These 7 Teeth Whitening Pens Left Our Testers With Bright, Dazzling Smiles (2024)

TL;DR

We crowned Snow’s Extra-Strength Teeth Whitening Serum the best overall for its quick, visible results, easy-to-use pen design, and gentle formula. It’s also super convenient, and the treatment time ranges from nine to 30 minutes, allowing for flexibility throughout your day. Our runner-up is the Moon Oral Care’s Platinum Teeth Whitening Pen because it’s easy to implement into your daily routine and delivers noticeable results.

Our Top Picks

Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide | Treatment Length: 9 to 30 minutes, once a day

This teeth whitening pen is gentle, easy to use, and delivers noticeable results—what’s not to love? Unlike many teeth whitening treatments, this one did not irritate our tester’s teeth or gums and didn’t cause or worsen sensitivity. It’s also fast-acting, and our tester was able to see a visible difference in the brightness of her teeth within one week of consistent use. And, since it only needs to be applied once a day, it’s easy to work into your daily routine.

The main ingredients in this pen are hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, which work together to remove stains and leave your pearly whites actually looking white. Your once-daily treatment can last for as little as nine minutes or, if you have some time to spare, up to 30 minutes, and you can eat or drink after a quick rinse. Be aware, though, while this gel doesn’t taste bad, it doesn’t have any added flavor you might expect, such as mint or cinnamon.

Samantha, tester: “This product was very kind to my teeth and gums, which says a lot because I am prone to sensitivity (they have to apply numbing gel just to clean my teeth when I go to the dentist!). It’s also easy to incorporate into my daily routine as well; I put it next to my toothbrush and just applied it right after I finished brushing my teeth.”

Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide | Treatment Length: 10 to 30 minutes, two times per day for two weeks

Moon Oral Care’s Platinum Teeth Whitening Pen is a very close runner up to our best overall pick. It’s easy to toss into your bag for on-the-go treatments, which is helpful since it’s a twice-daily treatment. Our tester found it very easy to implement into her daily routine, and she noticed the formula’s effect on her teeth within a week of consistent use. She also found the click-pen effortless to use and highlighted that it distributed just the right amount of product without causing any waste.

For this treatment, you need to apply the gel, keep your mouth open for 30 seconds, and then go on with your day. In order for the gel to work, though, you should not eat or drink for 10-30 minutes after application. Still, our tester definitely saw a change in her smile and was happy enough with the results to continue using the teeth whitening pen even after testing concluded.

Ashley, tester: “I loved how quick and easy it was to use this product and build it into my daily routine. It does exactly what it promises: leaving you with a brighter, whiter smile.”

Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide | Treatment Length: 60 minutes, twice a day for at least 14 days

ARC’s On-The-Go Teeth Whitening Pen is an excellent pick for teeth prone to sensitivity. It uses hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth and disodium pyrophosphate to prevent stains, and it has a soft brush for precise application. Our tester was really impressed by how good her teeth felt after using this pen, especially since whitening treatments in the past have left her teeth sensitive to different temperatures or just hurting in general. However, she did notice that the formula caused her to drool a bit immediately after application, making on-the-go treatments difficult for her to manage.

Unlike other teeth whitening pens we tested, this one has a nice minty flavor that our tester appreciated. Most importantly, though, it’s an effective product. Our tester regularly drinks coffee and red wine, which can cause visible staining, but she still saw an improvement in the color of her teeth. It’s worth noting, however, that you need to avoid eating or drinking anything for one hour after application, so keep this in mind when considering your treatment routine.

Katie, tester: “I did not experience any sensitivity using this product, which was great. Sometimes my teeth definitely hurt or are temperature sensitive after whitening, so this was a pleasant surprise to not feel any discomfort at all.”

Active Ingredients: Carbamide peroxide | Treatment Length: 5 minutes, once daily

Out of all of the teeth whitening pens we tested, this one delivered the most dramatic difference after six weeks of consistent use. Our tester’s teeth became a few shades brighter thanks to Zimba’s Premium Teeth Whitening Pen, and it only took one five-minute treatment per day to make it happen. This pen is also easy to use and super convenient for tucking away at home or tossing into a makeup bag for travel.

This formula doesn’t have any added minty flavor; it’s mostly flavorless, which our tester appreciated. She also noted how easy it was to apply the gel to her teeth and that the pen distributed just the right amount of product with just one or two clicks. Overall, she was very impressed by the results this teeth whitening pen delivered, but it was a slow process that took around three or four weeks to become noticeable.

Ashley, tester: “I was honestly really surprised by how much of a difference this pen made. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in a low-maintenance teeth-whitening product.”

Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide | Treatment Length: Overnight

Not only is this teeth whitening pen effective, but since it’s an overnight treatment, it’s easy to implement into your regular routine and use consistently, which helps create long-lasting results. Simply apply the formula to your teeth before bedtime, go to sleep, and wake up with a brighter smile (just remember to brush your teeth before eating or drinking anything). Our tester found this pen convenient and so easy to implement into her regular routine—and most importantly, she was seriously impressed with the treatment’s results.

While she did see dramatic results with this teeth whitening pen, she mentioned that it took a few weeks for results to really become visible, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see a change in your teeth right away with this formula. Trust the process and be consistent and you won’t be disappointed.

Naosha, tester: “It truly did brighten my smile and I liked that I was able to get professional-like results without having to visit the dentist.”

Active Ingredients: Carboxymethyl | Treatment Length: 60 seconds (as stain-repellant), 30 minutes (as whitening treatment)

This teeth whitening pen is a two-in-one product that works as a whitening treatment and as a stain repellant. If you’re using it as a teeth whitener, it’s a 30-minute, once-daily treatment, and if you’re using it as a stain repellant, you simply apply it to your teeth, wait 60 seconds, then enjoy whatever food or beverage you’d like. We think the pen packaging is convenient in general, but it’s especially great if you want to apply some of the formula as a stain-repellant when you’re having a drink or a meal out.

Our tester saw an improvement in her teeth with consistent use, and she noted that the formula was gentle on her teeth and gums without causing any sensitivity. The gel is also very thin, so it feels light on the teeth and dries quickly. It’s really fantastic all around, but keep in mind that since it’s a dual-purpose product, it's not quite as strong as some more intense whitening treatments.

Virginia, tester: “I love that the pen has dual functionality and can actually be used on the go multiple times a day. I'd apply the product ahead of breakfast and sometimes lunch for stain-repelling capabilities and right after brushing my teeth before bed for whitening capabilities.”

Active Ingredients: 35% carbamide peroxide | Treatment Length: 30 seconds, twice daily

VieBeauti’s Teeth Whitening Pen is an excellent, effective product, but it stands out most for its design. Unlike most teeth whitening pens, this one is clear, which allows you to easily monitor how much product is left in the tube and order more before you run out. Additionally, it has soft, gentle brush bristles that allow for even application and don’t poke at the gums. It’s also just the right size to reach your back teeth with minimal effort, but beware that you have to keep your mouth open during the treatment.

Aside from its great design, our tester never experienced any sensitivity when using it. The twice-daily, 30-second treatment is also super quick and easy to implement into your daily routine. As for the pen’s whitening capabilities, our tester definitely saw an improvement in her teeth with consistent use of this formula, but it was not quite as dramatic as she’d hoped for (so if you value a major transformation over easy application, this may not be the pick for you).

Shannon, tester: “The pen was extremely easy to use. One or two clicks was plenty of product for a thin coat, and it never clogged or got gloopy. Since it’s literally the size of a large pen, it fit nicely in my hand and was simple to maneuver to the back and sides to get all visible teeth.”

FAQ

• How do teeth whitening pens work?

  "For teeth to whiten, the peroxide must maintain direct contact on the surface of the teeth,” explains Roberts. “This is why dental whitening trays, strips, and in-office whitening work best," she adds. However, when you apply the gel on dry teeth and leave it on for a time undisturbed, a whitening pen will have a chance to work on brightening your teeth. Pens might not be as effective as other whitening options (like LED whitening kits), but they’re convenient and great for brightening staining and minor discoloration, as well as maintenance.

• Are teeth whitening pens safe?

  Bleaching your teeth with an at-home treatment, like a whitening pen, is generally safe. As mentioned above, most options contain either carbamide peroxide (a combination of urea and hydrogen peroxide) or just hydrogen peroxide. Depending on the concentration, these active ingredients might cause some sensitivity, but they're generally considered safe for teeth whitening. Still, Dr. Kantor suggests you consult a dentist before trying any whitening or bleaching products. "You don't want to bleach your teeth if there is decay present, and kids are not candidates for bleaching," he adds.