Teeth Whitening in Kensington, MD

Kensington Natural Smiles provides teeth whitening services in Kensington, MD. Call 301-933-3903 to learn more and schedule your appointment.

If you have healthy but discolored or stained teeth, professional teeth whitening may be the best solution. Please note that whitening is not effective against deep staining or pitting, which is better treated with porcelain veneers. For the majority of people, though, it is a simple matter of deciding whether you want to have your teeth whitened in our office or at home.

In-Office Bleaching: We can whiten your teeth by 3 to 4 shades in just a single one-hour office visit. First, we will use a protective gel or rubber shield to keep the bleach off the sensitive soft tissues of your mouth. Then, we will apply a bleaching agent with hydrogen peroxide to your teeth. A laser light enhances the whitening action. Note that if you want your teeth even whiter, we can give you an at-home kit to use for the next 3 days.

At-Home Bleaching: If you want to whiten your teeth at home, we will first take impressions of your teeth and use them to create a customized mouth tray. You will add a whitening gel containing carbamide peroxide to the tray, and then wear it in the comfort of your own home according to our directions. It typically takes 6 days to whiten teeth at home, or 3 days if you started the process in our office.

Teeth whitening must be repeated periodically, but there are steps you can take to lengthen the time between whitening treatments. Be sure to brush and floss twice a day and see us every six months for a professional cleaning. In addition, pay attention to what you eat and drink. After consuming stain-causing foods and drinks such as coffee, soda, tea, berries, or red wine, rinse your mouth thoroughly with plain water. The less time these stain producers spend in contact with your teeth, the less darkening they will cause.

You can enhance the appearance of your teeth with the right lipstick. Choose a lip-plumping formulation that contains mint or cinnamon oil in a shade with blue or pink undertones to make your teeth look whiter.

Over the counter whitening kits are not as effective as professional bleaching. However, they can help you increase the time between visits by correcting minor yellowing.

Of course, the only long term solution to whitening your teeth is dental veneers. These thin shells of dental porcelain are durable and can last for decades with proper care. Please note, though, that veneers, along with crowns and other restorations, do not stain like natural teeth, nor can they be whitened. If you have your natural teeth whitened and your restoration color-matched, you will need to whiten your teeth regularly to maintain the match. Likewise, if your restoration was matched to darker teeth, whitening your teeth will make the restoration look dull and lifeless.

Call 301-933-3903 to schedule your appointment.

Yes. While it is not required that you get a dental cleaning before your whitening treatment, it is recommended. These treatments work best on teeth that are free of tartar and plaque. So, for best results, go for the cleaning. You can even set an appointment to have your teeth cleaned and whitened on the same day.

When you choose to whiten your teeth with our in-office bleaching, you will see a difference in your teeth immediately. The hour-long sessions can leave your teeth 3 to 4 shades lighter.

Not exactly. The procedure of teeth whitening does not hurt at all, but it can leave you with some discomfort. Some patients have reported sensitive teeth and sore gums after treatment. Others have no symptoms at all.

If you have any pain or sensitivity after a whitening treatment, talk to your dentist.

It is true - there are many at-home whitening kits at your local drug store or discount store that you can use on your teeth. In-office whitening works at a stronger, faster level. In other words, you will see far greater results with in-office bleaching.

Though, because in-office bleaching will need to be repeated regularly to maintain your stellar results, at-home bleaching may be an option for the in-between.

Regardless of whether you choose in-office bleaching or at-home bleaching, the results are not permanent. They may last for over a year as long as you care properly for your teeth. See, teeth lose their white color when they become stained due to the foods and drinks we consume. For instance, regular coffee drinkers will likely lose the effects of whitening as quickly as a couple of months.

To extend the length of your whitening benefits, practice good oral hygiene, make regular visits to the dentist for cleanings, and avoid staining foods and drinks.

Whitening works on the majority of teeth. For any nominal stains on regular teeth, in-office bleaching is a great option. However, some teeth will not benefit from whitening. These include those that have been covered in veneers or crowns and those that are deeply stained or pitted.

With a close examination, your dentist can advise whether your teeth would benefit from in-office bleaching. For some patients, the best option is to invest in porcelain veneers that cover the stained teeth with natural and beautiful, stain-resistant porcelain.

In general, if you want to have long-lasting whitening, then you need to care for your teeth by practicing oral hygiene, getting regular cleanings, and minimizing your consumption of staining foods and beverages. However, immediately following your appointment, you will want to be extra cautious.

Within 24-48 hours after your in-office bleaching appointment,  your teeth are more vulnerable. Avoid staining and acidic foods during this time. Coffees, sodas, teas, wines, highly dyed foods, brightly colored and acidic fruits should all be avoided.

When you are ready to move forward with teeth whitening, contact our office at 301-933-3903.