The best whitening toothpaste of 2025, according to dentists
Over time, the desire for beautiful, sparkling white teeth has become greater and greater. While dentists offer whitening procedures, they can be expensive and are often not worth the cost. Instead, many opt for a teeth-whitening toothpaste – an easy and inexpensive way to brighten your smile.
That means a quality Toothpaste for teeth whitening To help you achieve a brighter smile, it is important to understand its limitations. Teeth whitening toothpaste has its benefits, but can be counterproductive if used excessively. Focusing on overall dental health is crucial as it can help prevent staining in the first place.
It is important to recognize that some tooth discoloration is completely normal. Therefore, it is important to have realistic expectations about the appearance of your smile. If you are interested in whitening your teeth, here are some important factors to consider when choosing the best whitening toothpaste.
Does whitening toothpaste work? Is it safe?
Most whitening toothpastes remove surface stains from teeth using abrasives. While any toothpaste can be abrasive, scrubbing too much can harm your skin enamela protective outer layer that protects your teeth. Dr. Sarah Tavares, dentist at Bentway Dental in Toronto, Canada, says whitening ingredients like silica and calcium carbonate can be particularly harsh. Other abrasives such as baking soda etc Charcoalcan be more harmful.
Other whitening agents in some toothpastes or whitening strips contain chemicals that whiten teeth, such as hydrogen peroxide. These may be “generally safer” for your teeth than harsher ingredients, but Tavares said, “They can still cause gum irritation or sensitivity if used excessively or improperly.”
“To reduce the risk of tooth enamel damage, limit the frequency of whitening treatments to one week at a time with good intervals between them,” she said.
Overall, what is the best whitening toothpaste?
We haven’t decided on the best whitening toothpaste, as the ideal option depends on individual preferences and needs. Below we have listed different types of whitening toothpaste based on dentist recommendations. However, if you have any questions, it is best to contact your dentist for individual advice.
Best whitening toothpaste of 2025
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Colgate Optic White Pro Series Toothpaste is a whitening toothpaste that Dr. Fatima Khan, a dentist in Houston, Texas, recommends. Some of the reasons she recommends the product include its trusted brand name and 5% hydrogen peroxide whitening agent. Unlike other bleaching agents that remove discoloration on the surface of the tooth, hydrogen peroxide can penetrate the tooth and thus take effect brightens both intrinsically and extrinsically.
According to Khan, one downside to this toothpaste is that it contains sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which can cause irritation like canker sores. Other popular whitening toothpastes may also contain SLS. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the ingredients before purchasing a product if you are sensitive to them.
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Crest Pro-Health Advanced Extra Whitening Toothpaste is by Dr. Elizabeth Himel, owner of, recommended Aspen Dental. This toothpaste contains hydrated silica, a mild abrasive. Crest is also a well-known brand with many products (quite a few of which are marketed for teeth whitening), making them an accessible choice for many.
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Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle Whitening Toothpaste was recommended by Khan due to its low abrasiveness compared to other products.
Sensodyne is a brand that will be familiar to many people with sensitive teeth. This special whitening toothpaste is free of sodium lauryl sulfate, which can irritate many people’s mouths.
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Lumineux whitening toothpaste is another toothpaste recommended by Khan and contains essential oils and more “natural” ingredients like coconut oil and Dead Sea salt, making it a more attractive choice for some. According to Khan, it lightens with hydrated silica and has a more “medium” abrasiveness.
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This toothpaste isn’t marketed as heavily for teeth whitening as other products on this list, but was highlighted by Kahn because it’s a good fluoride-free option for those looking for it, and it uses nano-hydroxyapatite remineralizes teethwhich can whiten them as it helps rebuild tooth enamel.
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Best whitening toothpaste in comparison
| toothpaste | superlative | Main brightener | Contains sodium lauryl sulfate | Contains fluoride | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate Optic White Pro Series | Best whitening toothpaste with hydrogen peroxide | Hydrogen peroxide, 5% | Yes | Yes | $8 |
| Crest Pro-Health Advanced Extra Whitening Toothpaste | The cheapest whitening toothpaste | Hydrated silica | Yes | Yes | $4 |
| Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle whitening | Best whitening toothpaste for sensitive teeth | Hydrated silica | NO | Yes | $17 (3-pack) |
| Lumineux whitening toothpaste | Best whitening toothpaste with essential oils | Hydrated silica | NO | Yes | $7 |
| Boka Ela Mint n-Ha toothpaste | Best natural toothpaste for whitening | Hydrated silica | NO | NO | $10 |
Khan says that you should choose a whitening toothpaste that is comparatively less abrasive and less likely to damage your tooth enamel. One way to do this is to look for the RDA (Relative Dentin Abrasivity) value if the product or brand provides it.
The American Dental Association recommends Using toothpaste that contains fluorideand most whitening toothpastes on the market contain it. However, there is also a newer ingredient called hydroxyapatite shown that it helps has a positive effect on dental health by “remineralizing” tooth enamel and possibly improving appearance. People should choose a toothpaste with fluoride or hydroxyapatite, Kahn said.
“It restores mineral density, making teeth appear whiter and less translucent,” Kahn said, referring to hydroxyapatite.
Not necessarily. Dr. Erin Fraundorf, founder of BOCA orthodontics and whitening studiosaid that while toothpaste whitening can be “effective in the short term,” excessive use can cause sensitivity and damage over time. Instead of using a whitening toothpaste, Fraundorf recommends visiting your dentist for in-office teeth whitening or choosing another home product such as whitening strips opalescence.
“Toothpaste does not provide the instant whitening results of whitening strips or in-office whitening as these contain a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide and the duration of the agent’s effect on your teeth is longer compared to toothpaste,” Khan also said.
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It’s important to remember that slight discoloration is normal and unavoidable – teeth can be whitish, but that doesn’t mean they have to be White White. It’s also important to note that white teeth don’t necessarily mean your oral health is in tip-top shape.
Still, there are some things you can do to minimize the discoloration of your teeth:
Stay on top of regular, professional cleanings. That is preferable twice a yearbut at least once a year and perhaps more often as they can effectively and safely remove some superficial stains. Also, make sure your regular oral care routine is sound and flossing regularly electric toothbrush.
Rinse with water after drinking coffee or wine. Fraundorf recommends drinking a sip of plain (non-carbonated) water between sips of coffee or wine, which are two main causes of tooth discoloration. Drinking water frequently and moving it around your mouth will also counteract the acidity of certain foods and drinks.
Chew sugar-free gum. Another suggestion from Fraundrof: Chewing sugar-free gum after meals has been proven to help reduce the likelihood of tooth decay.
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