Will teeth whitening kits from the store work better after a dental cleaning? ive read that the dentist cleans your teeth before doing the whitening. does that mean that the gunk on your teeth stop the whitening solution from working? so if i buy white s

MOST : Most likely not, although better results if applied to clean teeth. Usually active ingredients are weaker, so will require numerous applications. Also may cause sensitivity if not applied correctly.

Yes: A dental cleaning would definitely help in getting better bleaching results.

May be: It depends how much plaque build up exist.

YES!: The peroxide in teeth whitening systems can only whiten your enamel if it is in contact. If plaque and bacteria are in the way your outcome will be compromised. You will always get your best results from whitening after a professional cleaning!

Generally no: The dentist "cleans" the teeth before whitening, but it is not with prophy/toothpaste. It is with pumice, which is just an abrasive, without fluoride. The abrasive pumice cleans the surface of enamel and allows the whitening gel to get further into the tooth to whiten faster. The only difference is the speed of whitening. If at home, just brush with water before whitening to get same effect.