We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. What to Buy Oral & Dental Products The 8 Best Whitening Mouthwashes for a Healthy, Bright Smile Dentists recommend the best whitening rinses that won’t leave your teeth feeling sensitive or dry By Kayla Blanton Kayla Blanton Kayla is a freelance writer who covers health, nutrition, and lifestyle for Prevention, Everyday Health, People, and more. She's always open to conversations about fueling up with flavorful dishes, busting beauty standards, and finding new, gentle ways to care for our bodies. She thinks therapy is for everyone, and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Ohio University with specializations in women, gender, and sexuality studies and public health. She's a born-and-raised midwesterner living in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and ornery tabby cat. health's editorial guidelines Updated on June 10, 2024 Medically reviewed by Brian T. Luong, DMD Medically reviewed by Brian T. Luong, DMD Brian T. Luong, DMD, is an orthodontist at Anaheim Hills Orthodontics and Santa Ana Orthodontics and Chief Dental Officer at Become Aligners. learn more Fact checked by Richard Scherr Fact checked by Richard Scherr Rich Scherr is an updates strategist and fact checker for Health.com. He is a seasoned journalist and editor with over two decades of experience, he has held several leadership roles at major publications. health's fact checking process In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews How We Selected the Best Whitening Mouthwashes The Experts What to Know About Whitening Mouthwashes Your Questions, Answered Who We Are Health 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. If You're Looking for the Best Teeth Whitener To get optimal teeth whitening results, it’s best not to rely on a whitening mouthwash alone but to use it with whitening toothpaste and/or whitening products like 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. Our Top Picks Best Overall: SALE Colgate Whitening Mouthwash at Amazon $23 $19 Jump to Review Best Budget: ACT Anticavity + Whitening Mouthwash at Amazon $7 Jump to Review Best Dentist-Approved: Crest 3D White Rinse at Amazon $25 Jump to Review Best for Sensitive Teeth: Popwhite Whitening Toner Oral Rinse at Walmart $20 Jump to Review Best for Bad Breath: TheraBreath Whitening Mouthwash at Amazon $18 Jump to Review Best Alcohol-Free: SALE Lumineux Whitening Mouthwash at Amazon $22 $16 Jump to Review Best with Fluoride: Crest 3D White Luxe Diamond Strong at Amazon $30 Jump to Review Best Pre-Rinse: Supersmile Whitening Pre-Rinse at Amazon $20 Jump to Review Best Overall Colgate Whitening Mouthwash PHOTO: Amazon $23 $19 at Amazon $29 $19 at Walmart Why We Like It Colgate Optic White Whitening Mouthwash whitens with hydrogen peroxide and also contains stain-preventive technology that seals your teeth over time, prohibiting new soilers from clinging and darkening teeth. Dr. Katz recommends this tried-and-true mouthwash for its effective ingredients and lack of alcohol, meaning it won’t leave your mouth stinging after every use. We love that this rinse is widely available in most drugstores and online retailers. It’s also affordable, making it easy to use consistently for lasting results. Remember that frequent use may heighten gum or teeth sensitivity if you’re prone to these issues. Product Details Active Ingredients: 2% hydrogen peroxideSize: 32 fluid ouncesFlavor: Icy Fresh MintAlcohol-free: Yes Best Budget ACT Anticavity + Whitening Mouthwash PHOTO: Amazon $7 at Amazon $6 at Target $9 at Walgreens Why We Like It If you’re looking for a versatile mouthwash that maintains tooth health, whitens, and prevents and treats bad breath, ACT Whitening+Anticavity mouthwash is the one to go for. The fact that it’s under $10 and available at most grocery stores is a bonus. The brand promises a whiter smile after four days of consistent swishing, which won’t come with any burning because the formula is alcohol-free. Product Details Active Ingredients: .02% sodium fluoride, hydrogen peroxideSize: 16.9 fluid ouncesFlavor: Gentle MintAlcohol-free: Yes Best Dentist-Approved Crest 3D White Rinse PHOTO: Amazon $25 at Amazon $26 at Walmart It’s safe to say Crest, the maker of the popular whitening strips, knows a thing or two about lightening tooth stains. Crest 3D White Multi-Care Whitening Rinse contains the same ingredients as the best-selling teeth-whitening strips and works well in tandem with them to maintain pearly whites between uses. Dr. Katz recommends this as a go-to whitening mouthwash because it prevents future stains and is alcohol-free. Its gentle foaming action leaves teeth feeling clean and looking whiter with the fast-acting grime fighter, hydrogen peroxide. Product Details Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxideSize: 32 fluid ouncesFlavor: Fresh MintAlcohol-free: Yes Best for Sensitive Teeth Popwhite Whitening Toner Oral Rinse PHOTO: Macy's $20 at Walmart $17 at Macy's View on Popwhitesmile.com Why We Like It Like purple shampoo brightens blonde hair, Popwhite Whitening Toner Oral Rinse uses the simplicity of color theory to cancel out yellow teeth stains. That means, yes, it’s purple. But it doesn’t contain any harsh ingredients that can cause or worsen sensitivity—in fact, the formula is vegan. The rinse also contains vitamin C and peppermint and coconut oils, which give it both a great taste and moisturizing properties so that it won’t dry out your mouth. It’s worth noting that the purple hue of the rinse may make a mess of your sink, so be prepared to rinse the sink after use. Product Details Active Ingredients: Glycerin, red and blue coloring, coconut oilSize: 16.9 fluid ouncesFlavor: MintAlcohol-free: Yes Best for Bad Breath TheraBreath Whitening Mouthwash PHOTO: Target $18 at Amazon $9 at Target $9 at Walgreens Why We Like It If you’re looking for a whitening mouthwash that will also stop bad breath in its tracks, you'll want to give Crest Breath Bacteria Blast Whitening Mouthwash a try. Although it’s primarily intended to prevent bad breath, the active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide, which is known for its whitening superpowers. The foaming formula lifts stains while also killing all those nasty bacteria that can lead to stinky breath, making it a great option to use every night before bedtime. Product Details Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxideSize: 16 fluid ouncesFlavor: Icy Cool MintAlcohol-free: No Best Alcohol-Free Lumineux Whitening Mouthwash PHOTO: Target $22 $16 at Amazon $8 at Target $20 $8 at Walmart Why We Like It Lumineux Whitening Mouthwash is a dentist-formulated product that’s clinically proven to deliver results. It also protects tooth enamel from long-term damage through harsh peroxides and alcohols. The natural ingredients in this mouthwash break down stains, leaving behind a whiter smile. The essential oils also make for a great-tasting rinse that doesn’t leave your mouth feeling on fire like those that contain alcohol. Product Details Active Ingredients: Coconut oil, lemon peel oil, sage oil, Dead Sea saltSize: 16 fluid ouncesFlavor: MintAlcohol-free: Yes Best with Fluoride Crest 3D White Luxe Diamond Strong PHOTO: Amazon $30 at Amazon $8 at Target $9 at Walgreens Why We Like It If you’re a fan of the Crest 3D White formula but are looking for fluoride-fueled cavity prevention as well, Crest 3D White Luxe Diamond Strong Rinse offers the best of both worlds. This multi-tasking rinse eliminates the need for multiple mouthwashes. The alcohol-free formula whitens teeth with hydrogen peroxide and removes bad breath. After use, it leaves the mouth feeling squeaky clean but not overly dry. Be aware that this mouthwash contains fluoride and whitens with hydrogen peroxide, which might be too harsh for people with sensitive teeth and gums. Product Details Active Ingredients: .0219% sodium fluoride, hydrogen peroxideSize: 16 fluid ouncesFlavor: Clean mintAlcohol-free: Yes Best Pre-Rinse Supersmile Whitening Pre-Rinse PHOTO: Amazon $20 at Amazon $20 at Dermstore $10 at Ulta Why We Like It Supersmile Whitening Pre-Rinse is one of only a few whitening pre-rinses on the market. Rinsing before brushing is a surefire way to ensure you don’t forget to swish. Plus, it helps break up stains and eliminate bacteria before you put your germ-harboring toothbrush into your mouth. It also eliminates plaque and kills gingivitis-causing bacteria while whitening at the same time. It’s worth mentioning that this formula whitens with hydrogen peroxide, so if you pair it with other peroxide-based products, it might be too harsh. Product Details Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxideSize: 16 fluid ouncesFlavor: MintAlcohol-free: Yes 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. 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 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. 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, but it doesn’t contain enough oxidizing power to whiten teeth. Who We Are Kayla Blanton is a writer for Health, covering health, nutrition, lifestyle, and beauty. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism and a specialization in public health and women, gender, and sexuality studies. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit