle abrasives and protects tooth enamel, according to the brand. 

Whitening agent: Hydrated silica | Texture: Paste | Flavor: Mint

How does whitening toothpaste work?

There are two types of tooth stains, says Rawdin: intrinsic stains, which are built into the internal structure of the teeth, and extrinsic stains, which sit on the surface of the teeth. Whitening toothpastes mainly attack extrinsic stains through abrasive ingredients like silica and sodium bicarbonate, which have a grainy, sandy texture. But all toothpastes are mildly abrasive to scrub teeth clean of plaque and grime, says Hewlett. Whitening toothpaste, however, is slightly more abrasive compared to standard toothpaste — it tends to have higher concentrations of the aforementioned ingredients in its formula to remove surface stains from teeth, says Rawdin.

The level and type of abrasives in all ADA-accepted toothpastes are safe and gentle — the agency ensures so when it’s evaluating products, says Hewlett. But if you’re using a whitening toothpaste that’s not ADA-accepted, you don’t know how abrasive it is, so proceed with caution. It’s also important to stop using any dental care product that causes pain or irritation, and consult your dentist.

Some whitening toothpastes also contain low concentrations of peroxides like hydrogen peroxide, an active ingredient that bleaches teeth to target intrinsic stains, says Rawdin. Many other at-home whitening products also have low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, like whitening strips and mouthwashes, and the ingredient is used in high concentrations during in-office bleaching treatments, says Rawdin. Hydrogen peroxide penetrates tooth enamel to reach the dentin, bleaching it so it becomes whiter, says Rawdin. 

Is whitening toothpaste effective?

Whitening toothpaste is somewhat effective. The abrasives it’s made with can successfully buff surface stains off your teeth over time, but as far as dramatically changing the color of your teeth, “no, that’s not going to happen,” says Hewlett. If you’re interested in bleaching your teeth to make them appear whiter, visiting your dentist for a professional-grade, in-office treatment is your best bet, he says. 

As far as whitening toothpaste made with hydrogen peroxide goes, its effectiveness is determined by contact time, says Rawdin. The longer the ingredient sits on your teeth, the more it can penetrate tooth enamel and bleach dentin. But since you only brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day (as recommended by the ADA), there’s not enough time for the hydrogen peroxide to really work, says Rawdin. Additionally, whitening toothpaste is made with a very low concentration of hydrogen peroxide, further limiting products’ effectiveness.

Overall, be aware of whitening toothpaste’s limitations as you use it and manage your expectations.

Meet our experts

At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Dr. Samantha Rawdin, DMD, is a prosthodontist at Gallery 57 Dental in New York City.
• Dr. Edmond Hewlett, DDS, is a professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry, where he also serves as the associate dean for equity, diversity and inclusion.
•  Dr. Amr Moursi, DDS, is a professor at the NYU College of Dentistry and on the medical staff at the NYU Langone Medical Center, as well as the Bellevue Hospital Center in New York.

Why trust NBC Select?

I’m an associate updates editor at NBC Select who has written about dental care for over four years, including articles about toothpaste, toothpaste for kids, at-home whitening treatments, electric toothbrushes and floss. I also frequently test and review dental care products. For this article, I interviewed three dentists and rounded up ADA-accepted whitening toothpastes, as well as those NBC Select members tested.