Skip to main content

Teeth Whitening Specialist

First Family Dental

General Dentistry & Cosmetic Dentistry located in Arlington, VA

When it comes to making a great first impression, a smile full of beautifully white teeth is one of the most effective steps you can take. First Family Dental offers professional teeth whitening to patients in Arlington, Virginia, that whitens teeth by several shades in very little time. To make your pearly whites shine, call or use the online scheduling tool to explore your options in teeth whitening.

Teeth Whitening Q & A

Why are my teeth discolored?

There are many reasons why your teeth may not be as white and vibrant as they once were. 

To start, your teeth are under constant assault by the things you eat and drink, as well as certain lifestyle habits. For example, morning cups of coffee or tea or those evening glasses of wine create extrinsic staining that can pile up on your teeth, despite your best efforts at cleaning them.

Lifestyle habits such as smoking also leave their mark with dark stains that can form on your enamel.

If your teeth are simply yellowing with time, this is perfectly natural. Enamel, which is what gives teeth their white coloring, also protects them. Over time, however, this enamel can break down, allowing the yellow dentin underneath to show through, which creates a yellowing effect.

Teeth whitening can effectively rid your teeth of stains. 

What are my teeth whitening options?

There’s no shortage of over-the-counter products that promise to whiten and brighten your teeth, but these solutions are slow going and cumbersome to use. With professional teeth whitening at First Family Dental, you receive professional-grade bleaching agents that whiten your teeth by several shades in very little time.

If you want to whiten your teeth quickly, you can opt for in-office whitening. With this treatment, your dentist applies a bleaching agent to your teeth and uses a special LED light to activate the gel. Within two hours, you can reach your whitening goals.

If you’d prefer to whiten your teeth gradually, you can choose a take-home whitening kit. With this option, the dentist outfits you with custom trays that fit snugly over your teeth, as well as a bleaching gel. At home, you place the gel in the trays and pop the trays into your mouth for a predetermined amount of time (the dentist discusses this with you before you leave). You can do this every day for a week or two — or until you reach the desired whiteness in your teeth.

How do I preserve my newly whitened teeth?

After whitening your teeth, there are a few steps you can take to preserve the great results, including:

  • Brushing twice a day
  • Rinsing after meals
  • Steering clear of food and drinks that stain (or rinsing afterward)
  • Avoiding tobacco products

You should also keep up with your twice-annual cleanings at First Family Dental, which go a long way toward not only preserving your white teeth; these visits also play a critical role in safeguarding the health of your teeth and gums.

To whiten and brighten your smile with professional teeth whitening, call First Family Dental or request an appointment using the online scheduling tool.