Best Teeth Whitening Pen of 2023

Winner: Tarte Pearly Girl Vegan

How much you pay at checkout doesn’t give you the complete picture of a product’s cost. When we assessed these teeth whitening pens, we paid attention to their total value: how well they work, how quickly they work, and how much gel you get per pen.

While Tarte isn’t the cheapest on our list, it provides the best bang for your buck. Each pen comes with 4ml of whitening gel — double the average size — for $22. Tarte’s results are gradual because they use a lower percentage of hydrogen peroxide than some stronger alternatives, so don’t expect to see whiter teeth as soon as you look in the mirror. With regular applications (which you’ll have plenty of gel to do), you can watch deep stains lift and your smile become more vibrant.

Winner: Colgate Optic White Overnight

Teeth whitening pens are already a convenient alternative to other whitening methods, but not all pens are created equally. Some require up to four applications a day, while others might work at a low strength to slowly and gradually change the tone. An efficient teeth whitening pen does its job quickly and evenly.

Colgate Optic White Overnight is a sturdy pen that literally whitens your teeth overnight. Apply the strong gel before going to bed, and it’ll work its magic in four to six hours, letting you wake up with brighter, whiter teeth. It advertises lifting even hard-set stains, erasing up to 15 years from your teeth in less than a week. Despite its strength, it was specifically designed to combat sensitivity, meaning you won’t have to worry about your iced coffee the next morning.

Winner: GO SMILE On The Go

One of the biggest perks of teeth whitening pens is transportability. It’s easy to throw one in your bag or pocket to always have one when you need it. But just having a whitening pen nearby isn’t enough to make it convenient: how easy is it to apply? How long do you have to wait for the gel to dry? Will you have to worry about the pen squishing and getting bleaching goop all over the inside of your bag, or does it have protective measures? And how many times a day do you have to apply the gel to get adequate results?

GO SMILE’s On The Go is the only pen on our list with a separate carrying case to protect the already-strong pen from any potential harm. You only have to abstain from food and drinks for 20 minutes after using it, which is 10 minutes less than the fastest of its competitors. Apply the gel only once a day to see the best results. Plus, the twisting method to push gel through the brush tip is easier to use than other click or squeeze mechanisms.

Winner: Tarte Pearly Girl Vegan

Very few things are more uncomfortable than teeth that are sensitive because of bleaching. Having white teeth might not feel like a good trade-off when breathing and eating brings twinges and zaps to your teeth and gums. Not only do we want our top teeth whitening pens to work but they also shouldn’t make living your life any harder than it needs to be. After all, whitening pens should help ease your mind from anxieties and insecurities.

Tarte’s Pearly Girl Vegan wins our favor for comfort because of one unique addition to their formula: potassium nitrate. Part of the reason that bleach can make your teeth feel more sensitive is that a potent formula can reach your tooth’s inner core, irritating nerves. Potassium nitrate blocks pain signals from the tooth to your brain, so adding potassium nitrate to the formula works to keep your teeth pain-free. And while Tarte’s formula is naturally gentle, that bonus ensures that you won’t feel a thing.

Winner: Moon Kendall Jenner

If you’re going to leave something in your mouth for up to thirty minutes, it must taste at least palatable. Unfortunately, hydrogen and carbamide peroxide have a particularly unpleasant bitter taste. To counter that, some pens add oils or flavorings to various levels of success.

In our opinion, Moon and Kendall Jenner’s collaborative Teeth Whitening Pen has the best taste. It branches outside standard “mint” varieties and uses several flavors to create a sweet, slightly floral “Elixir III.”

• Lavender oil
• Strawberry fruit extract
• Honeysuckle flower extract
• Stevia extract

It also contains a slight violet tinge (thanks to mica, the edible mineral that gives pigment to makeup) to offset yellow discoloration. Moon refers to the flavor as “vanilla mint,” but it tastes slightly sweeter and more complex, thanks to the addition of stevia.

Teeth whitening pens are tools you can use at home to whiten your teeth. They are pre-packaged and prepared to simplify complicated routines while still providing effective whiteness.

A teeth whitening pen most often takes the form of a small tube with brush bristles on the end. These tubes are full of a concentrated whitening gel that gets pushed down into the brush bristles with a click, squeeze, or twist. You can then apply the gel directly onto your teeth to remove surface stains, effectively whitening your teeth at home.

There are dozens of reasons that teeth can become discolored. For the most part, these reasons are lumped into two categories: intrinsic and extrinsic. In general, if your teeth look bluish-gray, it’s caused by a disease, medication, or trauma; if they look yellow, it’s from surface-level stains, aging, or genetics.

Most discoloration that whitening pens can fix is extrinsic, meaning an outside source causes it. These extrinsic stains almost always exist on the surface of your teeth and are caused by dark-colored foods and drinks. This can include:

• Coffee
• Black tea
• Dark-colored sodas
• Red wine
• Tomato-based sauces
• Berries
• Cigarettes
• Soy sauce
• Balsamic vinegar
• Turmeric
• Beets

These all have strong pigments, which build up in a sticky film that covers your enamel, the outermost layer of your teeth. When you have a lot of plaque, that coating becomes more rough and sticky, encouraging even more discolored build-up. Having poor dental hygiene can increase plaque, meaning stains will be more likely to show.

Certain medications can also impact your teeth’s color. Discoloration from medication is more likely to make your teeth look bluish-gray than yellow. Taking certain antibiotics (particularly tetracycline and minocycline) when you’re young can turn your teeth permanently gray. Other kinds of medication that can stain your teeth when used for an extended time include:

• Antihistamines (like Benadryl)
• Antipsychotics (like generic olanzapine)
• Antihypertensives (high blood pressure medications like Propranolol or Atenolol)

These medications are thought to discolor your teeth because they can limit how much saliva your mouth makes or change your oral microbiome, which is important to keep your teeth in good shape. Some cancer treatments like radiation — particularly in the head and neck — and chemotherapy can also damage your teeth, turning them that same bluish-gray.

There are also some causes of discoloration that you can’t help. These intrinsic factors are natural and can’t often be fixed in the same way that staining can be.

Teeth whitening pens use a bleach-based gel to break stains into smaller pieces, making stains less concentrated and teeth look whiter. There are two conventional bleaches that teeth whitening pens use:

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Carbamide peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a more traditional bleaching agent but can make your teeth feel more sensitive. If you’re already predisposed to sensitive teeth, carbamide peroxide is often a more gentle option. And while you might prefer one or the other, studies have shown that there’s no difference in effectiveness between the two. You’ll see whiter teeth either way.

No matter which whitening pen you choose, they all work in similar ways. You’ll need to twist, crank, press, or squeeze the bottle to get some gel moving into the brush applicator.

Insider Tip: It’ll take extra time to get the gel into the bristles the first time you use a teeth whitening pen. Not sure if it’s moving? Hold the pen up to a nearby light source to check. If the bristles are glossy, you’re good to go.

Once you’ve successfully wet the bristles, hold your mouth open in a smile. You’ll brush a thin layer onto your teeth (avoiding your gums) and then hold your mouth open for at least 30 seconds. This part is important: keeping your mouth open ensures that the formula dries on your teeth. If it doesn’t have a chance to dry fully, you’ll swallow the gel before it can work its bleaching magic.

It can be difficult to hold your mouth open for that long, particularly because having your mouth open can exacerbate saliva production. Hold strong, and apply the gel in front of a sink so that you can spit when you need to without closing your lips around your teeth. Like other surface applications (such as a fluoride treatment at the dentist), you’ll need to refrain from eating or drinking for up to 30 minutes after application. This also reinforces that the gel stays exactly where you put it.

Depending on the type of whitening pen you get, you might need to apply it more than once per day. Be sure to apply it after brushing your teeth; brushing afterward gets rid of the gel in the same way that swallowing does.

Almost anyone looking to whiten their smile and remove surface stains for aesthetic reasons will succeed with teeth whitening pens. Suppose you’re a habitual coffee drinker disgruntled by yellowing teeth or a spaghetti marinara fan who’s realized your teeth aren’t as white as they used to be. In that case, these options provide a fast, effective, and comfortable experience. Whether you travel regularly or only have a few minutes between important meetings, a whitening pen can help you achieve your brightest smile ever.

Because the bleaching gel spends less time on your teeth than other whitening methods like whitening strips, whitening pens are better for those with sensitive teeth. However, if you have sensitive teeth, look for a formula with a low concentration of hydrogen or carbamide peroxide to keep your teeth from feeling more sensitive.

If you have dental implants like a crown, filling, denture, or veneer, teeth whitening pens might not be a great option. Depending on the ingredients in the whitening gel, it might not lift discoloration from these implants or, worse, erode them. Your dentist will be able to tell you what your options are.

Whitening pens only remove surface-level stains. Teeth discoloration that isn’t on the surface of your teeth — from aging, genetics, or trauma — won’t budge if you try to change it with a whitening pen. And if teeth whitening pens don’t move stubborn stains, your dentist will have more powerful stain removal options. There’s a chance that your enamel needs a good deep-cleaning first.

If you can’t hold your mouth open for at least 30 seconds while the gel dries, you might have more success with a different whitening mechanism. The biggest downside of teeth whitening pens is that it’s impossible to keep these stains from reappearing unless you change your dietary habits to completely remove anything that can stain your enamel. If you’re looking for a more permanent solution, reach out to your dentist, who can pull out the heavy machinery for an in-office whitening session.

Teeth whitening pens offer several conveniences that you can’t find with other whitening techniques, like whitening strips and in-office dentist visits. Pens are lightning-fast, providing the same level of brightness that might take an hour with whitening strips. They are also exceptionally convenient with less risk of tooth sensitivity. However, teeth whitening pens aren’t the only way that you can whiten your teeth.

We’ve included a chart that quickly summarizes the pros, cons, and differences between the four major kinds of teeth whitening products and services.

Best overall

Auraglow offers a simple, straightforward teeth whitening pen. At first glance, it might not seem like anything special. But this whitening pen balances its speedy and potent whitening powers with a convenient once-a-day application while saving your teeth and gums from any potential discomfort. Auraglow’s catch-all tendencies smartly avoid the downfalls of other products, making it a great fit for just about anyone looking to whiten their teeth.

This pen is made with 35% carbamide peroxide (about 12% hydrogen peroxide), making it effective but gentle in preventing teeth sensitivity. One of the biggest downsides to DIYing white teeth is the risk of gum irritation. However, you can apply Auraglow freely because this product was specifically formulated to avoid irritating your gums. Our testers found that their smiles whitened without any irritation or sensitivity.

Apply Auraglow’s whitening gel treatment once or twice a day, and it takes up to 10 days of consistent use for maximum whitening strength. While this is slightly slower than some other whitening pens, the gentle transition ensures your enamel stays safe. Plus, it still whitens as effectively as those with harsher formulas.

This pen has a button on the bottom, so you need to click it like you would a writing pen to get the gel flowing through the bristles. It’s a relatively small metallic pen, so you don’t have to worry about it getting crushed or gel leaking in travel. But despite its size, it still contains 2.8ml of whitening gel (which they estimate is 15 treatments).

One pen costs $26, making it the most expensive on our list. That’s for a good reason: it works exceptionally well, quickly providing whiter teeth without making them more sensitive. If you purchase the pen from Auraglow directly and know that you like your results, you can join their Subscribe & Save program. This program saves you 20% on every order, bringing the price in line with competitors at $20.80. You can sign up for a new pen to arrive in monthly increments:

• One month
• Two months
• Three months

Shipping is always free, and Auraglow offers a flexible 30-day money-back guarantee if you don’t find success with your results. You can also purchase Auraglow’s teeth whitening pen online from Amazon or Walmart.

Best budget pick, Best for sensitive teeth, and Best for vegans

High-quality, ecologically conscious makeup brand Tarte isn’t generally known for their budget picks, but their Pearly Girl Vegan Teeth Whitening Pen is a notable exception. This pen is a hefty 4ml (about twice the size of all our other favorite whitening pens) for $22. And while there are no additional savings programs like a Subscribe & Save plan, one pen should last you long enough to make it worth your while.

This pen is an excellent choice if you’re looking for vegan ingredients or whitening options for sensitive teeth. Its formula is free from:

Tarte’s teeth whitening formula is gentle yet powerful, containing hydrogen peroxide (at an unknown concentration), a neutralizing complex to balance your mouth’s pH, and, most notably, potassium nitrate. Potassium nitrate isn’t a common ingredient in whitening pens but is an excellent addition here. It helps numb your teeth from the unnecessary stimulation bleaching can induce on your nerves, keeping your teeth from ever feeling sensitive even after constant use.

It’s unlikely that it has a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide, given how gentle its formula is (which is a bonus for those who have sensitive teeth but want to whiten them). If you stick to Tarte’s rigorous schedule, you should see good results, but you’ll have to really commit.

Of course, all of those benefits don’t account for the fact that Tarte recommends you use it up to four times daily. (That’s the equivalent of adding it after every meal and before bed.) While it does whiten teeth, this whitening occurs very slowly, even if you apply it four times a day. Despite all of its pros, this major inconvenience is why Tarte doesn’t win our favor as the best overall teeth whitening pen.

Since Tarte is first and foremost a cosmetics brand, you’ll be able to find this whitening pen in most major cosmetic stores. This includes Sephora, Ulta, and stores with substantial beauty counters (like Kohl’s and Target).

Fastest results

Colgate is a household name in dental care, so it makes sense that they’ve jumped on the bandwagon with their Optic White Overnight Teeth Whitening Pen. This pen claims to take 15 years’ worth of stains off your teeth overnight, giving you a bright smile. Each pen is 2.3ml (about 35 nightly treatments).

This pen is one of the more unique ones on our list because it’s specifically designed for nighttime use only. After applying the gel and letting it dry for 15-30 seconds, it thickens into a film that takes 4-6 hours to dissolve. The long dissolution time of the gel means that it penetrates deeper for a more thorough clean, but you can’t eat, drink, or rinse your mouth while the formula is working. It’s a little impractical for daily use but perfectly good to use right before bed.

Insider Tip: If you aren’t already, you’ll need to be sure to brush your teeth the morning after using this whitening pen. The film often sticks around until morning.

Our testers’ teeth looked noticeably brighter and cleaner the morning after application. Like a dentist in a pen, this product is worth it if you have time to spare in your evening routine. And while a simple teeth whitening pen can’t make your teeth look 15 years younger like Colgate claims, this enamel-safe formula gives actual results fast. That is, of course, assuming you put it on correctly. The gel from this pen has a simple four-ingredient formula:

• Alcohol
• Water
• Acrylates, a polymer film former
• Hydrogen peroxide

At $25 for one Teeth Whitening Pen without any Subscribe & Save or shipping freebies, this is one of the more expensive options on our list. It does come with a stand to hold the pen, so it can have a home on your bathroom countertop without fear of it rolling away. And if you’ve tried it and aren’t happy with your results, you can text or call Colgate to initiate a return within 30 days of purchase.

If you’d prefer to purchase it in person, you can find this pen at:

• Walmart
• Walgreens
• Target
• Bed Bath & Beyond

Most portable

This TikTok viral product has been on the radar for a while for a good reason. This whitening pen provides powerful results with even bigger claims: GO SMILE’s website quotes four clinical studies claiming the gel can lighten stained teeth up to five shades in a week and is safe to use on crowns, veneers, and other dental materials. They don’t cite any information that pinpoints the studies, so validating their claims is challenging.

When applied correctly and twice a day, On The Go erases surface stains in less than a week. Some people find more success with this formula than others, but in all cases, the whitening doesn’t stick around as long as other whitening pens’ stain removal powers. No teeth whitening pens are permanent (unless you cut out all staining foods and drinks from your diet and maintain immaculate dental hygiene), but On The Go is decidedly shorter. It’s a great option if you need white teeth for an upcoming event, but it might not be your best option if you’re looking for a long-term change.

On The Go has a soft mint flavor combined with sucralose hidden at the end of its ingredient list (and not listed on GO SMILE’s website). It’s reminiscent of dental polishes and a bit more harsh-tasting than some whitening pens (though not as bad as others). But it dissipates quickly, leaving you with whiter teeth.

One pen costs $20, including a hard travel case for protection, but it’s a much smaller pen than most of our favorites at 1.3ml. We think On The Go is a great backup to keep in your bag if you need something dramatic fast, but it might not be the best everyday choice.

You can purchase GO SMILE’s On The Go Whitening Pen from several different major retailers, including:

• Ulta -Nordstrom
• Bed Bath & Beyond
• Target
• Walmart
• Amazon

Moon collaborated with Kendall Jenner of Kardashian-Jenner fame to bring this teeth whitening pen to light. It has a unique formula, including:

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Elixir III formula (lavender oil, strawberry fruit extract, honeysuckle flower extract)
• Stevia extract
• Violet mica

This teeth whitening pen claims to be “vanilla mint” flavored but instead gives off a sweet, slightly floral flavor from its Elixir III formula and stevia. Either way, it’s a pleasant taste that we didn’t mind lingering while the gel dissolved.

The gel contains violet-colored mica, which gives it a purple tint. Since purple neutralizes yellow colors, it’s a unique addition to the formula, giving it a brightening edge over competitors’ pens. And since mica is a food-grade mineral used in cosmetics, luminescent powders, and sparkling drinks, it’s safe to consume. The gel also contains several additives and preservatives that aren’t found in other pens. But they don’t state how much peroxide is in each pen, leaving the question of its efficacy open.

Moon & Kendall Jenner’s teeth whitening pen has a click button to dispense gel, though some people have found that mechanism to be broken and have struggled to get the gel to flow into the bristles. Once you get it down, you can apply the gel up to twice a day for two weeks. The gel itself brought some whitening but not as substantial a difference as other formulas.

One 2ml teeth whitening pen costs $19.99, but you can join Moon’s Subscribe & Save program to lower that cost by 20% to $15.99. There’s a little bit of flexibility with the frequency of your deliveries, offering a new package straight to your door every 30, 60, or 90 days. You can purchase it directly from their website or several major retailers, including Ulta, Target, Amazon, and large pharmacies like CVS.

If you’re looking for teeth whitening pens for you and someone else — or buying in bulk for yourself — AsaVea has a bundle deal worth investigating. They sell their teeth whitening pens in two packs, each holding 2ml of whitening gel in a clear tube. While the clear plastic might not be as secure as a metallic case, it lets you see exactly how much gel you’re using (and when it’s time to reorder).

The gel itself uses 44% carbamide peroxide to whiten even sensitive teeth. However, AsaVea doesn’t list the ingredients on their website, and finding them anywhere is difficult. Even more interesting are the reports that this whitening gel burns the soft tissue inside testers’ lips and gums. That’s always a risk when bleaching teeth, but many of our other favorite whitening pens side-step this issue by using more neutral and natural formulas.

It can take up to 20 days to achieve total whiteness, but many find that even three weeks isn’t long enough to see notable results, let alone the 4-8 shades AsaVea quotes. On the bright side, they offer a flexible 14-day return policy, so if it doesn’t look like your teeth are changing, you can get your money back.

One pack of two teeth whitening pens costs $21.99. AsaVea doesn’t offer a subscription program, but all shipping to the United States is free. You can purchase the pen directly from their website or online through Amazon or Walmart. Note that the reviews from Amazon are biased: AsaVea offers a free product or payment for customers who leave a (preferably favorable) review.

How soon can I eat or drink after using a whitening pen?

The longer you wait after you apply the whitening gel, the better. Always read the instructions since this time varies depending on the formula. Colgate, for example, needs four to six hours to dissolve, whereas other brands recommend not eating for 30 minutes after application. Eating or drinking too soon can wipe away some of the gel, stopping the whitening process and preventing you from seeing the whitening pen’s full effects.

Will a whitening pen make my teeth more sensitive?

It might. Some teeth whitening pens contain hydrogen peroxide at high concentrations. When you apply a whitening gel to your teeth, the peroxides break through the enamel of your teeth to fully zap away discoloration. Sometimes, the peroxide makes it to the dentin, which can irritate nerves inside your teeth and cause pain. Highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide is more likely to do this, especially if it’s left on your teeth for an extended time. This is why whitening pens are less likely to cause sensitivity than whitening strips — you don’t have to soak your teeth in a potent gel for 30 minutes to an hour like you would for strips.

Carbamide peroxide is less likely to cause teeth sensitivity because it’s weaker. Carbamide peroxide is a kind of peroxide made of about one-third hydrogen peroxide; a 35% carbamide peroxide is about as strong as a 12% hydrogen peroxide formula. Carbamide peroxide also takes longer to break down, so it can take up to six hours to fully release, giving a more gentle whitening over time.

If whitening pens make your teeth more sensitive, regularly brush them with fluoride-added toothpaste. It should pass within a few days with a little extra care. (If it doesn’t, reach out to your dentist.)

How long do results last?

It depends on your behavior after using a whitening pen. Once you’ve removed the stains from your teeth, their natural whiteness won’t fade to yellow. However, continuing to eat and drink staining foods, smoke cigarettes, or practice poor dental hygiene is a sure-fire way to re-stain your teeth.

One study found that people who whitened their teeth and then practiced good oral hygiene and stain prevention measures still had whiter teeth one year later, no matter what whitening method they used.

How can I keep my teeth from getting discolored in the first place?

The best method is practicing good oral hygiene. The less plaque you have on your teeth, the fewer stains stick. This means brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing regularly, and using mouthwash for extra protection. And be careful with the timing of your dental care: brushing your teeth after eating acidic food (like juices, citrus, chips, and dairy) can have the opposite effect, wiping away softened enamel to reveal more of the yellow dentin core.

Otherwise, avoiding foods likely to stain your teeth is the only way to prevent them from getting discolored. Some discoloration is natural, despite what celebrities may show you.

Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions about staying healthy and living healthier lifestyles.

We extensively test each health service or product we review. Our content provides you, our readers, with an unbiased exploration of at-home health options, free of marketing jargon or gimmicks. We evaluate products and services based on their adherence to quality and the latest medical evidence and health standards. We ask ourselves two simple questions: Would we buy the product or service ourselves if it weren’t part of our job? Would we recommend it to family and friends?

Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this guide was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.