The Best Teeth Whitening Pens We Tried Work in as Little as 2 Days and Start at Just $20 (2024)

Why Whitening Pens?

“The major benefit of using a whitening pen [compared to other whitening products] is the convenience factor. It can easily be carried around in your pocket or purse for frequent on-the-go touch-ups.” —Dr. Shahira Saad, cosmetic dentist

Our Top Picks

This budget-friendly formula from Colgate is top-rated for its impressive performance, especially considering its price tag. The $20 pen is a potent overnight treatment designed to provide results in one week, but our tester saw results in less than a week.

Out of all the formulas we tried, this one received the highest praise for its value, effectiveness, and ease of use. It’s comfortable enough to use on sensitive teeth and gums, which isn’t always the case for whitening pens. The pen features enough formula for up to 35 uses and is safe enough to use daily, but you only really need to do so for around one week and then can use it on an as-needed basis (though keep in mind, it’s an overnight treatment thus not ideal for quick fixes).

Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide | Treatment Length: Overnight for one week, then touch-up as needed

With 1.13 ounces of gel, this slim pen packs some major whitening power, and it comes in a two-pack on Amazon for much less than other comparable formulas. On top of being a great budget-friendly option for daily use, it’s a dream for travelers who are looking to pack light, as it takes up next-to-no space and can easily be tucked into a toiletry bag.

We noticed our teeth looking brighter after just two days of use and experienced more drastic results in about a week. While it felt a bit awkward to hold our mouths open while the gel set (about 45-60 seconds), we appreciated that rinsing afterward isn't necessary. However, the minty aftertaste may not appeal to everyone, and you might prefer to spit it out to avoid discomfort.

Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide | Treatment Length: 45-60 seconds, two to four times daily

Teeth whitening pens can be a more convenient alternative to strips, but some require long down times. If you’re in a pinch and want to freshen up your teeth without waiting hours for the formula to work its magic, try this extra-strength option from Snow.

The portable teeth whitening pen dries quickly and can be left on teeth for between 9 and 30 minutes (depending on your stain removing needs), which is much less than some of the other options on our list. Since it has a faster drying and curing time, the teeth whitening pen is a great option for coffee lovers who want to have their espresso and drink it, too.

Our only complaint is that the pen doesn’t come with very detailed instructions. Since this type of teeth whitening has a bit of a learning curve, we wouldn’t recommend it for beginners.

Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide, potassium nitrate | Treatment Length: 9-30 minutes

This pen was one of the easiest to grip and tidiest to use of all we tested. The simple and speedy application can be done just about anywhere, as the pen is incredibly compact and there’s no brushing required. Touch up at your desk, during your commute, or anywhere in between.

A huge draw of the Lumineux Bright Pen is that it also helps stain prevention: Just swipe it on and let it set for 30 minutes before drinking coffee, tea, or red wine in order to minimize potential discoloration. We even found it helped reduce plaque build-up, particularly on front teeth.

Active Ingredients: Coconut oil, carboxymethyl | Treatment Length: 30 seconds for stain prevention, 30 minutes for whitening, use daily

Whether you’re preparing to snap a selfie, head out on a date or nail your next job interview, it’s always a confidence boost to feel like your smile is at its best and brightest. Tarte’s whitening pen gets the job done in a major way, immediately brightening teeth after just one application.

This is an ideal pen for anyone looking for a quick fix or to mitigate coffee stains (it can be used up to four times a day). The soft brush easy to hold and to apply, which requires only 30 seconds of smiling to keep your lips away from your teeth as the gel adheres. The minty taste is refreshing, but does leave a gooey residue if you don’t rinse afterwards.

Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide | Treatment Length: 15 minutes, up to four times daily

This whitening pen from Crest is a great way to maintain teeth that are relatively white and just need a quick touch-up. The pen features a high-quality mechanism that is simple and easy to use over an extended period of time, so you can use it to maintain a brighter tone without worrying about it losing its integrity after a couple of months. And it comes with enough formula for up to 70 uses, so the $25 price goes a long way.

We didn’t experience drastic stain removal but found that it works best at providing a subtle brightening effect. While the pen is marketed for on-the-go stain removal, we didn’t love it for that because you have to keep your mouth open for about a minute or so until the formula dries, making it a little less convenient.

Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide | Treatment Length: Twice per day for 14 days

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do teeth whitening pens really work?

  Yes! “Teeth whitening pens can provide a more gentle alternative to professional whitening,” explains Dr. Baker, who adds that while they won’t necessarily work overnight, they can produce visible results with a bit of patience. “It may take a little longer to see results since the concentration of the active ingredient is lower, but it will still whiten teeth.” She recommends teeth whitening pens in particular for patients with teeth sensitivity.

  “Any whitening product containing hydrogen or carbamide peroxide will whiten your teeth,” adds Dr. Saad, who notes that “the degree of whitening depends on the strength of peroxide and the modality of peroxide carrier.”

• Are teeth whitening pens or strips better?

  For those with sensitive teeth, whitening pens are a better choice than whitening strips as they are more gentle and use a lower concentration of active ingredients like peroxides.

  “Strips are better for people who want quicker results, because the ingredients simply stay on the teeth better when there is something covering the tooth,” explains Dr. Baker. “With the gel [from the pen], it stays on the teeth but gets washed away by saliva quicker.”

• How quickly can yellow teeth get white again?

  This ultimately comes down to your lifestyle, explains Dr. Baker. “Oral hygiene, diet, medications, and health history all play a role in how white the teeth are,” she says. She adds that anyone who often drinks beverages or eats foods that would stain a white T-shirt — think coffee, tea, red wine, or turmeric-heavy dishes —will experience less drastic results using a whitening pen.

  For longer-lasting results, she suggests swishing with water after you eat or drink any of those types of drinks or dishes to help prevent staining.

  She adds that teeth can be lightened much faster with a professional in-office whitening session, which is the most effective whitening option. But for those concerned with cost or potential sensitivity, teeth whitening pens are great alternatives.

  “With consistency you can achieve a white smile with whitening pens,” says Dr. Baker.Dr. Saad adds that “after reaching ideal brightness and assuming good oral hygiene, you can expect to need a touch up in 6 to 12 months.”

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