There are many reasons why you are searching for “how to whiten your teeth”. Maybe you’ve noticed that your pearly whites are looking a little less pearly these days, or that your two cups of coffee a day routine is leaving your chompers a little… latté. Maybe your fitness photos are going rough, but you’re smiling through them all. Whatever brought you here, we know what you’re thinking: How can I whiten my teeth at home — and make these films at the drugstore actually work; To get to the bottom of all things teeth whitening, we turned to Dr. Joyce Kangaward winning cosmetic dentist which shares dental advice and combats misinformation Instagram and TikTok to over half a million followers and counting. If you feel confused about what works and what doesn’t, it’s probably because of how overcrowded the oral care aisle is with confusing labels. “There are so many products marketed as ‘teeth whitening,’ and most of them probably aren’t,” says Dr. Kahng.
That “crystal-diamond-quad-white” whitening mouthwash and toothpaste you believed in? These are mainly cleaning stains that are in the external surface of your teeth. Still good stuff, but real teeth whitening works from inside out to actually change the color of your teeth. “We’re talking about removing these stains, breaking them up and lifting them off the teeth,” Kahng explains. If you want quick results (say, for that wedding next weekend), then Dr. Kahng recommends an in-office treatment with a dentist, but she’s also “a huge fan of over-the-counter whitening products.” Here, we’ll go over everything you need to know about those pesky stains, the best ways to get results (including her favorite teeth whitening products), and how to make sure you’re juiced up residence white in the long run.
The best oral hygiene products, according to GQ
In this Guide
Where do stains start?
“If it stains my white coat, it can stain your teeth—that’s what I tell my patients,” says Dr. Kahng. So yes, unfortunately, coffee, red wine and a cheeky cigarette are some of the many possible causes of tooth discoloration. “They all fall into the category of stains that are deposited on the outside of your teeth,” which, he helpfully explains, can be removed simply by brushing your teeth—if you do it soon enough.
If you leave it, it will get dirty
Where you really run into trouble is when you let these surface stains marinate, because once you let them sit on your teeth for a long time, they “really absorb into the teeth and become more of these native stains,” warns Dr. Kahng. And that’s when the actual color of the teeth starts to dull or turn yellow.
Like most things in life, the best time to start striving for whiter teeth was, well, yesterday. Because of the way stains on teeth build up and combine over time, decades of stains will take much longer to remove. “It’s much easier for a teenager to get a good result from over-the-counter basic strips than if you’re 80,” Kahng notes. That said, like most things in life, it’s never too late to start, as long as you’re patient.
The whitening options
Professional teeth whitening treatments
Think of in-office whitening as the express lane to a brighter smile. In-office treatments combine a gel punch containing 35-40% hydrogen peroxide (compared to 6-15% you’ll find in at-home products). Dr. Kahng says the typical procedure takes anywhere from an hour to 90 minutes, and explains that your dentist will also use protective measures to keep your gums safe and block saliva (which actually deactivates the hydrogen peroxide). “It really creates the optimal environment for bleaching, and that’s why it’s the fastest you can bleach within a certain time frame,” says Kahng. So if you’re in a hurry or haven’t seen results at home, it’s time to make an appointment at the dentist’s office.
Home whitening strips and trays
Here’s where Dr. Kahng might surprise you: In addition to good oral hygiene in general, she also recommends over-the-counter whitening options. “I think I’m one of the few dentists who really emphasizes my love of over-the-counter whitening products,” she admits. Her philosophy? Consistency beats tension. “It’s like going to the gym – doing a little bit every day is better than one intense session.” If you’re really trying to go an entire shade, Kahng has her patients use bands every day for a week or two (with the flexibility to skip days down the road if your teeth start to feel too sensitive). As for the product he recommends? Kahng has patients grab the Opalescence Go teeth whitening trays for their ease of use and relatively strong hydrogen peroxide content. (We also love Crest 3D Whitestrips here at GQ.)
