Managing Sensitive Teeth After Whitening

When it comes to brightening the appearance of your teeth, there are a few popular options:

• Whitening toothpaste helps remove stains and can include mild abrasives, hydrogen peroxide, or carbamide peroxide. Generally speaking, it contains the fewest number of ingredients when compared to other whitening products.
• Home-use whitening kits are sold in drug stores, grocery stores, or at your dental office. The ingredients usually found in these treatments contain peroxide, which gets below the tooth's surface to lighten it. These treatments typically include trays, strips, rinses, or brushes.
• In-office whitening treatments are applied by your dental professional at their practice. These whitening treatments contain more peroxide than home-use whiteners or whitening toothpaste and tend to work faster than other options.

Sensitivity in your teeth can occur for various reasons and present in a few different ways. Your sensitivity could be the result of whitening treatment but could also result from recent dental treatment, thin enamel, or an underlying dental condition.

When it comes to whitening, teeth sensitivity may occur in some patients during and after select treatments that contain peroxide-based whitening agents. This will vary based on the product used, formulation, dosage, concentration, and your individual health history. If you're worried about possible sensitivity, speak with your dental professional or choose whitening products that advertise no sensitivity.

How will you know if you’re having a sensitivity issue? Well, you may experience short pain with the following:

• Air
• Cold foods or beverages
• Consuming sweet, sour, or acidic items
  
• Brushing your teeth

In cases when sensitivity occurs, it typically results from whitening treatment removing microscopic amounts of mineral from your enamel. This can make your teeth more porous and expose the dentinal tubules in the second layer of your teeth, also known as dentin. These microscopic channels go from the tooth’s surface to the center of the tooth where they connect to the nerves in your teeth. Dentinal tubules allow you to feel sensations in your teeth. When they become demineralized after whitening it can heighten sensitivity. This temporary dentin hypersensitivity will decrease as the minerals in your enamel are restored. Sensitivity usually isn’t a problem with at home whitening solutions such as Colgate whitening products. Try our range of safe teeth whitening products and treatments and let your one-of-a-kind smile shine through with Colgate Optic White. 

That depends. Some people don’t experience any teeth sensitivity, but typically it lasts a couple of days. Everyone is different. If you have thinner tooth enamel and exposed dentin before whitening, it can increase your risk of prolonged sensitivity after treatment. Sensitivity is caused by demineralization so it will last until minerals in your dentin are restored. How long tooth sensitivity lasts after whitening also depends on the strength of the bleaching agents used. Professional whitening treatments are stronger so sensitivity could last up to two weeks or longer. It’s best to see your dental professional to assess the current condition of your teeth and history of sensitivity to determine what level of whitening is right for you.

Teeth sensitivity depends on how much whitening (peroxide) is used, for how long, and your individual health history. Here are some other important facts to consider:

• Professional-grade whiteners have a higher concentration of bleach than whiteners you may purchase from the grocery or drug store.
• Bleach may cause gum irritation. Often this is due to bleaching agent trays that don’t fit correctly.
• Other potential side effects may include damage to tooth restorations or enamel.

Yes, it can, if you damage the tooth enamel by improperly using over-the-counter whitening products with excess bleaching agents. When whitening at home it’s important to follow the instructions. Leaving bleaching agents on your teeth for longer than recommended or more often than you should may cause permanent damage to your enamel, resulting in permanent sensitivity.

If you’re wondering how to help sensitive teeth after whitening, teeth and gum sensitivity are usually temporary and stop after completing your treatment. However, it can persist if you experience overtreatment, in which case you should consult your dental professional.

In the meantime, here are some options that may help provide some relief:

• Use a lower concentration of whitening treatment
• Reduce the amount of whitening treatment in the tray
• Increase time between treatments
• Take a break from your whitening treatments until sensitivity reduces
• Use a desensitizing treatment or varnish applied chair-side in your dental office
• Brush with a gel or toothpaste that helps reduce tooth sensitivity

If you’re ready to whiten your teeth, you should consult your dental office so your dental professional can conduct a “touch and air” test to evaluate your sensitivity level. They'll be able to tell you which teeth whitening treatment will work best for your individual needs.

For immediate tooth sensitivity relief, they can recommend desensitizing agents. Additional ways to reduce the feeling of sensitive teeth after whitening may include over-the-counter medications or topical treatments, based on your dental professional's recommendation.

Getting your teeth whitened can be great for your look and confidence. Unfortunately, there can be a little discomfort with sensitivity issues in some cases, with some products. Be sure to keep your dental professional in the loop and practice options to relieve your pain in the meantime. You've made an excellent choice to inform yourself on whitening products, sensitivity, and what you can do about it.

This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.