In this article
Absolutely. With a starting cost of $8.40 per treatment, its pre-filled whitening trays are pricier than other teeth whiteners I’ve tried but more affordable than the custom whitening trays offered in dental clinics.
Many dentists recommend Opalescence Go as an alternative to in-office teeth whitening and even sell them at their clinics. But like any product that contains hydrogen peroxide, it may cause side effects.
If you’re curious about my results and the side effects I experienced, then you’ve come to the right place. In this review, I’ll break down my honest feedback on the product. I also enlisted the help of NewMouth’s team to assist in my research and evaluate user reviews for similar experiences.
Get your brightest smile with NewMouth's top teeth whitening picks for 2024.
Here are some things I liked and didn’t like about Opalescence Go after trying it for a few days:
I bought the original Opalescence Go 15% Hydrogen Peroxide because I felt more confident with its stronger formulation. It came with 20 whitening trays—half for my upper teeth and half for my lower teeth.
The box was supposed to be for a 10-day treatment. But I decided to keep my treatment “open” and use the trays until I finished all of them or I got the shade that I wanted (whichever came first).
During each treatment, I’d wear both my top and bottom trays for a solid 20 minutes before taking them off and brushing my teeth.
My teeth originally had a slight yellow tint. After my first use, they immediately became lighter, but I noticed some white spots here and there.
Maybe it was because some of the gel fell off the trays as I struggled to put them on. This probably resulted in the uneven whitening.
It took two more days for these patches to disappear and the color of my teeth to even out. By then, they were a shade lighter plus I already knew how to apply the trays without wasting the gel.
I continued wearing the trays for a few more days and achieved my ideal shade (3 shades lighter) on day 8 of my treatment. I was honestly impressed that I didn’t have to finish the box to get what I was after.
I was on the third day when my teeth started feeling more sensitive to my usual order of iced caramel macchiato. This went on until day 5.
Whenever I drank cold beverages several hours after treatment, they would tingle. It was mild but annoying, so I spaced out my treatments to every other day after 5 consecutive days of wearing the trays.
This helped with my sensitivity, but it also lengthened my treatment. Instead of 9 days, it took me 12 days to reach the shade I wanted for my teeth.
I initially struggled to separate the outer green tray from the inner clear tray. It caused me to waste some of the gel and leave quite a mess.
But as soon as I got a hang of it, I found the trays incredibly convenient. I didn’t mind wearing them for 20 minutes straight as they fit comfortably around my teeth.
Unfortunately, removing the trays can also get messy since the gel liquefies from the saliva. I dripped on my carpet one time, and while it didn’t stain, I made sure to remove the trays by the sink after that incident.
A little note for readers: I have normal-sized teeth so the trays couldn’t reach all the way up to my gums. If you have small teeth, the trays’ design can make it difficult to avoid contact between the gel and the gums.
While it rarely happens, this has caused some people to burn their gums.
See NewMouth’s top 10 teeth whitening products of 2024.
Opalescence Go either contains 10% or 15% hydrogen peroxide as its main ingredient. The company says their products are safe to use.1
However, the American Dental Association (ADA) only recommends at-home teeth whitening products with 10% hydrogen peroxide or less.2
Products containing higher concentrations aren’t necessarily unsafe—dentists use 40% or more during teeth whitening procedures. However, they can increase your risk for sensitivity and gum irritation.2,3
It’s important to note that these side effects are only temporary and usually go away within hours or days after the last treatment.
Opalescence Go received 4.4 out of 5⭐ from more than 8,600 customers who bought it off Amazon. Here are the main highlights of these reviews:
Most users who have tried it saw quick results and significant improvements in their teeth. This helped some of them with their confidence issues:
“I asked my dentist about whitening. He said I can either pay hundreds of dollars for their treatment or use these for a fraction of the cost and they work great! Saw results after first use.”
“I really enjoyed using these to whiten my teeth. I admittedly used the 15% for an hour rather than the recommended ~20 minutes that they say to use it. After two days of 1-hour treatments, my teeth were significantly whiter.”
“I have tried several teeth whitening products with little to no success. I have been amazed at the results of Opalescence. I saw results from the first time I used it. Each time I use it, my teeth get whiter. It is truly amazing. I no longer try to eliminate smiling and laughing. I don’t have anything to be embarrassed about. I actually like showing my teeth!”
According to some reviews, Opalescence Go causes little to no sensitivity:
“I used all 10 trays over the course of about 15 days due to travel. There was only one day where I had a little sensitivity.”
“Much to my surprise, this product works very well. The instructions tell you to wear the whitening trays for about 15 to 20 minutes. I wore mine for an hour each time with no negative side effects.”
“I always wanted to improve the whiteness of my teeth but my teeth are extremely sensitive due to all the decay I have endured over the years. This offered a great opportunity without having any sensitivity or pain and improved the lightness noticeably on day one.”
Many people enjoy the convenience of its pre-filled teeth whitening trays, especially when compared to other products:
“Not only are these easier to use than whitening strips, but they are also more cost-effective due to the design and higher peroxide content.”
“I love the convenience of just opening a pair of trays and putting them in my mouth then throwing them away when I’m done.”
“The trays make applying them simple and less messy. One tray is marked for the upper teeth and one for the lower teeth. Bite into the tray and viola! The applicator containing the whitener (which is like a thin mouthguard) is on your teeth, perfectly positioned.”
Several customers were disappointed after seeing little to no improvements in their teeth. Based on reviews, some of them may have received “bad batches,” which explains the ineffective whitening:
“I liked using these trays. They’re less messy than some other methods, though they didn’t work as well. I used the entire set within 2 weeks, and saw some lightening results.”
“My teeth did not turn as white as I had hoped. I would say there is about a 10% improvement. And as a note for people wondering how long I used the product, I used each of the 10 pieces for 20 to 25 minutes.”
“Not certain the trays were fresh, as the whiting paste was dried up and some fell out of the trays. I didn’t see any difference in my teeth! My dentist gave me a box to try, and those trays were fresh and creamy. And they showed positive results.”
Some users were unhappy with the sensitivity and burning it caused on their teeth and gums, although spacing out the treatment usually helped them deal with the side effects:
“It made my teeth super sensitive after using it twice. Had to take a week off to let my teeth recover before I could use it again.”
“Expect sensitivity. As with any good whitening product, the active ingredient will cause gum and/or tooth sensitivity. I usually use them for a few days in a row, then take a day or two off then repeat the process until the trays are gone.”
“In my experience, the result was fast, in two days. However, from the first use, my teeth were sensitive and my gums were a little irritated. I recommend not using it every day, especially for people with sensitive teeth and gums. I recommend leaving a day in between.”
While most customers found it easy to wear the trays, others struggled:
“Some people have said that the product (the green part you’re supposed to take out) gets stuck. I’ve experienced that with the bottom so I just left it on. That does not take away from how great it is. And it doesn’t always happen.”
“I take the trays out of their green holder and place them in my mouth (bottom then top) because I’ve had trouble with them sticking to the green trays.”
“I found that the inner tray was almost impossible to separate from the green exterior tray without the use of extra effort like removing the tray manually before insertion.”
You can buy Opalescence Go from a dentist or through online retailers:
These prices are for the Original Opalescence Go. They include 20 trays and have a mint flavor (green box), although some stores have them in melon (red box).
Opalescence now offers these teeth whitening trays in cool mint flavors with two formulations—Gentle and Classic. Each box includes 14 trays and costs $108.
If you’re looking for a powerful at-home whitening solution with minimal fuss, Opalescence Go is worth considering. The results can be dramatic, and the prefilled trays are super convenient. While it triggers sensitivity in some people, spacing out your treatments may help.
But if you don’t want to risk tooth sensitivity or burning your gums (which some users have experienced), there are gentler options in the market:
In this article
14 min read
9 min read
7 min read
8 min read
12 min read
6 min read