Coffee, tea, wine and cigarettes can stain your teeth and make them yellow. But here’s a good reason to smile: these products and treatments can whiten your teeth and keep them sparkling, shiny and strong.

You can find tons of products to whiten your teeth, from toothpastes in your regular supermarket, to hardcore teeth whitening systems you can order online. Here’s an idea of your options:

Whitening toothpastes

These contain polishing or chemical agents (like baking soda, carbamide peroxide, magnesium carbonate) that gently break down surface stains and plaque that can make teeth more yellow. Some toothpastes contain blue covarine, which immediately makes them look whiter– an optical illusion similar to wearing red lipstick with blue undertones.

Generally, whitening toothpastes take 5 to 8 weeks to whiten your teeth.

Pros: This is the most affordable, convenient and readily available teeth whitening product.

Cons: They’re safe to use, but gentle toothpastes won’t remove deep staining and very strong toothpastes can break down your tooth enamel and make you more prone to staining. Some people also say their gums get irritated. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, or alternate your teeth whitening toothpaste with a regular one.

Jason Natural Powersmile Whitening Toothpaste. Uses
gentle polishers and botanicals to whiten your teeth and freshen your breath. $9, Redmart.

Crest 3D White Whitening Therapy Enamel Care. Its patented teeth whitening technology lifts stains while remineralizing your teeth to protect its enamel. $15.50, Shopee.

Arm&Hammer Advance White Extreme Whitening Toothpaste. It uses baking soda to remove even stubborn stains. $6.78, iHerb.

Colgate Optic White. This toothpaste claims to whiten your teeth by one shade after one week. We also like the super fresh, minty feeling! $8.50, Watsons.

Whitening Powders

It’s weird to call this exfoliating scrub for your teeth, but yes — that’s exactly what it is! Just dip your toothbrush into these powders and scrub away.

Pros: Many of the products are natural, organic and (because of the packaging) more environmentally-friendly.

Cons: It can get messy, and if you’re a germ-freak, the idea of dipping your toothbrush into the powder and contaminating the whole jar can be kinda icky. So you end up tapping what you need into the lid — praying you don’t waste any product or mess up your bathroom counter.

Carbon Coco Natural Teeth Whitening. This 100% natural and organic toothpaste uses activated charcoal to whiten teeth, strengthen enamel and kill bacteria that causes cavities and bad breath. $40, Lazada.

Majestic Pure Activated Charcoal Powder. We like how you can use this organic and natural product to whiten your teeth and so many more other DIY beauty treatments. Use it to make face masks and body scrubs to lighten elbows and armpits. You can even use it to make homemade mascara! US$9.95, Amazon.

Whitening strips

These are made of a soft plastic that sticks to your teeth., which traps the whitening ingredients so they work better. (Think of them as sheet masks for your teeth.)

Basically, you place the whitening strip on your teeth (one on the upper teeth, another on the bottom teeth). Follow the brand’s instructions on how long to leave them. Most kits have enough strips to last you about a month, if you use them once or twice a week (depending on how often you use them).

The whitening strips take time to show results — and be wary of any brand that claims to whiten your teeth in hours! The chemicals may be very strong and can damage your teeth or irritate your gums.

Pros: Some say they’re the DIY alternative to whitening dental treatments, and as one beauty editor said: “If you treat your skin to a mask once a week, then why don’t you take care of your teeth the same way?”

Cons: You have limited options, and will have to get them through online Singapore stores.

Crest White Strips. This dental whitening kit has won just about every beauty award out there. It removes even years of stains. You save more by getting the box of 40 strips $85.90, versus $63.90 for just 28). Available at www.crestwhitestrips.sg and nearly all Singapore online stores.

Cali White Vegan Teeth Whitening System. Consider this the hi-tech version of whitening strips. You apply the gel to the plastic mouth tray. Press the power button to turn on the LED light, which activates the ingredients. US$34.98, Amazon.

Whitening pens

These are harder to find in Singapore, but like strips and kits, they can whiten your teeth using the same technology you’d find in dental clinics — but at lower doses so you can safely apply at home.


Pros: They’re portable, convenient, and less of a hassle to use than strips and kits. Just use the pen to apply the gel on your teeth. You can also spot-apply and focus on the teeth that have the deepest stains.

Cons: They’re more expensive than teeth whitening strips, and the gel can migrate and get into your gums.

Philips Sonicare gently and effectively whitens your teeth. The silicone rubber tip helps push in the ingredients into your enamel, so it whitens all layers and gets rid of deeper and older stains.

The gel is in the pen, so it’s really an instant, fast and easy way to whiten your teeth. US$39.99, for a pack of two, Amazon.

Dazzling White Teeth Whitening Pen. One of the more affordable whitening products in Singapore. The fine, soft bristles make it easy to evenly coat your teeth. $10.95, Lazada and Carousell.

This is a great option for people with sensitive teeth. It has no peroxide or other harsh chemicals. Instead, it uses baking soda,
sodium Bicarbonate, cranberry, chamomile and aloe vera  to whiten your teeth. $31, Healthtree.