They say the best things in life are free. We’d say the best things in life stain your teeth! Coffee, tea, berries, chocolate — all of these can make their mark on your smile. Luckily, you have some tools to fight back.
Natural teeth whitening products open the pores and lift out set-in stains, and they do it without strictly relying on harsh chemicals. But with so many natural dental products out there, how can you decide on just one? We’ve got you covered. Here are three natural teeth whitening products we are confident are worth your time and money.
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What Qualifies as a Natural Whitening Product?
“Natural” has become something of a buzzword in the beauty and healthcare industries. But what, exactly, does natural mean?
It’s a tough definition to pin down. Many things come from nature, but that doesn’t mean you want them in your teeth whitening kit. Then there are common dental product ingredients that are technically natural, but harsher than many people want to use on their enamel.
To build our list of natural teeth-whitening treatments, we looked for products that combined natural ingredients with traditional ones, used gentler whitening agents, or truly went all-natural. We also focused on features that often overlap with natural products — gluten-free, cruelty-free, and vegan products feature heavily on this list.
Of course, there is a reason companies tend to rely on traditional ingredients: they work. But does this mean skipping or reducing them will result in an inferior product? It can, but we wouldn’t recommend ineffective products. To make this list, a whitening kit has to have plenty of customers singing its praises.
#1 Truly All Natural: Lumineux Oral Essentials Teeth Whitening Strips
Not everyone is comfortable with a blend of natural and traditional whitening ingredients. Sometimes, you need to go all-natural all the way. Lumineux Oral Essentials Teeth Whitening Strips are the only product we found that takes this approach without sacrificing results.
Lumineux uses a blend of dead sea salt, coconut oil, and essential oils to gently break up stains in the enamel and lift them out. It contains just one ingredient that isn’t classified as all-natural: carbomer, the adhesive that sticks the strips to your teeth. Despite skipping the peroxide, Lumineux strips get very close to the same results other products deliver.
Lumineux Oral Essentials Teeth Whitening Strips Advantages
- Instead of the harsher peroxide, Lumineux uses essential oils to pull stains out of the enamel.
- The formula is so gentle that you can use the strips daily. Whitening kits that use peroxide are too potent for long-term everyday use.
- Customers report zero tooth sensitivity from these strips.
Lumineux Oral Essentials Teeth Whitening Strips Disadvantages
- The bottom strip is a bit small for some customers.
- The whitening effect isn’t quite as powerful as with peroxide-based formulas.
#2 A Great Balance: BURST Teeth Whitening Strips With Coconut Oil
BURST isn’t all-natural, but it does strike a nice balance between traditional and natural ingredients. Their business model relies on feedback from BURST Ambassadors — U.S.-based dental professionals who talk to their patients, find out what products they need, and let BURST know. Then, if there is enough of a demand, BURST puts them into production.
One need that came up a lot? A desire for more natural products. That’s why BURST combines hydrogen peroxide with coconut oil in their whitening strips. This helps strengthen the teeth and makes the formula gentler, without sacrificing the quality of your results.
BURST Advantages
- They blend natural and traditional ingredients to create a highly effective, yet gentle formula.
- You only need to wear them for 10-15 minutes a day, while some other whitening kits require half an hour or more.
- Their subscribe and save feature brings the cost down to just $1 per whitening session.
BURST Disadvantages
- Their adhesive isn’t very strong, so the strips can slip.
- Since it contains hydrogen peroxide, the formula can burn the gums.
#3 Designed for Vegans: Cali White
When you come across a product that feels like it were tailor-made for you, it feels amazing. If you are vegan, Cali White is that kind of product. While not all-natural, it’s almost there, and it avoids animal-derived products, opting for cruelty-free ingredients and processes.
Cali White is meant to deliver Hollywood smiles. It pairs their whitening formula with an LED light to boost results and get your teeth as bright white as possible. And due to its more natural and gentle approach, it causes minimal sensitivity.
Cali White Advantages
- Their formula leans natural and uses a gentler type of peroxide than most whitening products.
- It comes with a 100-day refund policy.
- You can use it for as little as 10 minutes per day, while some other kits require half an hour or more.
Cali White Disadvantages
- If you use the customizable tray, you cannot attach the LED light.
- Customer reviews suggest that the results aren’t as consistent as with other products.
Our Recommendation
Choose Lumineux Oral Essentials Teeth Whitening Strips if…
You want to go as natural as possible with your teeth whitening journey.
Choose BURST Teeth Whitening Strips With Coconut Oil if…
You want the most affordable option and don’t mind a blend of traditional and natural ingredients.
What About Professional Whitening Treatments?
Believe it or not, people have been whitening their teeth for thousands of years. However, whitening as we think of it today is new — the first professional treatments were developed in the 1980s, and at-home kits weren’t around until the turn of the millennium.
Professional whitening is the gold standard for brighter smiles. However, if you are seeking a natural approach, it probably isn’t the best option for you. Some dentists offer it, but because there are no regulated materials in natural whitening products, you get the same thing from the dentist that you would on store shelves. It isn’t like traditional formulas where the peroxide concentration can be triple what you’d find in DIY kits.
So, for all-natural whitening products, professional treatments don’t have much of an advantage over at-home ones. Professional whitening costs hundreds of dollars more than any kit on this list, plus they require you to carve hours out of your schedule for a single session. The one benefit might be the level of customization a dentist can deliver, but this is pretty minimal with natural products.
How to Evaluate Natural Teeth Whitening Systems
The only way to truly know if a teeth-whitening product is right for you is to try it out. However, there are key factors you can examine as you do your research to zero in on the right fit. While evaluating the products in this guide, we focused on effectiveness, affordability, quality of ingredients, convenience, and comfort.
Effectiveness
If a teeth whitening product doesn’t actually brighten your smile, it’s a waste of money. You can’t try before you buy — and full disclosure, we did not personally use every product on this list — but if you look at what customers are saying, as well as their before and after photos, you can get a solid sense of a product’s effectiveness.
Affordability
Whether your budget is large or small, you still have a limit on what you can spend to whiten your teeth. Determine your price range, then look for products that fit. No matter your limit, there are great natural whitening products out there for you.
Quality of Ingredients
Ingredients matter in all types of whitening products; if a company doesn’t disclose theirs, don’t buy. However, ingredients are even more important when evaluating all-natural whitening kits. You need to be sure that a majority of their ingredients are healthy, safe, and natural.
Convenience
Some whitening products can be slightly complicated, especially if you need to measure out gel or customize a tray for your teeth. Others require little more than cleaning and drying your teeth before applying a whitening strip. Know how much time you’re willing to spend and how many extra steps you can add to your routine before you purchase a teeth-whitening treatment.
Comfort
Whitening products can feel a little awkward, but they shouldn’t cause you extreme discomfort. Look at things like flavor, texture, and tray size before you buy. This will help you avoid products that might leave you dreading your whitening sessions.
When Should You Avoid Teeth Whitening?
Natural teeth whitening products are, overall, some of the gentlest options you can choose. However, some people simply aren’t well-suited for whitening treatment, including all-natural kits. Do not use natural teeth whitening kits without approval from your dentist if you have:
- An allergy to other teeth whitening products.
- Untreated tooth decay or gum disease.
- Chips or cracks in your teeth.
- A fixed appliance on the front of your teeth.
- Cosmetic or restorative dentistry.
- Discoloration that cannot be whitened with a kit.
If any of the above apply to you, speak to your dentist before buying.
Combining Teeth Whitening With Other Treatments
For some, whitening is the last step to becoming fully confident in their smile. Others might want a little more tweaking. If you fall into the latter category, you might be wondering if you can use other dental treatments with whitening products.
You sure can. Just not in every case. Not all cosmetic corrections pair well with teeth whitening, but one that does is clear aligner therapy. Some clear aligner companies even include whitening in their treatment bundles. If you’re dreaming of a whiter and straighter smile, you might consider using an online clear aligner service like Byte or AlignerCo.
Final Thoughts
At-home whitening products make enhancing your smile convenient, and natural formulas make it gentler on your teeth and gums. If you live a natural lifestyle and want a whiter smile, you have plenty of products to choose from. We are confident that if you select any of the six above, you’ll love your results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are natural teeth whitening products safe?
Yes! While we always urge you to research before you buy and purchase from reputable retailers, natural teeth whitening products are gentle and safe to use.
Can I use whitening toothpaste too?
Clear this with your dentist first. It should be safe, but you might be better off with toothpaste for sensitive teeth.
How do the active ingredients in natural whitening products work?
They get into the pores of the enamel and break stains into smaller molecules, then lift them out of the teeth.
Should I see my dentist before whitening my teeth?
It isn’t a must but it is a good idea. Your dentist will let you know if you’re a good candidate for whitening treatment and remove the plaque and tartar from your teeth, ensuring more even results.
How long should I expect my results to last?
This varies between products and customers. Factors that can impact the duration of your results include your habits and genetics.
What can I do to keep my teeth whiter for longer?
Some tips that might help are:
- Use a straw when drinking pigmented beverages.
- Eat fewer staining foods.
- Rinse your mouth with water after meals.
- Brush twice per day, and floss once per day.
- Use a whitening toothpaste.
- Don’t smoke.
If I experience sensitivity, will it last forever?
No. While you’re less likely to experience sensitivity with natural whitening products, it’s still possible. But it should go away once you are done whitening your teeth.
Can I whiten and straighten my teeth at the same time?
With aligners, yes. With braces, only if they’re situated behind your teeth and your doctor approves.
Will natural whitening products cause white spots on my teeth?
All whitening products can, but it is less likely with natural ones since they don’t dehydrate the teeth as much as peroxide does. No matter what, these white spots are temporary.
Do natural teeth-whitening products foam?
If they contain peroxide, they might. Peroxide foams when it comes into contact with saliva.
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