This Crest toothpaste was amazing with my sensitive teeth and gums and left my mouth feeling clean and refreshed. I can't say that the results were very drastic; perhaps with longer-term use, I might see a more noticeable change, but I liked this toothpaste better than my regular toothpaste, so I might just switch to this brand permanently." — Hildara Araya, Commerce editor, Verywell Family

Edmond Hewlett, DDS, professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry and consumer advisor for the American Dental Association (ADA)

One ingredient to avoid is charcoal because of the harm it can cause to the teeth. “Charcoal can be used as an abrasive, but it should be avoided [because it is] too abrasive,” Dr. Morgano says. This cream toothpaste is our best choice from the trusted brand Crest and has a gentle feeling that doesn't cause sensitivity and a mild mint flavor that isn't overpowering. This toothpaste features hydrated silica to remove stains and has the key ingredient sodium fluoride to prevent cavities and strengthen enamel. It also has ingredients that help prevent new surface stains in as little as three days. Rather than removing stains and yellowing from the surface of the tooth, it just creates the illusion of a whiter smile," Dr Azizi explains.

This toothpaste may not whiten as fast as some others on our list but protecting your teeth from sensitivity and pain is worth it. Our tester noted that this toothpaste didn't irritate their gums or make their mouth feel dry compared to other whitening toothpastes which is why it earned a five out of five stars for comfort. It also has a light mint taste that isn't too strong, and our tester noted the foam was finer than regular toothpaste, which helped coat teeth better and get into hard-to-reach places. I didn't experience any discomfort. My teeth are not particularly sensitive, but my gums can be. The toothpaste went on smoothly and its texture was smooth. The mint did not burn, but had a pleasant minty feel." — Elie Levine, Social Media Editor, Verywell Health I do think this toothpaste will do a good job of helping to maintain whiter teeth after using a whitening treatment. I did notice my teeth were whiter immediately after brushing, so it would be good to use right before an event or before taking photos." — Ashleigh Morley, Director of Commerce, Health Group

Will you be claiming the VAT back?

This toothpaste is vegan, cruelty-free, free of parabens and has hydrated silica as an abrasive whitener. It also contains a proprietary blend of antioxidants and essential oils. It has a mild mint flavor that our tester noted didn't leave their mouth feeling as fresh as other toothpastes but tasted fine. It contains sodium fluoride and is accepted by the ADA for preventing cavities. Along with five out of five stars for flavor, this toothpaste earned five out of five stars for comfort for its smooth and gentle feeling. It contains silica and mica, which can remove stains in as little as five days, and it offers 24-hour stain prevention when used twice daily. Our tester noted that the difference in tooth color was not significant with this whitening toothpaste but felt this was a good option if you want an everyday toothpaste that tastes great and also has a whitening component. Chemical whiteners: Hydrogen peroxide is a common chemical whitening (or bleaching) agent often found in whitening kits and whitening toothpaste because of its ability to remove stains. “Peroxides, when used the way they're designed to be used, can whiten teeth,” Dr. Hewlett says. He warns, though, that for best results, this ingredient needs to remain on the teeth for longer periods to remove stains. So if you are finding that peroxide-based toothpaste is not giving you the results you want, you might want to consider a whitening kit or professional whitening treatment.Chemical ingredients have a leg up on abrasive ingredients: They can continue to work after you finish brushing—as long as you don’t rinse your mouth out after.