Where Are Teeth Whitening Strips in Target? (And How to Choose the Right Ones)

ou don’t realise how big Target is… until you’re walking in circles looking for one tiny box of teeth whitening strips.

If you’ve ever thought:
“Where exactly are teeth whitening strips in Target? Which aisle? Which section?”

This guide is your cheat code.

I’m Sheikh Ismail Zabi – founder of PureSmile, a halal-certified PAP+ whitening brand in the UAE. I’m obsessed with safe, ethical whitening. Even when I’m abroad and inside a Target store, I still look at that shelf with a “brand founder brain”.

So let’s break it down:

Quick Answer: Where Are Teeth Whitening Strips in Target?

In most Target stores, teeth whitening strips are in:

Personal Care → Oral Care → Teeth Whitening

Physically, that usually means:

• Go to the Personal Care / Health & Beauty area (near Pharmacy in many stores).
  
  
• Look for the “Oral Care” aisle – the same aisle with toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss and mouthwash.
  
  
• Within that aisle, there’s a “Teeth Whitening” section – you’ll see boxes of Crest 3D Whitestrips, Lumineux, up&up whitening strips, MySmile, iSmile, etc. (Target)
  
  

Sometimes whitening strips are grouped together on one shelf; sometimes they’re on an endcap (the small display at the end of the oral care aisle), especially if there’s a promotion.

If you see toothpaste, floss, mouthwash?
You’re close. Don’t leave that aisle until you scan the shelves around eye level.

Step-by-Step: How to Find Whitening Strips Fast in Any Target

Instead of wandering around, use this simple flow:

1. Use the Target App Before You Even Walk In

• Search for “teeth whitening strips” or a specific brand like “Crest 3D Whitestrips” in the Target app.
  
  
• Tap on the product → the app shows:
  
  If it’s in stock at your selected store
  The aisle number where it’s located (e.g., Aisle F14 – Oral Care). (Google Play)
  
  

That’s the fastest way: you walk in already knowing “Oral Care aisle F-something”.

2. Head to Personal Care / Health & Beauty

Once you’re inside:

• Go towards Personal Care / Health & Beauty – where they keep:
  
  
• Shampoo
  
• Skincare
  
• Deodorant
  
• Oral care
  
  

In many layouts, the oral care aisle is close to the pharmacy window.

3. Look for the Oral Care Aisle

You’ll know you’re in the right place if you see:

• Toothpaste (Crest, Colgate, Sensodyne)
  
  
• Toothbrushes
  
  
• Dental floss
  
  
• Mouthwash (Listerine, TheraBreath, etc.) (Target)
  
  

Teeth whitening strips sit in this same aisle, usually:

• In a sub-section labeled “Teeth Whitening”
  
  
• Or clustered together near whitening toothpastes
  
  

4. Scan the Middle Shelves

Whitening strips are typically placed:

• Around eye-level or just below
  
  
• In small rectangular boxes beside whitening toothpastes and pens
  
  

Common brands you’ll see include:

• Crest 3D Whitestrips (various versions: 1-Hour Express, Professional White, Sensitive White, etc.) (Target)
  
  
• Lumineux Whitening Strips (often labeled as non-toxic / enamel-safe) (Target)
  
  
• up&up™ strips (Target’s own brand – 7-day, 10-day, 20-day options) (Target)
  
  
• Other brands like MySmile, iSmile, Pursonic, GuruNanda depending on the store. (Target)
  
  

If you see these names, you’ve found the right section.

5. Still Can’t Find Them? Ask in This Exact Way

Go to any staff member and say:

“Hey, which aisle is Oral Care – Teeth Whitening strips in?”

The keywords “oral care” + “teeth whitening strips” will get you there faster than just saying “whitening” or “strips”.

What You’ll Actually See on the Shelf (And How I Group Them Mentally)

When I look at the Target whitening shelf as a whitening brand founder, I don’t just see boxes. I see categories:

• High-Peroxide, Fast-Hit Strips
  
  
• Mostly Crest 3D Whitestrips “Pro”, “1-Hour Express”, etc.
  
• Designed for strong, fast results, but more likely to cause sensitivity if overused. (Target)
  
  
• “Cleaner” / More Natural Positioning
  
  
• Lumineux, some hydroxyapatite-based strips like MySmile, etc. (Target)
  
• Formulated to be enamel-friendly, often peroxide-free or low-peroxide.
  
  
• Budget Strips / Store Brands
  
  
• up&up™ whitening strips, Pursonic, etc. (Target)
  
  
• Cheaper, but formulas vary a lot. Some are okay, some are just “harsh but affordable”.
  
  

As someone who built PureSmile around enamel-safe PAP+ and zero sensitivity, my brain automatically asks:

• “Is this formula aggressive or gentle?”
  
• “Is this just chasing ‘whiter in 1 hour’ or actually thinking about enamel and gums?”
  
  

That’s the mindset I’d love your readers to carry into Target.

How to Choose the Right Whitening Strips Once You’ve Found Them

Finding the shelf is half the mission. The other half is not picking the wrong box.

Here’s the short filter I’d give anyone:

1. Read the Active Ingredient First

• Hydrogen peroxide / carbamide peroxide
  

• Effective, but higher risk of sensitivity if over-concentrated or overused.
  

• PAP / PAP+ / hydroxyapatite / “peroxide-free whitening”
  

• Generally more enamel-friendly, designed to reduce the risk of sharp pain.
  

If you’ve ever had sensitivity before, lean towards the gentler systems.

2. Check the Claims – Avoid the Clown Marketing

Red flags for me:

• “Up to 10 shades whiter in 1 day”
  

• Micro-text with no clear ingredient breakdown
  

• No mention of enamel, sensitivity or safety testing
  

Look for more grounded claims like:

• “Gradual results over 7–14 days”
  

• “Designed for sensitive teeth”
  

• “Enamel-safe / dentist-tested”
  

3. Look for Signs of a Serious Brand

In Target, you get a mix of huge global brands and random small names.

Green flags:

• Clear instructions (how many days, how long per session).
  

• Thoughtful information about sensitivity or enamel safety.
  

• Certifications or strong positioning (e.g. vegan, cruelty-free, etc.).
  

As someone running a halal-certified, cruelty-free oral care brand, I’m always biased towards brands that show they care about more than just whitening as fast as possible.

What If the Strips Are Out of Stock?

If you’re standing in the oral care aisle and see only toothpastes and pens:

1. Open the Target app again, check the specific product’s page and see:
   

• “Out of stock” vs “Aisle XYZ” status for your store. (Google Play)
  
  

2. Sometimes the strips are:
   

• On an endcap (end of aisle) because of a promotion.
  

• Locked in a case in higher-theft locations (rare for strips, but possible).
  

3. Worst case:
   

• Ask staff: “Do you have any Crest/Lumineux/whitening strips? The app says X.”
  

If there’s genuinely no stock, don’t panic and grab the most aggressive thing on the shelf just because it’s there. Teeth whitening is one area where waiting for the right product is better than rushing with the wrong one.

If Your Audience Is Outside the US / Doesn’t Have Target

This blog is Target-specific, but the principle scales:

• Find the oral care section.
  

• Look for a teeth whitening subsection near toothpastes.
  

• Apply the same filters:
  

• Ingredient first
  

• Safety over speed
  

• Brand transparency over wild promises
  

And if they’re your UAE/GCC audience, you already know the bridge:

If you’re in the UAE or GCC and don’t have access to Target, my own brand PureSmile was built to solve this exact problem: enamel-safe, halal-certified whitening you can trust.