Sensitivity After Teeth Whitening: What To Do?

Tooth whitening has become one of the most popular dental procedures, enhancing smiles for the brighter. Whether it’s setting up a dentist’s appointment to have the whitening done professionally or deciding to have a go at a home kit, some individuals have noted the tooth sensitivity that follows the process. Researchers claim that the exact root to the sensitivity is not very well known; however, properties of peroxide, which is one of the main components of tooth whitening products, have shown to be an irritant of tooth nerves. This irritation may lead to cold sensitivity and a tingling sensation in the tooth. While many have already taken up tooth sensitivity to be the trade off for having brilliant pearly whites, there are definitely ways to reduce the symptoms. Here are a few tips to follow after tooth whitening has been administered.

1. Take a look at the amount of peroxide used in the whitening product; a good indicator is that from 6 to 10% is considered a relatively low peroxide level. While most people may think that a product containing a more concentrated amount of peroxide will surely do the trick, the sensitivity that may follow is definitely not worth it.

2. Along the same lines, it is also important to space out whitening treatments. Overusing a whitening product can exacerbate the sensitivity and can potentially damage teeth. If there are feelings of sensitivity, it never hurts to cut back on the whitening treatment.

3. Teeth may be sensitive to extreme temperatures during whitening treatments. The best thing to do is to avoid any foods that may fall under that category.

4. Other great methods to combat sensitivity can include looking into fluoride rinses and toothpaste targeting sensitivity.

We offer many state-of-the-art whitening services in our office; Sinsational whitening is a 20-minute procedure with little to no sensitivity! Click here to read more about it and if you have any more questions, feel free to contact Drs. Ali & Ali and the caring team at Wellesley Dental Group; they will be happy to answer your questions! 

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References:

http://dentistry.about.com/od/teethwhitening/qt/Coping-With-Teeth-Whitening-Sensitivity.htm

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/teeth-whitening