Brighten & Whiten Your Smile with These 8 Dentist-Recommended Whitening Mouthwashes (2024)

• What to Buy

Dedicated coffee and tea drinkers understand the struggle of maintaining a bright smile. Even if you don’t have a regular morning brew, staining happens so easily. Whitening strips and toothpastes can do some serious heavy lifting to keep your teeth white, but a good whitening mouthwash is an often-underrated and forgotten sidekick.

A good whitening mouthwash lightens hard-to-reach cracks and crevices while simultaneously killing bad breath bacteria and, in some cases, even preventing cavities. Harold Katz, DDS, founder of TheraBreath, says mouthwashes contain oxidizing agents to whiten teeth—usually in the form of hydrogen peroxide or, more recently, gentle enzymes. These ingredients lighten staining by reflecting less light. To find a rinse that works for you, you must decide which ingredients you’re comfortable using and how multi-functional you’d like your formula to be.

To select the top mouthwashes to brighten your smile, we asked experts what to look for in a whitening mouthwash. We also included mouthwashes that our experts specifically recommended. You’ll find whitening mouthwashes covering all oral hygiene needs in this comprehensive list. A dentist from our medical expert board also reviewed this article for medical and scientific accuracy.

Our Top Picks

How We Selected the Best Whitening Mouthwashes

To find the best whitening mouthwashes, we spoke with dentists to see which products and active ingredients they recommend. We also asked if they have any specific products the recommend and made sure to include those on our list. Once we had completed our interviews with experts, we conducted thorough product research to narrow down the best whitening mouthwashes with safe ingredients and minimal side effects.

Where We Stand

Based on expert recommendations and our research, we chose Colgate Optic White Whitening Mouthwash as our overall best whitening mouthwash. It’s affordable, easy to find in stores and online, and most importantly, extremely effective. We also appreciate that the mouthwash is alcohol-free. We’ll continue to keep you posted on any new whitening mouthwashes that deserve a spot on this list.

The Experts

• Harold Katz, DDS, founder of TheraBreath
• Lior Tamir, DDS, cosmetic and reconstructive dentist based in Silicon Valley

What to Know About Whitening Mouthwashes

• Mouthwash vs. Toothpaste vs. Strips: To get optimal teeth whitening results, it’s best not to rely on a whitening mouthwash alone but to use it in tandem with whitening toothpaste and/or whitening strips. Dr. Katz says strips work best, followed by toothpaste, then whitening mouthwashes. This is because strips are more concentrated and are applied directly to the surface of your teeth for a long period of time. Toothpaste may also contain ingredients that mechanically remove stains, whereas rinses only work through oxidation (lightening) and stain prevention.
• Ingredients: Traditional whitening rinses use an oxidation agent like hydrogen peroxide to create free radicals, which then attach to present stain molecules and cover dark pigmentation, explains Dr. Katz. These agents create a whitening effect by reflecting less light. Other oxidation agents include natural enzymes, charcoal, and potent essential oils.
• Side Effects: Overusing any hydrogen peroxide product may cause tooth and gum sensitivity, explains Dr. Katz, so it’s imperative to follow the directions on the package. Rinses with alcohol may also cause dry mouth.

Your Questions, Answered

Does whitening mouthwash work?

Dr. Tamir says that while whitening mouthwashes are not the most effective way to get your teeth sparkly white, they do work. Professional bleaching and white strips expose teeth to the active agent, which breaks up stains. Whitening mouthwashes provide a much more brief exposure, but with consistent use in tandem with other products like strips and toothpastes, they certainly help.

Is whitening mouthwash safe for your gums and teeth?

Because most whitening mouthwashes do not contain very concentrated amounts of active ingredients, it doesn’t typically harm the soft tissue of the gums, explains Dr. Tamir.

How often should you use whitening mouthwash?

It’s crucial to follow the instructions provided on any given mouthwash label. Most recommend once or twice daily use.

Can you use hydrogen peroxide as a whitening mouthwash?

Dr. Katz explains that household hydrogen peroxide, which is typically used at a 3% concentration, is commonly used as an antiseptic, butit doesn’t contain enough oxidizing power to whiten teeth.

Who We Are

Kayla Blanton is a freelance writer with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a specialization in public health and women, gender, and sexuality studies. She's covered health, nutrition, lifestyle, and beauty at various outlets for five years.