We've come pretty far from the days when whitened teeth required a trip to the dentist and a lot of money. Nowadays, it feels like there are plenty of ways to whiten your teeth — strips, at-home light treatments, and toothpastes. But growing in popularity recently have been teeth whitening pens, thanks to their portability and the way in which they allow users to specifically target problem areas with ease.
The term “pen” is actually a bit of a misnomer; the more realistic description would be a teeth whitening brush. That’s because when it comes to teeth whitening, it’s all about the whitening agent (sometimes called a “bleaching agent,” but don’t let that term scare you).
But while other whitening methods require you to submerge your teeth in some awkward tray or wrap them in a strip, with these, you can simply brush the whitening agent onto your teeth using the pen's bristled tip — with the agent itself rising up from beneath the bristles with just a crank of the pen's bottom end. Not only does this method make it easier for you to whiten on the go, but it also helps you hit those hard-to-reach areas — like between teeth — that other whitening options tend to miss.
Like anything to do with oral hygiene, the main thing to consider is your own teeth: what they need, what they can handle, and how much time you can really commit to your dental care. If possible, consult your dentist before choosing a particular treatment, especially if you've undergone recent dental procedures and have crowns or fillings that might cause issues.
Also consider what you're looking to get out of your whitening pen. Some pens can offer a more dramatic and longer lasting whitening, but require a committed daily usage over the course of a week or more. Others, on the other hand, are better suited for quick fixes in a pinch, with results that fade sooner.
Lastly, especially if you have more sensitive teeth, put some consideration toward the type of peroxide that's used in the pen. Most teeth whitening pens rely on either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, the latter being a compound of hydrogen peroxide and urea. The pure hydrogen peroxide pens tend to deliver more obvious results faster, but users can sometimes experience irritation from the agent. Carbamide peroxide, on the other hand, may be slower to show results, but has been shown to cause less irritation to sensitive teeth.
Here are the eight best teeth-whitening pens for your every need.
This handy little pen was on our radar even before TikTok went viral because it's everything you want — pocket-sized, inexpensive, easy to use, and, of course, it works. When applied twice daily after meals, this pen delivers a brighter smile in just one week. As observers of the aforementioned TikTok note, you may even see results after the first few strokes.
Made without silicon, aspartame, or phosphate, users report no increase in teeth sensitivity after recommended use, making it ideal for most mouths. Complete and compact, the Go Smile On the Go pen is extremely portable in case you need a quick touch-up before a big meeting, and pairs with a larger blue light treatment for those looking to get the most out of their whitening experience.
Over 15,000 Amazon reviewers have given the Colgate Optic White five stars, and it's not hard to see why. This pen can dramatically reduce even the most stubborn of stains overnight with its fast-acting treatment, which claims to reduce stains in just a week, while using 3% hydrogen peroxide.
The precision tip means you won't have to worry about bumping your gums, leading to less irritation and sensitivity.
The 35% carbamide peroxide and included 15 whitening treatments make this one of the best teeth-whitening pens on the market. This pen is the closest you'll get to a professional treatment for your teeth, all in the palm of your hand. It works fast, it works hard, and a little bit goes a long, long way.
Want to hear how quick the AuraGlow works? One of our testers tried it out and gave their “glowing” firsthand account.
Plenty of teeth whitening pens seem like they’re easy to transport, but not all pens travel the same. If you’ve ever had an errant cap pop off — or worse, a whole pen get crushed — you won't just be shopping for a new whitening pen, but a whole new bag! That's what makes the Spotlight Oral Care a standout for travelers, since it's not only a durable pen on its own, but also comes with a handy pouch for carrying in a purse and a protective tube for luggage.
Spotlight Oral Care is also a sustainable and clinically effective oral beauty brand created by dentists — meaning that their products are medically proven and full of ingredients that are great for your teeth. In just 5 minutes, this whitening pen can lift the color off stains. It's as close as you can get to professional-grade quality when you're on the go.
If you're not looking to invest your time and money into a multi-week process, this simple and affordable pen from Polar can help deliver the post-coffee break brightening you need without lightening your wallet too much in the process. You'll be able to get more than 20 sessions of 15- to 30-minute applications from this Polar pen, all for under $10.
Tarte isn’t just a cosmetics brand — they’re giving it up for the oral care aficionados, too! This vegan formula is great for on-the-spot touch-ups, and will protect your enamel while also giving you a whiter smile.
While some whitening pens contain chemicals that may irritate sensitive teeth, others include ingredients that could actually be beneficial. Smile Briter's pens not only don't agitate sensitive teeth, but they also include Xylitol, a non-fermented sugar, in their formula.
And before years of candy-induced cavities make you wary of the “sugar” and “teeth” word combo, studies have shown that Xylitol can actually help strengthen tooth enamel!
Yes, this teeth-whitening pen comes with a famous name attached, but that famous name doesn't mean it doesn't work — it absolutely does. But unlike a few others featured on this list, this option is flavored. The vanilla mint flavor tastes good, with no weird alcohol flavor they try to disguise with peppermint. It's vanilla and mint, but not saccharine.
Amanda MitchellAmanda Mitchell is a writer and podcaster with bylines at Marie Claire, OprahMag, Allure, Byrdie, Stylecaster, Bon Appetit, and more.
Michael NataleCommerce EditorMichael Natale is the commerce editor for Best Products, covering a wide range of topics like gift guides, kitchen appliances, lifestyle products, and more.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
