If you’ve been wishing your smile was a little brighter, you’re not alone. While there’s no shortage of over-the-counter and professional whitening options ranging from pens and gels to LED whitening kits and trays, whitening strips offer one of the easiest ways to score pearly (or, at the very least, pearlier) whites. Because these strips break down stains chemically rather than scrub them off with abrasive ingredients (like whitening toothpaste), they can be less detrimental in the long run for people with sensitive teeth or gum recession, explains cosmetic dentist Dr. Lawrence Fung. Other pros include the convenience factor, not to mention that strips are generally a very wallet-friendly whitening option. At the end of the day, strips are a great first step into the world of tooth whitening and can be used to maintain the results of professional treatments, adds Dr. Fung. So, to find the best options on the market, we put more than a dozen options to the test. Our testers used these strips for the full treatment time (about a week or two), noting how easy they were to apply, how comfortable they felt, how well they whitened and brightened their smiles, and whether or not they caused any sensitivity. Our team then combined these results with expert recommendations and our own thorough research to narrow down the list of available options.