13 Best Whitening Toothpastes 2025, Approved by Dentists

When I notice that my smile is looking a little dull after indulging in one too many glasses of red wine, I turn to the best whitening toothpastes. They help amp up its sparkle without going all in on professional whitening treatments or a full-blown arsenal of teeth-whitening products. Plus, they’re easy to fold into your daily routine, without the need for an extra step.

Wondering how do teeth get stained in the first place? “All teeth are made out of tubes—like pores,” Alice Hoang, DMD, founder of Brooklyn Mint, a dental practice in New York City, previously told Glamour. When you eat or drink something richly pigmented—red wine, turmeric, tomato sauce, coffee—those pigments can penetrate the porous structure of enamel, creating that stained or dingy appearance.

To help you find the best teeth-whitening toothpastes, we spoke to dentists who personally use them and recommend them to their patients. Our top pick overall was the Crest 3D White Brilliance 2 Step Toothpaste because it helped remove stains efficiently, was recommended by multiple dentists, and is gentle on sensitive teeth. We also found toothpaste options that are safe for gums and daily use.

The best teeth-whitening toothpastes, at a glance

How we tested

Best Overall: Crest 3D White Brilliance 2 Step Toothpaste

• Pros: Helps prevent sensitivity, provides results quickly
• Cons: The two-step process is more time-consuming

“This is my favorite over-the-counter whitening product because it gives patients noticeable results in under a week’s time and won’t break the bank,” Lauren Becker, DDS, a dentist certified in biomimetic dentistry in NYC previously told Glamour. White strips can be bulky, annoying, and require consistency and time, while all this requires is two minutes—the recommended time you should already be brushing your teeth,” she says. The two-step formula contains a cleanser to help remove plaque and prevent whitening-induced sensitivity thanks to the inclusion of stannous fluoride, an ingredient that helps strengthen enamel, prevent plaque, and relieve sensitivity pain.

Unlike whitening strips or overnight pen treatments, the Crest 3-D white brilliance duo is a simple two-minute process that instantly brightened my smile. You just brush your teeth for one minute with the deep-cleansing toothpaste before repeating the process with the whitening gel (just don’t rinse in between steps). As someone with an iced-coffee addiction but with very sensitive teeth, I find it nearly impossible to sit with whitening strips for 20-30 minutes as the bleaching agents go to work on my enamel. Though step two of this brightening treatment still set off my nerve endings, the discomfort lasted just seconds before it was over and the results were still pretty noticeable. I’d say this is the perfect product to give you a boost of confidence before a date or event, as opposed to a replacement for a true whitening session with a dentist,” says Glamour contributor Emily Tannenbaum.

Best Daily Whitening Toothpaste: Colgate Optic White Pro Series Stain Prevention

• Pros: Safe for enamel
• Cons: Has a high percentage of peroxide concentration

If you’re concerned about the potential damage to tooth enamel, Dr. Hoang recommends Colgate Optic White Toothpaste. It’s effective (the formula contains 5% hydrogen peroxide) and gentle. “It’s one of the least abrasive options, so it’s gentler on enamel and less likely to exacerbate tooth recession and sensitivity,” she previously told Glamour.

One Glamour reviewer shared that after using this toothpaste for a week and a half, he actually noticed a stark difference. “My teeth are definitely several shades whiter now, and I found the formula to have a nice lather and consistency— it didn’t feel chalky in my mouth, and it actually didn’t feel all that different from my regular toothpaste, which was a huge plus for me,” he says. “As someone with sensitive teeth, I was also concerned that this toothpaste was going to be harsh, but I found that it was extremely gentle and didn’t make me feel extra sensitive at all.”

Best Flavored: Cocofloss Cocoshine Whitening Toothpaste

• Pros: Gentle, natural formula
• Cons: It’s pricey compared to other toothpastes on this list

This toothpaste is a favorite of Marina Gonchar, DMD, and owner of Skin to Smile, because it has natural ingredients but still lives up to its whitening claims. “This toothpaste contains coconut oil, which is a powerful antibacterial agent; xylitol, which helps prevent cavities; baking soda, which is an abrasive whitening additive; and nano hydroxyapatite, which works to repair enamel and prevent tooth decay,” she says. This toothpaste pick is also a favorite amongst reviewers because it comes in more unique flavors than your typical mint, including lychee and piña colada.