I pretty much run the gamut when it comes to partaking in things that stain my teeth: coffee, tea, red wine, tomato sauces, you name it—I’m guilty of consuming them regularly. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I didn’t have at least two cups of coffee to start my morning, so that alone should leave my teeth yellow and discolored. 

This might be a humblebrag, but my teeth are actually pretty white. In fact, I get a fair number of compliments on how white my teeth look on a regular basis. (Certain red lipsticks help me out.) But I’ll be the first to admit it’s not good genetics; it’s literally just because I’m hooked on whitening my teeth and have been since I was in high school.

I’ve been known to swing by Target and pick up a pack of Crest Whitestrips a few weeks before any kind of special event. I find that typical whitening strips have always worked pretty well for me, and I’ll always love the results they give.

The major problem with traditional teeth-whitening strips? You can’t do anything while they’re on, they don’t always adhere well to teeth, and sometimes, they can make your teeth or gums feel more sensitive, which has started to become a major problem for me as my gums have gotten more sensitive over the years. 

When I heard about SmileDirectClub’s newest whitening product, strips that dissolve after around 15 to 20 minutes of wear, I was immediately intrigued. The best part about these strips is that you can set them and forget them before you go to bed and wake up with white teeth and no residue. 

The white strips come in the form of transparent strips. Brush your teeth before putting them on, and moisten them directly before you apply the strips to make sure they adhere easily. Also, be sure your hands are completely dry before applying. (I’ve made this mistake before, don’t be like me.) Once you put them on, they’ll stay put as they work their magic and begin dissolving. 

They dissolve in your mouth after about 15 minutes, and you don’t have to worry about anything else—they’re made of edible, water-soluble polymers (pectin is one of the ingredients), so no need to worry about accidentally swallowing as you would for normal whitening strips. For best results, try to avoid rinsing, drinking, or eating directly after they’re done dissolving, but there’s no hard-and-fast rule against doing so. You can use them every day for a week of complete treatment or pop them on whenever you feel your teeth need a touch-up.

What the strip looks like right out of the box. These are individually packaged, so you’ll need two packets. 

Here’s what the strip looks like before you adhere it to your teeth. 

Me with the strips on both my top and bottom rows of teeth.

Post-dissolved smile. 

Crank your typical Whitestrips up a notch by adding in a dentist-quality light to make teeth ultra white. 

Activated charcoal works to help whiten teeth naturally. 

The OG classic. I’ll never stop loving these Whitestrips, because they truly get the job done and for not much money. 

Another innovative overnight treatment. Brush this treatment on before bed and wake up with pearly whites. 

A favorite among dentists, this whitening kit is well worth the money. It truly gives you the kind of results you’d typically only expect from a professional treatment. 

Use these ampoules to touch up your teeth after consuming a staining food or drink. 

For a natural option, these Whitestrips are powered by coconut oil for a nontoxic boost.

Use this rinse before you brush for gradual whitening.

Next, I Love Coffee, But My Teeth Are Spotless Thanks to These Whitening Products