A professional whitening treatment at the dentist’s office is the fastest and most effective way to see results, but it’s costly and time consuming.If you’re leaning toward using over-the-counter teeth whitening products, there’s no shortage of options, like strips, gels, toothpastes and mouthwashes.
But do they work? It depends on which one you use, how well you follow the directions and what your expectations are.To help you choose an option that addresses your needs, I talked to dentists about the pros and cons of each type of OTC teeth whitening product, including when (and if) you’ll see a visible difference in tooth color.Using experts’ guidance, I rounded up the best options from brands like Crest, Sensodyne, Act and Colgate, many of which the NBC Selected team tested.Selected.Our top picksBest OTC whitening stripsCrest 3D Whitestrips Professional Effects$34.99$45.99AmazonLearn moreBest OTC whitening gelOpalescence Teeth Whitening Gel Syringes$undefined$34.00AmazonLearn moreBest OTC whitening toothpasteCrest 3D White Brilliance Deep Stain Remover Ultra White Toothpaste$11.97$12.99AmazonLearn moreBest OTC whitening mouthwashACT Whitening + Anticavity Fluoride Mouthrinse$5.99$6.59AmazonLearn moreBest OTC whitening penColgate Optic White Overnight Teeth Whitening Pen$undefined$19.97WalmartLearn moreSee 2 MoreRelatedselectedselectedIf you brush and floss, do you really need mouthwash? We asked dentists and here’s what they saidWant more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.The best OTC teeth whitening products of 2026All of the over-the-counter teeth whitening products below meet experts’ guidance (learn more about how experts recommend shopping for them here).
I included options with the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance, those NBC Selected staff members have tested, NBC Selected Wellness Award-winners and other highly rated treatments.Best OTC teeth whitening strips and traysCrest 3D W...