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Teeth whitening is available in most U.S. dental clinics. One option they might offer is a custom tray, which typically costs $150 to $650.
It’s the cheapest whitening method offered by dentists. Once the trays are ready, you can also take them home to finish the rest of your treatment.
But there’s a catch—you still need to see a dentist for an initial consultation. Some people might find this inconvenient. Plus, it can add to the costs.
At-home whitening trays are a more affordable and convenient alternative. They usually cost less than $100, and you can order them online.
Everything We Recommend
Our smile experts only want what’s good for your teeth. So we evaluated different brands and picked the best trays based on these criteria:
Here are our top picks for over-the-counter teeth whitening trays:
Best Overall
Smile Brilliant Trays are made from at-home impressions, guaranteeing a perfect fit for even teeth whitening. You can choose from sensitive and non-sensitive formulas with 22% carbamide peroxide. They can lift light to heavy stains caused by coffee, tea, or wine without hurting your teeth.
Prices for Smile Brilliant Trays start at $149 for the non-sensitive whitening systems and $159 for the sensitive whitening system.
Best for Sensitive Teeth
BURST uses pre-filled trays that mold to the shape of your teeth. Each one is packed with vegan, enamel-safe ingredients like potassium hydroxide and xylitol to soothe the gums and reduce sensitivity. They deliver fast and effective results using a gentle 12.5% hydrogen peroxide formula.
BURST Whitening Trays cost $29.89 for 3 treatments and $64.99 for 7 treatments.
Best for Fast Results
Opalescence Go Trays are pre-filled and feature an UltraFit™ design for even whitening and a comfortable fit. Depending on how fast you want to whiten teeth, you can choose from 10% and 15% hydrogen peroxide. It also contains sensitivity-reducing ingredients like potassium nitrate and fluoride.
Opalescence Go Trays cost $49.98 for 4 treatments (15% hydrogen peroxide) and $78 for 10 treatments (10% hydrogen peroxide).
Best Affordable
Auraglow Complete Teeth Whitening Kit has a 2-in-1 mouthpiece that acts as both a reusable whitening tray and an LED accelerator for fast results. It contains 35% carbamide peroxide gel, a professional-grade formula that lifts stains and brightens teeth by up to 10 shades in just 7 days.
The Auraglow LED Whitening costs $48. The kit includes a rechargeable device with a built-in mouth tray and LED accelerator.
Get your brightest smile with NewMouth's top teeth whitening picks for 2024.
Here are the key differences between the custom whitening trays offered by licensed dentists and the at-home trays you can buy over the counter:
Here are some things you need to consider before buying:
Teeth whitening trays contain either carbamide or hydrogen peroxide, which are proven to lift teeth stains.
Dentist-prescribed trays tend to have these ingredients in higher concentrations. At-home trays have a less-concentrated formula.
Dentist trays can lighten dark stains in 7 to 14 days. At-home trays can take anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks to lift light or moderate stains, but some kits may include an LED accelerator for faster teeth whitening.
Trays with low hydrogen peroxide concentrations or carbamide peroxide and sensitivity-reducing ingredients are best for sensitive teeth.
Dentist trays may cause sensitivity due to their higher concentration of ingredients. But you can get professional guidance on how to avoid it.
Most at-home trays require 15 to 30 minutes of treatment. You can buy them online or at drug stores, so you can start right away.
Dentist trays must be worn for 30 minutes to 1 hour. You also need to visit a dental clinic and wait for your trays before you can begin treatment.
Custom trays are made to fit you so they’re comfortable and ensure the ingredients reach every surface for optimum results. They also keep gel away from your gums, lowering your risk for gum irritation.
Over-the-counter trays have a one-size-fits-all design that may not fit your teeth. However, some are designed for a snug and comfortable fit.
Pre-filled trays are disposable, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning them. However, treatments tend to get messy.
Reusable trays have to be cleaned between uses, but since you can control the amount of whitening gel you put in, they’re usually mess-free.
See NewMouth’s top 10 teeth whitening products of 2024.
If you want a convenient, affordable, and effective way to brighten your smile, at-home teeth whitening trays may be a good choice.
Most brands work on light to moderate discoloration. Although some contain strong formulations that can tackle yellow teeth and dark stains.
At a price point of less than $100, at-home trays can save you hundreds compared to dentist-prescribed trays, which can cost up to $500 or $600.
There’s no need for an in-person consultation or dental visits—you can lighten your teeth at your own pace from the comfort of your home.However, if you have heavily discolored teeth, professional teeth whitening may be better. We recommend asking your dentist about
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