ARC Teeth Whitening: Can It Compete With Professional Whitening? (2024)

What is ARC Teeth Whitening?

Everyone wants whiter teeth, but sometimes regular brushing isn’t enough. Things like coffee and red wine can cause hard-to-reach stains deep in the enamel. And professional whitening can be expensive and inconvenient.

That’s where companies like ARC come in. ARC offers affordable whitening products that can be used from the comfort of your home.

The ARC Blue Light Teeth Whitening Kit promises to give you whiter teeth in just one week without seeing a dentist. The kit includes 14 whitening strips and an LED blue light mouthpiece.

If you’re looking for an affordable and convenient alternative to professional whitening, ARC may be a good option.

How Does ARC Teeth Whitening Work?

ARC’s teeth whitening kit combines hydrogen peroxide whitening strips with LED blue light technology to remove stains deep within your enamel.

The strips let the peroxide seep into your enamel and attack stains beneath the surface. They’re designed to adhere to your teeth to prevent uneven whitening. The blue light accelerates the peroxide, helping it whiten teeth faster.

Here’s how it works:

1. Stretch and press the ARC whitening strips to fit securely over your upper and lower teeth. Once they’re in place, leave them on for 25 minutes.
2. Take the ARC Blue Light mouthpiece and place it against the strips. Press and hold the two buttons to activate the light.
3. Keep the mouthpiece against the strips for 5 minutes (the mouthpiece has a timer to help you keep track). Remove the mouthpiece and strips when finished.

Repeat this process daily, and ARC promises you’ll see whiter teeth in a week’s time. Some users even report seeing results within just a few days.¹

Note: There may be some tooth sensitivity after using ARC Teeth Whitening. This is a common side effect of hydrogen peroxide and is usually temporary.

Pros and Cons of ARC Teeth Whitening

Pros of ARC Teeth Whitening:

• Only requires 30 minutes a day
• Visible results in as little as one week
• Far more affordable than professional whitening, which can cost hundreds of dollars
• Treats heavy stains from things like coffee and red wine
• Mouthpiece has a timer and is waterproof
• Strips designed to fit snugly over your teeth
• 60-day money-back guarantee
• Free shipping for orders over $25

Cons of ARC Teeth Whitening:

• May cause sensitivity or irritate already sensitive teeth
• Battery is not rechargeable, so you have to throw the LED mouthpiece out when it dies
• Only 14 treatments per kit
• Chance of permanent tooth damage if used incorrectly
• May not be adequate for severely discolored teeth

ARC Cost & Where to Buy

The ARC Blue Light Teeth Whitening Kit retails at Target and ARC’s website for $45. On Amazon, it costs $36.

Other products besides the Blue Light Kit include:

• ARC Teeth-Whitening Pen ($20)
• ARC One-Week Whitening Kit ($20)
• ARC After-Brushing Teeth Whitening Booster ($8)

For at-home whitening, we generally recommend complete kits or strips over pens. This is because they provide more lasting results and don’t require as much upkeep.

Is ARC Teeth Whitening Safe?

Research shows both hydrogen peroxide and LED are safe ways to whiten your teeth when used properly.^{2, 3, 4}

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends consulting your dentist before using any at-home whitening treatments. Incorrect use could lead to gum irritation, tooth sensitivity, and enamel erosion.

Find out more about the safety of teeth whitening here.

ARC vs. Other Whitening Brands

Here’s how ARC Teeth Whitening compares to similar products:

ARC vs. Snow

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Snow is a popular LED teeth whitening brand. Snow offers different products, but its most popular and best-selling is their all-in-one At Home Teeth Whitening Kit.

The main advantage of this kit is that it uses a desensitizing agent to reduce sensitivity. It also features a quick, 9-minute application time compared to ARC’s 30 minutes.

You can read our full review of Snow here.

ARC vs. Hismile

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Hismile uses several ingredients to whiten teeth without sensitivity, including:

• Hydroxyapatite (nHAp) — A fluoride alternative found in bone that rebuilds tooth enamel and replaces lost minerals.
• Phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid (PAP) — A relatively new whitening agent that whitens teeth like peroxide but without sensitivity or gum irritation.
• Potassium citrate — A mineral that can help reduce pre-existing sensitivity and provides long-term protection.

Hismile works similarly to the ARC whitening kit, but it doesn’t use peroxide. This makes it a great choice for people with sensitive teeth.

Our full review of Hismile’s VIO405™ Teeth Whitening Kit can be found here.

ARC vs. Auraglow

The active ingredient in Auraglow’s Complete LED Whitening Kit is carbamide peroxide, a compound of urea and hydrogen peroxide. It causes a similar whitening reaction to hydrogen peroxide but with less sensitivity.

The whitening gel in Auraglow’s kit also contains xylitol, which has dental health benefits. Like ARC, Auraglow requires a 30-minute application time for each whitening session.

We tested Auraglow’s kit, and you can find the results here.

ARC vs. Professional Whitening

At-home whitening kits like ARC’s offer potentially great results without the cost or inconvenience of in-office whitening.

However, professional whitening is recommended if your teeth are severely stained or discolored. In professional settings, your dentist can supervise the whitening process, and stronger concentrations of hydrogen or carbamide peroxide can be used.

Even if you choose to use an at-home whitening kit, you should talk to your dentist beforehand—especially if you have worn enamel, sensitive teeth, or oral health issues such as tooth decay.