At-home whitening makes brighter smiles accessible to the masses. One problem: most kits take 14 days or more to achieve full results. If you are on a tight timeframe — a week or less to a big meeting, presentation, or other event — you need something faster.
Instinct says to go with professional treatments; an hour in the chair and you’re good to go. But your wallet will also be $600+ lighter in most cases. Luckily, there are at-home kits that don’t require two or more weeks to work their magic. In fact, we have three great options that take anywhere between two and seven days to reach maximum whiteness.
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#1: HiSmile LED Kit: Two Days to a Whiter Smile
With at-home whitening kits, speedy usually means full results in 5–7 days. That’s not bad — but what if you only have a day or two to prepare for an unexpected event? In this situation, HiSmile has you covered.
The HiSmile LED kit doesn’t use peroxide; its active ingredient is Phthalimidoperoxycaproicacid — or PAP+ if you’re not up for that tongue twister. This ingredient comes with two benefits. First, it doesn’t cause sensitivity like harsher chemicals. Second, with the help of the LED light, the PAP+ activates quickly and gets to work. The result? A whiter smile in just two ten-minute sessions.
Advantages
- HiSmile says you can achieve full results in just two sessions. And those sessions are just ten minutes each.
- This kit doesn’t use peroxide. While hydrogen and carbamide peroxide aren’t inherently bad, they can cause sensitivity. PAP+ isn’t, making the process more comfortable.
- HiSmile is an investment, but you can reduce your costs over time. The company sells gel pods separate from their light for much less than the full kit, and these sometimes go on sale as well.
Disadvantages
- At $149, it is one of the most expensive direct-to-consumer kits on the market. Still, it is hundreds less than in-office whitening.
- HiSmile’s ratings aren’t as glowing as some of their competitors.
#2: BURST Strips: Speedy Whitening on the Go
BURST is a unique oral healthcare company in that they laser focus on meeting the real needs of real people. Using BURST Ambassadors — dental professionals actively practicing in the U.S. — they explore their patients’ unmet needs, then create the products to meet them.
So it’s unsurprising that their whitening strips help customers achieve multiple goals, including speedy whitening. It takes just a week to get full results and whitening sessions only last 15 minutes. Since the strips are small enough to slip into a pocket or bag, they also work while on the go.
Advantages
- BURST’s sessions last just 15 minutes and the company says you’ll see full results in one week.
- The formula mixes traditional whitening ingredients with natural ones, like coconut oil, giving a more balanced approach.
- They’re fast and effective, but also highly affordable, especially when purchased through the BURST website.
Disadvantages
- Some customers find they slide around on their teeth too much.
- The gel contains peroxide, which can burn if it contacts your gums.
#3: MOON Kendall Jenner Teeth Whitening Pen: An Instant Boost
Outside of chairside whitening from your dentist, you can’t brighten your smile in under an hour. But what if you’ve just been invited somewhere last minute and want to look your best?
The MOON Kendall Jenner Teeth Whitening Pen might be the perfect solution. According to the company, it can instantly brighten your smile. However, it’s not that your teeth change shades this quickly, but that the mica in the formula reflects light. It’s great for an instant boost in a tough situation. But, if you are looking for more drastic whitening, MOON needs two applications a day for two weeks.
Advantages
- Your smile could look instantly brighter — even if it takes longer to make lasting changes.
- The sleek design makes it feel more like makeup than an oral healthcare item.
- It comes with a fun flavor profile that masks the peroxide while also standing out from the typical mint other whitening products use.
Disadvantages
- Ulta is the only brick and mortar shop that sells it.
- The gel can burn if it gets on your gums.
What Other Qualities Should I Look For?
Speed may be the top feature you want in a whitening product, but it shouldn’t be the only one. While your priorities are unique, below are the features we find to be the most universally important to customers.
Effectiveness
Full disclosure: we didn’t use all these products ourselves. We formed our opinions based on reviews and testimonials from customers just like you. Anything that wasn’t effective didn’t make our list.
Affordability
When you are aiming for speed, the only reason to go with an at-home option over in-office whitening is price. We looked for options that offered a solid value when considering both their speed and effectiveness.
Quality of Ingredients
Considering whitening gel sits on your teeth, you don’t want low-quality ingredients. We focus on products that use whitening agents proven safe for use, as long as you follow the instructions.
Convenience
Getting a brighter smile doesn’t need to be overly complicated. While some kits require more steps than others, we know your time is valuable, especially if you have a deadline in mind.
Comfort
Teeth whitening can get awkward, but it shouldn’t be so uncomfortable you dread it. We stick to options as comfortable as you can expect for any given type of whitening.
What About Professional Whitening?
All the options on this list are great, but if you want the fastest possible results with the biggest shade difference, you can’t beat chairside whitening with your dentist. In many cases, they can achieve full results in a single hour-long session.
The issue here is the cost. In most cases, you will pay upwards of $600 for in-office whitening. Your dentist might offer a more affordable system, but even in that case, anticipate spending at least $300 on a single treatment. Even the most expensive option on our list is hundreds cheaper.
Final Thoughts
If you have a big event ahead of you and want a whiter smile before the date, you can enjoy speedy whitening with at-home kits. Select yours based on your timeline and the desired shade difference. With any of the options on our list, expect to be smiling brighter in a week or less.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which types of whitening kits work the fastest?
Strips and trays often work the fastest because they hold the whitening gel directly to the teeth, allowing it to work longer. This translates to fewer whitening sessions to achieve maximum results.
What whitening products are generally the slowest?
Whitening pens. Since nothing holds the gel to the teeth, as soon as you close your mouth, it washes away. This means it has minimal time to work.
Which are the speediest active ingredients?
Hydrogen peroxide and PAP+ are the two fastest whitening ingredients.
Do LED lights actually help kits whiten faster?
Some studies found that they do speed up the chemical breakdown of whitening agents, which lets them get to work faster. Other studies have found no difference in whitening with or without LED lights.
If I need a whiter smile in the next day or two, what’s my best bet?
You have three options. First, professional chairside whitening. Just keep in mind that this is expensive and your dentist might not even be able to fit you in on such short notice. Next, you can use HiSmile. The issue here is getting it in time, since you’ll scarcely ever see it in stores. Finally, you can go with the MOON Kendall Jenner Teeth Whitening Pen. You can pick it up at Ulta in person and it contains mica, which makes your smile look instantly brighter, even if it isn’t a long-term change.
Is it dangerous to whiten your teeth quickly?
If you are using a system designed to whiten the teeth quickly and your teeth and gums are in good health, there shouldn’t be any danger, as long as you follow instructions. However, if you decide to use a kit for longer or more often than instructed, just to get faster results, you could permanently damage your enamel.
What can I do to whiten my smile if I have sensitive teeth?
Look for formulas designed to reduce or eliminate whitening-based sensitivity. HiSmile is a good option, since it uses PAP+ rather than peroxide.
How do I prepare my teeth for whitening?
You need to clean and dry them. For cleaning, use a toothbrush with just water or fluoride-free toothpaste, then floss. To dry them, suck air between your teeth until they are no longer wet from your saliva.
Are custom trays better than universal ones?
Both can get the job done, but the appeal of custom trays is that they perfectly fit your teeth. This ensures a more even spread of gel while keeping it off the gums.
How often can I whiten my teeth?
It depends on the kit you choose. Always follow the directions included with your whitening product.
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