Disclosed herein is a tooth whitening composition-comprising: an oxidizing agent selected from hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, peroxy acid, peroxy acetic acid, sodium perborate, alkali metal peroxides, alkali metal percarbonates, alkali metal perborates, and combinations thereof； Eosin Y； and a carbomer. Also disclosed is a method for whitening a tooth in vivo in the gingiya of a patient wherein the method comprises the steps of: applying to at least one tooth a tooth whitening composition comprising: Eosin Y； an oxidizing agent selected from hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, alkali metal peroxides, alkali metal percarbonates, peroxy acetic acid, and alkali metal perborates； an accelerating agent such as sodium perborate； and a stabilizing agent such as sodium acetate trihydrate, and exposing the tooth whitening composition to actinic light for a period between 5 seconds and 10 minutes.
