How to Brighten Your Teeth with a Whitening Pen

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Remedy yellow teeth with a simple daily application

Co-authored by Shayne Guffey, DMD and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: January 21, 2025 References

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• Prepping Your Teeth
|
• Applying the Product
|
• Warnings

|Show more |Show less

Despite what magazines and movies might lead you to believe, countless people deal with yellow teeth on a daily basis. While laser-whitening treatments and other professional procedures are expensive and inaccessible to many people, whitening pens offer an affordable option to those looking to brighten their teeth at home. Start by brushing and flossing your teeth, then brush on the whitening product using short, vertical strokes. Keep your lips pulled back from your teeth for 1 minute, and rinse with warm water. Keep using this tool for at least a week to see if you notice any changes!

Things You Should Know

• Brush your teeth for 2 minutes, then floss between each tooth to prepare.
• Open your lips and clench your teeth. Apply the product in 3-5 short, downward strokes on each tooth.
• Hold your mouth open for 1 minute, then rinse with warm water. Use the whitening pen once a day for at least a week.

Steps

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Prepping Your Teeth

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1. 
   1
   Select a whitening product that is convenient for you. Familiarize yourself with ingredients that are in different whitening pens. While almost all products include peroxide, note that other pens require you to use teeth trays to set the whitening agent in place. Try choosing a product that best fits into your routine.

   • Although they’re known to work slower than whitening pens, whitening strips are also an affordable option.

   Warning: Check the pen’s label to see if you can use it while pregnant or nursing.
2. 
   2
   Brush your teeth to ensure that they’re clean. Take 2 minutes to fully clean your teeth before applying any whitening product. Take extra care to brush the front surface of your teeth, as this is where the whitening pen will go. To develop a consistent routine, choose to use your whitening pen in the morning or evening so you can apply it right after you brush your teeth.

   • It often works well to use the pen after you're done eating for the day before you go to bed.
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3. 
   3
   Floss your teeth to clean them more thoroughly. Make sure that your teeth are completely clean when you go to apply the whitening product. Use a strand of floss that’s long enough to wrap around both index fingers several times, creating a straight length of floss that’s at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) long. Work your way between all of your teeth, prioritizing the gum line as you go.

   • If you don’t want to use regular floss, try using plastic flossers instead.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Applying the Product

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1. 
   1
   Open your mouth with your lips stretched away from your teeth. Spread your lips apart into a toothy smile with both your upper and lower teeth visible, as well as your gum lines. Hold this position whenever you use the whitening pen, as you don’t want your lips to move the product around.

   • Make sure your teeth are as dry as possible before applying the whitening product.
   • Whenever you whiten your teeth, be sure to work in front of a mirror.
2. 
   2
   Brush on the product in short, vertical strokes along the surface of each tooth. Remove or unscrew the cap from the whitening pen to access the brush portion. Don’t worry about adding any product to the tip, as the bristle will already be coated in whitening formula. Apply the whitening product in short, vertical strokes, working from the top of the tooth to the bottom. Aim to paint over each tooth 3-5 times with the applicator.

   • Avoid getting any of the whitening product on your gums.
   • Twist the pen if the tip doesn’t seem to have any product on it.

   Tip: Check the packaging to see if you need to shake the pen before using it.
3. 
   3
   Hold your mouth in place for 1 minute to set the product. Keep your lips pulled back and teeth visible for 1 minute after you finish applying the pen. Set a timer or count to 60 while you keep your mouth in this position. Try not to relax your mouth until you’ve waited for this amount of time.

   • As you wait, try to avoid swallowing the serum.
   • Leaving the solution on for 20-30 minutes and avoiding activities that can dislodge the whitener from your teeth can also help the success of treatment.
4. 
   4
   Rinse out the whitening product with warm water. Spit out as much of the whitening agent as you can, then swish some warm water around your teeth to dislodge any excess product. Continue spitting until there’s no longer any whitener on your teeth.

   • If you think you’re able to spit out all of the product, don’t worry about swishing or gargling.
5. 
   5
   Keep applying the product daily for at least 1 week. Read the instructions on your specific whitening pen to figure out when you’ll start seeing results. Continue using the pen once a day, directly after you brush and floss your teeth. When you’re not using the pen, keep it stored in a cool, dry place.

   • Apply the product twice daily if the instructions allow.
   • Some products might not show results right away. Be patient, and continue using the pen for several weeks before deciding if it works or not. That said, when used daily over a 7-10 day period, most pens will show visible results.
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Join the Discussion...

How can I whiten my teeth at home? Looking for DIY tips

WikiLionDiver428

I'm not always the best at remembering to brush and floss, but I swear my teeth have gotten more yellow in the past couple of months and now I hate how they look. I really would love to make my teeth pearly white in the next couple of weeks before this big event I have. Does anyone know of quick ways to brighten my smile when I'm crunched for time?

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Barbie Ritzman
Beauty & Skincare Specialist

Before the event, make sure to cut back on coffee, red wine, and dark berries. If you must consume these, drinking water afterward helps wash away the stains they cause before they set into the tooth enamel. I also recommend eating apples, carrots, and celery as they help scrub stains and promote saliva production, which naturally cleans teeth.

To actively whiten your teeth, you can try a few things:
1. Mix baking soda with water to create a paste. Brush gently for 1-2 minutes, then rinse. Do this 2-3 times a week to remove surface stains.
2. Dilute 3% hydrogen peroxide with equal parts water. Swish for 30 seconds, then spit it out. You can try this a few times a week, but don’t swallow the hydrogen peroxide or overdo it, as this can irritate gums.
3. Swish a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth for 10-15 minutes, then spit it out in the trash.

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Tu Anh Vu, DMD
Board Certified Dentist

Teeth whitening strips are generally very safe for patients. I recommend the Crest Whitestrips, which are affordable, safe, and can make your teeth a few shades lighter. Make sure to brush your teeth first before using the strips so that the hydrogen peroxide can penetrate to the enamel better, and avoid eating anything an hour after the treatment for the best effects. You can initially use these strips to get the shade you desire and then use them again the next month as a refresher to maintain the shade.

Whitening strips are not recommended for people with braces or restorative work, such as fillings, veneers, crowns, or dentures. Sometimes the strips can cause sensitivity in gums or teeth, and if that's the case, I would advise to stop using them.

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Warnings

• If you have a history of dental issues (e.g., gum disease), don’t use whitening pens.
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• Don’t use whitening pens if your teeth hurt after you apply the product.
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