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Byrdie / Sabrina Jiang
If you’ve been on the quest for the best products that'll leave you with a brighter smile, you’re not alone—according to Hexa Research, the global market for teeth whitening products is expected to reach over 7 billion dollars by 2024. (Yes, that's billion with a B). Accordingly, there's a wide variety of whitening products out there—and while whitening mouthwashes may not necessarily get the same attention as the uber-popular OTC whitening strips or flashy in-office treatments, they can be a great option for several reasons.
“In comparison to other whitening products, mouthwashes are the simplest to use and implement,” explains Dr. Jennifer Haddad, a cosmetic dentist based in West Hollywood. Beverly Hills-based cosmetic dentist Dr. Matt Nejad agrees, adding that they're especially great for warding off stains between professional cleanings. Translation: You may not get the dramatic whitening you’d get from other products, but given that they’re so easy to use and incorporate into your daily routine, it’s worth a swish.
Meet the Expert
Lawrence Fung, DDS, is a cosmetic dentist and founder of Silicon Beach Dental in Culver City, California. He is also the clinical instructor at the Center for Esthetic Dentistry at UCLA.
Dr. Jennifer Haddad, DDS, is a cosmetic dentist in West Hollywood. She focuses on minimally-invasive dentistry, and has also served as faculty for the University of South California.
Dr. Matt Nejad, DDS, is a cosmetic dentist in Beverly Hills whose celebrity clientele including Beyoncé and Jay-Z. In addition to being a clinical instructor at the University of South California, he also leads continuing education for dentists around the world and is a leading expert in veneers.
So what exactly should we look for in a mouth wash? Most whitening mouthwashes usually contain a form of hydrogen peroxide (the same active ingredient as is found in many other OTC products and professional-strength treatments)—which, as Fung points out, whitens via its oxidizing properties.
Ahead, the best whitening mouthwashes to rinse with now.
Best Overall
Crest 3D White Glamorous White Whitening Mouthwash
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Effective
Won't cause stinging or irritate gums
Tastes great
Expensive
A triple-action formula makes this effective for whitening teeth, protecting against future stains, and killing the germs that cause bad breath. The brand claims you can see results in just two days, and Haddad, who’s a fan, says it does in fact work fast—even within a week. She also lauds it for being alcohol-free, so you won’t get any of that uncomfortable burning or dryness during or after use.
Price at time of publish: $7
Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide | Size: 32 fl. oz | Flavor: Fresh mint
Best Budget
Solimo Whitening Mouthwash
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Helps remove stains
Inexpensive
No strong taste
Very foamy
“This is a great, low-cost alternative that still contains the same main whitening active ingredient, hydrogen peroxide,” says Dr. Lawrence Fung, DDS, founder of Silicon Beach Dental in Los Angeles. (It’s Amazon’s in-house brand, hence the super wallet-friendly price). Indeed, happy Amazon reviewers comment repeatedly on the great value, as well as the whitening effects, particularly on daily stains from things such as coffee.
Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide | Size: 32 fl. oz | Flavor: Clean mint
Best Drugstore
Colgate Optic White Whitening Mouthwash
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Courtesy of Walmart
Strong formula
Whitens teeth quickly
Helps remove stains
Not the most pleasant taste
Fung says this wash, which has a 2 percent concentration of hydrogen peroxide (slightly higher than many of its counterparts), works well. It’s also alcohol-free and will work even faster if you pair it with the brand’s Optic White toothpaste, which is also hydrogen peroxide-based.
Price at time of publish: $11
Active Ingredients: 2% hydrogen peroxide | Size: 32 fl. oz | Flavor: Icy fresh mint
Best With Fluoride
ACT Anticavity + Whitening Mouthwash
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Helps prevent cavities
Easy-to-use packaging
A little goes a long way
Smaller bottle than other options
Both Fung and Haddad like this pick because it contains fluoride. “This mouthwash, compared to all others, works in a two-fold manner because it whitens and prevents against cavity formation with fluoride,” explains Haddad. You only need to use it once a day, and the bottle has a convenient dosing system that lets you squirt out just the right amount.
Price at time of publish: $6
Active Ingredients: 0.02% sodium fluoride | Size: 16.9 fl. oz | Flavor: Gentle mint
Runner-Up, Best With Fluoride
Listerine Healthy White Vibrant Multi-Action Fluoride Mouthwash
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Helps prevent cavities
Can be used longer for extra whitening
Doesn't cause tooth sensitivity
Very foamy
“This is the only whitening mouthwash I use and it works well,” says Nejad. It, too, contains fluoride for cavity prevention and tooth-strengthening purposes, along with hydrogen peroxide (Nejad points out that your mouth will be bubbly from the peroxide). Pro tip: To maximize the whitening effect and stain removal, avoiding rinsing this off for 30 minutes, advises Nejad.
Price at time of publish: $35
Active Ingredients: 0.02% sodium fluoride | Size: 16 fl. oz | Flavor: Clean mint
Best for Sensitive Gums
Dr. Brite Whitening Mouthwash
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Contains vitamin C
Doesn't irritate gums
Doesn't cause tooth sensitivity
Made with organic ingredients
Not a dramatic whitening effect
“The perk of this natural mouthwash is that it incorporates vitamin C to help soothe and nourish the gums,” says Haddad. “It also has an excellent flavor that most tend to rave about,” she adds. It’s alcohol-free as well, and the majority of the natural ingredients it contains (aloe and mint leaf oil) are organic.
Price at time of publish: $12
Active Ingredients: Vitamin C, activated charcoal | Size: 8 / 16 fl. oz | Flavor: Mint
Best Preventative
Oral Essentials Lumineux Whitening Mouthwash
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Courtesy of Vita Cost
Helps prevent cavities
Mouth feels clean
Doesn't cause tooth sensitivity
Doesn't irritate gums
Not a dramatic whitening effect
This natural, hydrogen peroxide-free option relies on ingredients such as sea salt, coconut, lemon peel, and clove flower. Also in the mix is xylitol, which Haddad says gives you even more bang for your buck. “Xylitol helps prevent tooth decay," she explains. "Not only are you whitening your teeth with this product, but you’re also decreasing the stickiness of plaque, decreasing bad oral bacteria as a result."
Price at time of publish: $12
Active Ingredients: Xylitol | Size: 16 fl. oz | Flavor: Mint
What to Look For in Whitening Mouthwashes
Whitening Ingredients
Of course, when you are looking for whitening mouthwash, you want to make sure it does its job. There are a handful of ingredients that may help whiten your teeth, but when it comes to effective whitening using mouthwash, hydrogen peroxide is a safe bet. The strength of hydrogen peroxide will vary, but up to 2%, which is a high strength, can be found in mouthwash. Some natural mouthwashes will include activated charcoal as a whitening ingredient.
Cavity Protection
If you want your whitening mouthwash to also help prevent cavities, choose one with fluoride. Some whitening mouthwashes have hydrogen peroxide to whiten and sodium fluoride to prevent decay. While this is not a replacement for fluoride-containing toothpaste, it helps add more protection as a final step in your oral hygiene routine.
Antibacterial
Whitening mouthwash can also help freshen your mouth and kill bacteria that can cause bad breath or decay. Look for ingredients such as alcohol, or if you do not like the burning sensation, try xylitol.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.