The 6 Best Natural Teeth Whitening Products of 2024 (2024)

Updated January 13, 2023

Dr. Haddad says one of the best—and most affordable—ways to whiten your teeth is with hydrogen peroxide. Yep, she’s talking about that brown bottle you used to run away from every time you cut or scraped yourself as a kid.

If you look at the ingredient list of whitening products, you’ll often find hydrogen peroxide as one of the main ingredients because it is safe and effective at bleaching the teeth when used at correct concentrations.But rather than spend a ton of time and money looking for some complicated product, Dr. Haddad says you can simply make a mouth wash of hydrogen peroxide diluted with water and swish it around your mouth for a few seconds. She recommends doing it every two weeks and not exceeding a concentration of 3% hydrogen peroxide

If you prefer using a whitening pen over fumbling with strips, check out Dr. Brite’s Teeth Pen line. Founded by two female dentists, the brand brings you a collection of teeth whitening pens that are targeted for different types of stains, ranging from red wine to smoke and vape. Each vegan formula combines hydrogen peroxide with organic plant oils like coconut and spearmint. Just swipe it on for five minutes, and you’ll gradually start to reveal more pearly whites.

If you really want to kick your whitening up a notch, look no further than Dr. Brite’s Wireless Advanced Whitening System. It combines two pens (day and night) with a wireless dual LED light. The blue light accelerates the whitening gel while the red light soothes the gums. The set also comes with a shade guide, so you can track your progress. Faster than most strips, the gel only needs to sit on your teeth for 10-15 minutes. The formulas are paraben, phthalate, and sulfate-free. The wireless light and slim pens will effortlessly fit in your bathroom and suitcase, so you can maintain that glow even on vacation.

Go to a grocery store or pharmacy, and you’ll find a ton of whitening toothpastes, all promising unbelievable results. Dr. Haddad says most of these claims are just marketing and that whitening toothpastes are often too abrasive on the teeth. To keep your teeth healthy for the long run, she recommends looking up a formula’s Relative Dentin Abrasion Value and selecting one with a low score.

We like Arm & Hammer’s Advance White Extreme Whitening Toothpaste. It scores relatively low on the scale yet still provides the whitening power of hydrogen peroxide. However, this toothpaste does contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, which some people prefer to avoid.

With the main bleaching ingredient being hydrogen peroxide, Dr. Haddad says at home whitening strips like these from Crest are safe to use. The Environmental Working Group has rated these seven-ingredient strips with a 2 rating, meaning they pose a low risk of health concerns. At a relatively affordable price, you don’t have to shell out a fortune. They need to be left on for 30 minutes, so you can whiten while watching TV at night or getting ready in the morning.

One con of whitening strips? All the plastic that goes into the individually wrapped strips. If you prefer to nix all the wasteful packaging, consider Bite’s plastic-free teeth whitening kit. The whitening gel comes in a glass bottle with a compostable applicator to use when applying it to your teeth.

The simple formula is free of propylene glycol, alcohol, parabens, phthalates, synthetic dyes or flavors, and is certified Peta Cruelty Free. We like that it contains aloe vera, which is known to reduce inflammation and swelling of the gums. Best of all, the solution only needs to sit on your teeth for two minutes. Who doesn’t have time for that?

Final Verdict

For the easiest, cheapest, and perhaps most effective way to whiten your teeth, stock up on some hydrogen peroxide and use it as a mouthwash with some water every couple of weeks. If you rather use a whitening system more akin to the in-office experience, consider Dr. Brite Advanced Whitening System, which even includes a shade guide to let you monitor your progress.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is activated charcoal an effective and safe way to whiten teeth?

  From toothpaste to whitening strips, activated charcoal is everywhere these days in oral care products. The ‘buzz” around the ingredient is the claim that it can absorb stains from the teeth. However, Dr. Haddad recommends staying away from any product with activated charcoal because it can be too abrasive. In fact, a study found that the ingredient was ineffective at changing the color of the teeth while potentially altering the enamel surface.

• Do natural remedies like lemon and baking soda work to whiten the teeth?

  Google “ways to naturally whiten teeth” and you’ll find a ton of different strategies from coconut oil pulling to smothering lemon and baking soda on your teeth. But take it with a grain of salt—not every theory is safe and/or effective.

  Dr. Haddad discourages anyone from applying lemon juice and baking soda. Though it will whiten the teeth, the acidic and basic properties of the two ingredients make it very harmful to the tooth structure.

  Coconut oil pulling is another popular method. The oil is treated like a mouthwash and swished around the mouth for a few seconds. Dr. Haddad says this strategy isn’t harmful to the teeth, yet it’s not proven to actually work in terms of whitening.

• What else can I do to keep my teeth white?

  While it’s only natural for teeth to get stained over time, there are certain habits that can decrease yellowing. Dr. Haddad recommends avoiding the food and drinks that are known to stain teeth, like wine, tea, and coffee, as well as smoking. If you can’t go without your morning cup of joe or tea, you can drink the beverage with a straw or swish some water in your mouth afterwards to rinse the mouth.

  On the flip side, eating certain fruits and vegetables like strawberries, pineapple and celery can help whiten the teeth, says Dr. Haddad.

  Dr. Haddad also recommends using an electric toothbrush, which studies have found to be more efficient at removing plaque and improving gingival health.

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