Professional teeth whitening is a faster, more effective way to brighten your smile, but many patients are hesitant to try it because they’ve experienced tooth sensitivity from over-the-counter whitening products in the past. Thankfully, with professional treatment, sensitivity is usually much milder, and much briefer, too. In fact, many patients who choose professional whitening experience little to no sensitivity at all.
If you’d like to whiten your smile with the help of your dentist, here are a few ways to help reduce your risk of sensitivity, so you can get the smile you want without the discomfort you can expect from over-the-counter products.
What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?
Tooth sensitivity after whitening is caused by a slight loss of the microscopic minerals in your tooth enamel. It happens when hydrogen peroxide (which is the main ingredient in many whitening products) penetrates your tooth enamel and exposes their dentin tubules. These tubules travel from the surface of your teeth to their center, where they meet with the nerves which allow them to feel sensation. When this happens, they can become very sensitive, especially when exposed to hot, cold, or acidic foods and beverages.
How Long Does Tooth Sensitivity Last?
While sensitive teeth can be very uncomfortable, thankfully when it is caused by teeth whitening, it is usually temporary. In fact, it typically clears up within a few days. Still, there are many factors that could affect how long it lasts, including the concentration of your whitening agents, the amount of time your teeth were exposed to them, and the thickness of your tooth enamel.
How Can I Treat Tooth Sensitivity?
If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity following whitening treatment, there are a few safe and effective ways to treat it. The easiest method is to brush your teeth with a sensitive toothpaste for the next few days. This will restore the minerals to your enamel, protecting the dentin in your teeth. Other ways include avoiding hot, cold, or acidic foods, or getting a desensitizing treatment from your dentist.
How Can I Prevent Tooth Sensitivity Following Whitening?
While it’s impossible to guarantee that you will not experience any sensitivity whatsoever, there are a few things you can do to reduce your risk. These include:
- Reduce how often you whiten your teeth by opting for professional whitening, which will deliver faster and more effective results than OTC products.
- Use a sensitive toothpaste both before and after treatment.
- Avoid eating and drinking anything excessively hot, cold, acidic, or sweet for several days after treatment.
Remember, if you’d like to whiten your teeth safely and more efficiently than with over-the-counter whitening products, professional whitening is an excellent way to remove up to eight shades of discoloration in one brief, in-office treatment, or in just a few weeks with the help of a customized, refillable take-home kit. To learn more about professional whitening, schedule a consultation with your dentist today!
About Our Practice
When it comes to providing you with a healthy, beautiful smile, two dentists are better than one! That’s why our amazing team of dentists, Dr. Reem Saywa and Dr. Carolyn Romzick are proud to work together to collaborate on your care! If your teeth are looking a little lackluster these days and you’d like to reduce up to eight shades of discoloration faster and more efficiently than with OTC whitening, you may be an excellent candidate for professional whitening from Radiant Dental. To schedule your consultation, please visit our website or call us today at 248-855-4850.