Review of Non-Peroxide Teeth Whitening Alternatives and Solutions

Are you looking for non-peroxide teeth whitening solutions? There are tons of ways to whiten your teeth, but if you don’t like the idea of using peroxides, what options are left and do they even work? 

This article will discuss whether or not peroxide-free teeth whitening treatments work and answer the following questions and topics:

• Do peroxide-free teeth whitening treatments work?
• Is non-peroxide teeth whitening safe?
• What are the different treatment options?
• What are the best non-peroxide teeth whitening strips, kits, and gels? 
• Non-peroxide teeth whitening reviews

The following table is a summary of our top picks for whitening teeth without peroxide, but you can read on to learn more about each of these:

Let’s get started with finding out whether non-peroxide teeth whitening works before we move on to the different types available. 

Do peroxide-free teeth whitening treatments work?

There are quite a few non-peroxide teeth whitening products available on the market, and some work better than others. It really depends on the type of whitening product and the whitening ingredient. 

Peroxide-free whitening products like toothpaste and mouthwash are less likely to show huge differences in the color of your teeth, whereas whitening pens, strips, and kits are more likely to noticeably whiten your teeth.

Some of the most common whitening ingredients that peroxide-free whitening products use include:

• Sodium bicarbonate
• Charcoal 
• Papain and bromelain extracts
• Phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid (PAP)
• Coconut oil 

Each of these ingredients has been proven to remove stains and whiten teeth to some extent, although most aren’t as effective as hydrogen peroxide. 

PAP teeth whitening, on the other hand, has been proven to be just as effective as hydrogen peroxide but without harming tooth enamel and gum tissues as peroxides can. 

How does teeth whitening work? 

Discoloration and staining are due to pigmented food and drink attaching to the organic matter of your teeth. To whiten and rid them of stains, there are two different methods: physical and chemical. Read more about foods that stain teeth.

Physical removal of stains involves using something abrasive on the surface of your teeth, and chemical bleaching can remove stains both on the surface of your teeth and those that are embedded a little deeper. So, chemical whitening and removal of stains is a much more effective method than just the physical removal of stains. 

Chemical whitening and the removal of stains involve the oxidization of stains and alteration of the molecules that hold color. Basically, the bleaching agent enters through the enamel and breaks down these molecules. Smaller molecules are lighter in color, so this results in the overall tooth looking whiter. The common chemicals used to do this include:

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Carbamide peroxide
• Phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid (PAP) 

All of these chemicals remove stains and lighten teeth through oxidization; however, only the peroxides release free radicals as they do this. Free radicals can cause side effects such as tooth sensitivity, gum irritation, and the demineralization of tooth enamel. 

PAP does not release free radicals, and is thought, therefore, to be safer for your tooth enamel and gum tissues! 

Is non-peroxide teeth whitening safe?

Peroxide-free teeth whitening treatments like PAP are considered safer than those that use peroxides because they don’t release free radicals that can cause damage. 

Dentists tend to use mostly peroxide-based teeth whitening treatments in-office because professional application can help minimize damage. However, peroxides can become unsafe and have unpleasant side effects when used in at-home whitening treatments. 

Peroxide-free whitening treatments may be safer than those that use peroxides because they don’t release free radicals that can cause damage. 

PAP has not been explored by dentists as much as peroxide-based treatments. This could be because it is relatively new to the market and there is less research on it compared to peroxides. It also has a higher pH, which means it has a shorter shelf life. 

Best non-peroxide teeth whitening treatments

Not many dentists use non-peroxide whitening products yet. However, there are plenty of at-home peroxide-free whitening treatments available on the market, including: 

• Whitening strips
• Pens 
• Gels
• Whitening kits 

Here are our recommended non-peroxide whitening treatments:

Peroxide-free teeth whitening kits

Teeth whitening kits are the most popular at-home solution because they are affordable and convenient and effective. In a kit, you generally get a mouthpiece and LED light, as well as enough whitening gel to last you for a couple (or more) treatments.

Our top-recommended peroxide-free teeth whitening kit is the Hismile whitening kit, which we will talk about more below. You can also read our in-depth guide on whitening kits.

Hismile teeth whitening kit

Hismile is well known for their peroxide-free home whitening kit with PAP+ as the active ingredient. They are an Australian company that has gained popularity around the world for their whitening products. Their whitening kit includes the following items: 

• 6 whitening gel pods 
• Mouthpiece and LED light 
• Instructions 
• Color chart 

Their PAP+ formula has been proven to be effective and gentle on teeth and uses a nano-synthetic version of hydroxyapatite.

Nano-hydroxyapatite is able to replace more minerals in your tooth enamel than the regular version. Hismile’s whitening gel also includes the ingredient potassium citrate which addresses any pre-existing tooth sensitivity.  

To use this whitening kit, you squeeze half a pod of whitening gel into the top of the mouthpiece and half in the bottom. Turn the LED light on and leave for 10 minutes. 

Read our full review of Hismile's Whitening Kit to learn more.

Active Wow charcoal teeth whitening kit

Active Wow is another popular teeth whitening brand that makes a standard LED whitening kit with carbamide peroxide, but they also make this peroxide-free kit with charcoal.

It employs sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to break down the proteins that cause stains and uses activated charcoal to draw the stains out.

It also comes with an LED light to accelerate the whitening process and make it more effective.

This kit receives overall positive reviews, with one customer saying:

“My teeth are a bit yellow from drinking a lot of coffee so I thought I would give this a try. After just 1 use, I am blown away with the results – see the pic. I LOVE this!”

Non-peroxide teeth whitening strips

Our top recommended non-peroxide teeth whitening strips are Hismile’s PAP+ whitening strips, but there are other products on the market that use natural whitening ingredients instead of chemical whitening. However, these products may not be as effective as PAP whitening. 

Hismile’s PAP+ Whitening Strips 

Hismile non-peroxide whitening strips are based on Hismile’s PAP+ whitening formula. They don’t cause any gum irritation or sensitivity that you find with other brands like Crest that use peroxide-based whitening gel in their strips.

And, because they have the same ingredients as the whitening kit, they also include the ingredients nano-hydroxyapatite and potassium citrate that remineralize and desensitize your teeth as they whiten. 

To use these strips, all you have to do is dry your teeth and apply the long strip to your top teeth and the shorter strip to your bottom teeth. Leave the strips on for 30 minutes and then remove and rinse your mouth with water. 

These are different from Hismile's whitening kit because they are not used with the LED light, which makes the gel more effective. They are better for easy and convenient on the go whitening, wherever you may want to use them.

White Glo charcoal whitening strips

Another option for teeth whitening without peroxide are these White Glo whitening strips. The active whitening ingredient in these strips is charcoal, and all of the ingredients are enamel-safe so you don't have to worry about sensitivity.

Although many people claim to see results using charcoal-based whitening treatments, there is very little scientific evidence to back these claims up. In fact, this study found that charcoal has no bleaching abilities at all but can absorb surface stains. 

If you are looking for an enamel-friendly, peroxide-free whitening treatment then these may be for you. They are simple to use, like other brands of whitening strips, just dry your teeth and apply the strips for 30 minutes. Then, remember to rinse off all the black from your teeth after use!  

What do non-peroxide teeth whitening kit reviews have to say? 

The following reviews are both of the Hismile PAP+ Whitening Kit. Most of the reviews you will find on YouTube are from the UK and Australia because Hismile is based in Australia and only relatively recently expanded to the US.

The first review is from a YouTuber called Aishah who shares her Hismile review on her channel, Aishscream. She starts by saying that the video isn’t sponsored and it is her ‘brutally honest’ opinion on the product. 

Aishah found that the Hismile teeth whitening kit helped to not only whiten her teeth but also removed stains that had been there for years. She shows her teeth before and after treatment and you can see a noticeable difference in color. 

Aishah also comments on how strong her teeth feel after using this product. 

The next review is another YouTuber called Hannah Dorman. She reviews the Hismile PAP+ whitening kit and gives her honest review. Hannah begins her review by explaining the whitening kit, as well as some of Hismile's other whitening products. 

Overall Hannah is really pleased with the results and feels like her teeth are much whiter and brighter after using it. She also says that she is going to continue using the product to see just how white her teeth get. 

Conclusion

There are a lot of different options for whitening your teeth available. And, if you aren’t keen on using ones with peroxide as the main active whitening ingredient there are non-peroxide treatments available. 

While hydrogen peroxide is used widely by dentists and has been proven to whiten teeth, it can, in some cases cause tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. If used incorrectly it can cause enamel damage, which is irreversible. 

Non-peroxide whitening treatments use a range of different ingredients, but the best non-peroxide teeth whitening gel seems to have PAP as the active ingredient. 

There is not a huge amount of research behind PAP, which is why dentists still widely use peroxide-based products. However, it has proved to be effective in whitening teeth without causing the damage that peroxide can do to the teeth and gums.  

Hismile uses PAP as the active ingredient in their whitening kits. They also include the ingredient hydroxyapatite, which remineralizes teeth. Hismile also uses PAP in their whitening strips that are also peroxide-free, which is why they're topping our list of peroxide-free teeth whiteners.

FAQs

Does non-peroxide teeth whitening gel work?

Some non-peroxide teeth whitening gels do work, and some don't. Look for ingredients that are proven to whiten teeth, such as PAP (phthalimido-peroxy-caproic acid).

Can you whiten teeth without peroxide?

Yes, you can whiten teeth without peroxide. Some ingredients, such as PAP, are said to be just as effective as peroxide, without causing any harm to your enamel, or any tooth sensitivity.