LED lights are continuing to grow in popularity and can be found in many everyday technologies including TV’s, traffic lights and… teeth whitening?


Yes, LED lights have even made their way into the teeth whitening world. Today LED lights are one of the fastest growing types of teeth whitening.


Teeth whitening is one of the most highly requested dental treatments and it’s easy to see why. Everywhere we look - magazines, social media, TV - are celebrities with bright, white teeth.


For these reasons, teeth whitening continues to grow in popularity along with experimental methods and at-home alternatives, like LED teeth whitening lights.


These small, blue light sources are said to speed up the whitening process and are safe enough to be used at home. Most LED whitening lights are paired with an over-the-counter whitening kit.


So let’s jump right in. Why are LED whitening lights all the rage and, more importantly, do they really work?

Summary of the Top 6 Best LED Teeth Whitening Kits:

 

[azonpress_tables id=”2″]

Top 6 Best LED Teeth Whitening Kits for 2020

1. AuraGlow LED Teeth Whitening Kit

Our top pick for a mid-price range LED kit would have to be the AURAGLOW Whitening Kit, with not 1, but 5 led lights that are meant to speed up the lightening process.


Their easy to use system comes with batteries and there are no unnecessary wires. However unlike some of our higher end brands, they recommend that you use their system for 30 minutes each use, compared to some other over the counter LED systems that could be done in less than 10 minutes.


How to Use:

Start by rinsing the mouth tray with warm water and attach it to the LED light. Fill the front surface of the mouth tray both the top and bottom with 0.5 ml of gel, be sure not to over fill. 


Insert the light with tray into your mouth and press the power button, you will need to press the button 3x times as it is only set to stay on for 10 minutes at a time and they recommend you doing it in 30 minutes intervals.

Pros

  • Mouth try requires no molding or boiling to use
  • LED Light that speeds up the process of whitening
  • Ideal for sensitive teeth
  • Best Mid-Range LED Light System
  • Enamel safe

Cons

  • A little longer use than some other LED Whitening Kits no the market

2. All-in-One At-Home Teeth LED Teeth Whitening Kit (Without Sensitivity)

On the higher end of our LED whitening systems, Snow promises to whiten your teeth in 10 minutes.


Their easy to use and effective system claims to have all the rage with Hollywood’s celebrities and most people start to see visible results in as little as 3 days, although it is recommended to continue using until you achieve desired resulted. Snow Teeth Whitening Kit uses no harmful chemicals and does not test on animals.


They also get bonus points for donating a portion of their proceeds to help out children with dental care that normally couldn’t afford it.


How to Use:

Start by brushing your teeth. Apply serum to your teeth, place LED mouth guard in your mouth and let it do it’s magic for 10-30 minutes. Rinse your mouth and mouth guard once finished.

Pros

  • Fast and easy to use
  • Enamel safe
  • Quicker whitening results than others

Cons

  • More expensive than some other LED teeth whitening options

3. GLO Brilliant Personal LED Teeth Whitening Device

Also on the higher end of our LED Teeth Whitening Kits, we have the GLO Brilliant Personal Teeth Whitening Kit. This kit provides a patented G.L.O ( Guide Light Optics) Technology that combines gentle warming heat and LED lights with their specially formulated hydrogen peroxide whitening gel, to shorten the time you will need to whiten your teeth with also protecting your teeth sensitivity, unlike other LED light kits that suggest using for 30 minutes, with GLO Brilliants


Personal LED Kit with warming action, whitening time is cut down to 8 minutes a day for only 5 days in a row.


For people on the go that want to shorten their teeth whitening time this kit is highly recommended.


GLO Brilliants Personal LED Kit promises to get your smile 5 shades whiter in only 5 days.


How to Use:

Start with a fully charged GLO Control and place it around your neck. Plug in mouthpiece into GLO control. Start by applying Lip Care to lips.


Now use the GLO whitening gel applicator, squeeze small pea sized amount off and spread evenly over teeth.


Press the GLO button on the mouthpiece and place in mouth over the recently applied gel. Mouthpiece will turn off after 8 minutes.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Faster results with heat action than just LED systems alone
  • Ideal for people with sensitive teeth
  • Enamel safe

Cons

  • On the pricier side

4. Cali White Vegan LED Teeth Whitening Kit

For those of you looking to whitening your teeth without the use of hydrogen peroxide than the Cali White Vegan Teeth Whitening Kit is right for you.


Rather than the use of hydrogen peroxide their system is based on a baking soda and cranberry seed oil formula that claims to whiten your teeth 2-8 shades in just 7 days.


This LED whitening system is great for those with sensitive teeth or for those not looking to use chemicals. Also their product is not tested on animals.


How to Use:

Start by adding the whitening gel to mouth tray using syringe applicator. Then insert the whitening tray and activate whitening light. Leave on for 10-30 minutes. 


Rinse away any existing gel when finished and repeat for 7-10 days for best results.

Pros

  • Budget friendly
  • Easy to use, wireless system
  • Good for sensitive teeth
  • Enamel safe

Cons

  • Not as affective as others using peroxide

5. ActiveWow LED Teeth Whitening Kit

Unlike most of our other LED combo kits that use a gel, that some people can find messy, CREST ActiveWow system uses their award winning whitening stripes in combo with an LED light system.


This is a 10 day system that combines both whitening stripes and the affective use of a light that Crest claims to give you lasting results that last up to 36 months.


How to Use:

Start by brushing your teeth and applying Crest Whitening Strips on for 60 minutes, at the end of 60 minutes place the mouth guard light in for an extra 10 minutes before removing your strips.

Pros

  • No messy gel applicators
  • Enamel Safe
  • Easy to use, wireless system

Cons

  • Longer usage time than other LED methods

6. 16X LED VS1 Professional Teeth Whitening Kit Without Sensitivity

For those of you looking for a budget friendly yet effective LED teeth whitening system, look no further than the VS1 Teeth Whitening Kit.


The strongest light system on the market with not 1, not 5, but 16 LED lights. Unlike other models we have reviewed, VS1 system does not run with batteries, but off the power of your mobile phone or other device.


So no need to worry about changing batteries or whether or not your device is charged when you go to use it.


How to Use: Start by brushing your teeth, once your teeth are clean you can apply the whitening gel pen on your teeth, try to avoid getting the gel on your lips and gums.


Once the gel is completely applied, plug the LED light into your device of choice and wait 10 minutes. When finished rinse your mouth and mouthguard. Repeat several times a week, or until you reach your desired whiteness.

Pros

  • Easy to Use
  • Enamel Safe
  • Budget Friendly

Cons

  • Have to own a smart mobile device for it to work

In conclusion:


Always read (and re-read!) the products instructions for a safe whitening experience.


Do your research to avoid purchasing LED whitening systems with harmful chemicals and ingredients.


You also want to try and find a LED teeth whitening kit with a blue light teeth whitening system.


Take care of your teeth post-treatment to maximize your results and make your teeth whiter for longer.


If you’re wanting a whiter smile without breaking the bank, LED whitening systems are a great alternative to in-office whitening and a major step up from whitening toothpastes and rinses!


And as with most dental treatments, check with your dentist before application. They can check your teeth and gums to make sure they are in okay to withstand the at home teeth whitening. They may also be able to recommend products best suited for your teeth.

LED Teeth Whitening Kits

How Does LED Whitening Work?

A light emitting Dioxide, also known as an LED, is a source that emits light when currents run through it.


In theory, when these lights come into contact with the whitening agents in a whitening solution, they ‘activate’ them and speed up the whitening process.


In other words, LED lights act as a catalyst for the whitening solution.


Are LED Lights safe


In almost all cases, LED lights are safe, which is why they are able to be sold in over the counter whitening kits.


Most LED light sources consist of a group of tiny lights that, together, produce large amounts of light. So not only do LED lights not get hot, they also can’t burn out. 


However, you should always read the instruction of the blue led light system you buy and make sure you don't over use it. To ensure safe usage. 


UV vs LED Lights

 

There has been an ongoing debate concerning the effectiveness of using LED light for teeth whitening. In order to understand fully, we need to break down the difference between an LED and UV light.


Some professionals claim that LED lights aren’t strong enough to produce effective whitening effects. So what light is strong enough?


Ultraviolet, or UV rays, are the reason we wear sunscreen. This is the type of radiation emitted from the sun, the same light used in tanning beds and is proven to speed up the activation of hydrogen peroxide based products - like whitening solutions.


UV lighting for teeth whitening is FDA approved but can only be used and administered by your dentist. This is a process known as laser whitening, and is not the same as LED teeth whitening.


The laser light of the laser treatment stimulates the whitening process and provides you with faster results in fewer treatments than at home varieties.


Therefore, the argument stands that LED teeth whitening is, in so many words, a gimmick.


Critics argue that because blue-light products are cheap to produce, teeth whitening companies will throw them into over the counter whitening kits to increase their profit.


However, there are accounts of users seeing a result (if only slight) when performing a teeth whitening treatment that utilizes an LED light.


In fact, in a test conducted by the Open Dentistry Journal, it was concluded that light does, in fact, speed up the whitening process.

 

 So while the jury is still out on the true effectiveness of these specific LED lights, the good news is it can’t hurt to try!

How to Use an LED Light for Teeth Whitening

The first thing to note about LED teeth whitening is that the LED light is not effective on its own. The light speeds up the process by activating the whitening agents (such as hydrogen peroxide) in the whitening gel.


It will not produce a whitening effect when used without additional whitening agents.

So while it’s semi-useless on its own, using an LED light could effectively mean less treatments are needed to attain whiter results.


Besure to pair your blue light teeth whitening system with a whitening gel, which all of them are sold with. Also, you are able to buy more whitening gel when yours runs out and keep the light. It will work with other teeth whitening gels as well.


Pre-Treatment


Most LED teeth whitening includes the use of a whitening gel or whitening strips, both of which can be slightly abrasive or cause sensitivity in the teeth. For these reasons, it’s important to implement certain pre-treatment practices.


Brush Your Teeth - Always brush your teeth before beginning any teeth whitening treatment. For starters, your teeth will be too sensitive to brush immediately after most treatments.

In addition, brushing your teeth helps to remove excess plaque and other substances that can prevent the whitening solution from reaching your enamel.


Use a Sensitive Toothpastes - While brushing your teeth, it’s a good idea to use a sensitive toothpaste to prep your teeth for the whitening treatment. While everyone will experience different levels of sensitivity based on their teeth and dental history, it can never hurt to be prepared and cautious. It is also a good idea to use a mouthwash that is designed for sensitive teeth as well. 


Practice/Fit Your Mouth Tray - If you are using a whitening kit that includes whitening trays, it’s important to practice fitting them over your teeth prior to filling them with the whitening gel.

Most whitening trays will be slightly customizable so you can ensure that you are getting the best fit possible on your teeth. A well-fitted whitening tray can prevent whitening solution from leaking and getting onto your gums or in your mouth.


Treatment


As I mentioned above, LED lights or blue light teeth whitening systems can be found in a variety of over the counter whitening kits, but are generally included in those that contain either a whitening gel or whitening strips.


To start the treatment, always follow the directions and instructions provided on the box. In general, the treatment process will look something like the following:


Whitening Gel

 

If your whitening treatment includes whitening gel, you will begin the process by filling your whitening trays with the solution. The whitening gel may be in a tube or pre-distributed syringes.


Make sure not to overfill the mouth trays as this can cause the whitening solution to leak out during treatment and can cause discomfort in your gums!


Leave the whitening tray on for the recommended time and turn on the LED light. There will be specific instructions on how close to hold the light to your teeth and for how long, but, in general, keep the LED light situated over your teeth and allow the activation process to begin.


Whitening Strips

 

Whitening strips work in a similar way to the whitening gel. Take the top and bottom strips from one of the foil packets located inside your whitening kit.


Carefully place both strips across your teeth (with the sticky, gel side touching your teeth!) and align them as needed.


Once the strips feel comfortable and manageable, begin using the LED light in the same manner as I mentioned above with the whitening gel.

Post Treatment - What to Do After LED Teeth Whitening

After completing your LED teeth whitening treatment, it’s important to practice certain follow-up care (as is the case with most whitening treatments!)


Soft-bristled Brush - The whitening solution (whether applied with gel or strips) will cause your teeth to be more sensitive than usual. For this reason, you want to avoid being too abrasive and brushing too hard. Getting a soft-bristled brush can help prevent you from over-brushing!


Desensitizing Toothpaste - Yes, this toothpaste is as important post-treatment as it is pre-treatment. As I mentioned above, your teeth will be more sensitive following your whitening treatment and can benefit from a softer, non-abrasive toothpaste.


Avoid Certain Foods/Beverages - It’s important to avoid consuming certain food and drink after your whitening treatment. Because your enamel is temporarily weakened post-treatment, it is not as effective in preventing staining substances from reaching the lower (dentin) layer of your teeth - a layer that cannot be whitened!

 

Therefore, try to avoid dark sodas, coffee, tea, red meats, tomato juice, berries and other stain-causing foods immediately after your whitening treatment.


Pros and Cons of Whitening Strips

Let’s go over the pros and cons of LED teeth whitening or a blue light teeth whitening:

Pros

  • SAFE - LED whitening lights are completely safe to use as they do not produce UV rays. For this reasons, they are able to be sold in over-the-counter whitening kits.
  • EASY TO USE - LED lights for teeth whitening are easy to use and are a simple addition to whitening with just whitening strips or whitening gel.
  • FASTER PROCESS - LED lights promise to speed up the whitening process, which means less treatment time for you!

Cons

  • NOT SCIENTIFICALLY BACKED - There is yet to be any concrete scientific evidence that LED whitening lights are effective in speeding up the whitening process and/or producing whiter results.
  • EXTRA STEP - While they are easy to use, LED-whitening lights do require an extra step in your teeth whitening treatment.
  • NOT UV STRENGTH - LED lights are a lot less powerful than the UV lights used by your dentist for a laser whitening treatment

What To Look For In LED Whitening Lights

So as with any product, some LED lights will work better and more efficiently than others.

But how can you know which ones are best?


Read Reviews - Always start by reading reviews left by users of that product. Through this reviews you can find out if those individuals saw a difference in effectiveness and timeliness when using an LED whitening light.


Look at What’s Included - Remember, LED lights do not work on their own! But of course that doesn’t stop companies from selling them as if they do. For that reason, always check and make sure your LED whitening light is in a kit that also contains whitening gel or whitening strips.


Check for Comfort - All LED whitening lights will have a different fit, some may be hands-free while others may need to be held. Take the time to read about and compare different lights to find the one that will work best for you.


Conclusion

While there remains no official seal of approval from the dental whitening community, we can conclude that LED whitening lights are safe to use and cheap to try.

One person’s teeth will be vastly different from the next person’s teeth and so on, making it near impossible to pinpoint exactly what whitening treatment will work best for you.

So who knows - maybe LED teeth whitening or a blue light teeth whitening is your key to that whiter, brighter smile!

If you do opt to use LED teeth whitening, consult with your dentist prior, as you would with any whitening treatment. Although LED teeth whitening is safe, it’s always a good idea to be on the same page as your dentist so they can make recommendations or raise any concerns.