While whitening your teeth can make you look significantly better, it can also have side effects, including making your teeth too sensitive.
Someone who does not normally experience any discomfort when drinking hot or cold beverages might experience discomfort or even pain after getting their teeth whitened. If you are planning on getting your teeth whitened, you should know how to stop teeth sensitivity after whitening.
If you experience sensitivity after teeth whitening, there are a few things you can try to help reduce discomfort:
- Use toothpaste for sensitive teeth and brush your teeth gently to help soothe any discomfort.
- Avoid consuming any staining agents, such as coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco, for at least a day after the treatment.
- Avoid acidic or sugary foods and drinks, as these can further irritate sensitive teeth.
- Consider using a fluoride mouthwash or rinse to help strengthen your tooth enamel and reduce sensitivity.
- Use a desensitizing toothpaste or mouthwash as directed.
- Take over-the-counter pain medication, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as needed to help manage discomfort.
By following these steps, you can help reduce sensitivity and discomfort after teeth whitening. If your sensitivity persists or becomes severe, it is important to contact your dentist for further evaluation and treatment.
Tooth whitening treatments must penetrate underneath your teeth’ surface to work well. Your teeth must absorb the bleaching agent to clean them deeply enough. This will make the nerves inside your teeth sensitive to heat, cold, acidic drinks, sugars, or sour foods. Bleaching agents can also irritate your gums.
Toothpaste that desensitizes your teeth, pain medication, and fluoride can all help you. You can also avoid hot/cold drinks, drink through a straw, brush your teeth gently and carefully, and avoid irritating foods to help your teeth return to normal. Gels that help people with sensitive teeth are another good choice.
Use Desensitizing Toothpaste Before You Get Your Teeth Whitened
You may be able to avoid discomfort entirely if you start using toothpaste for sensitive teeth before your whitening treatment. You don’t have to wait for any pain to occur. You can treat your teeth in advance.
It would be best if you started using desensitizing toothpaste quite a while before your treatment (10 days before) for the best results. Leave the toothpaste on your teeth for a few minutes, don’t rinse it off immediately like you would with regular toothpaste.
The toothpaste will interfere with the nerves in your teeth, preventing them from sending pain signals. If you use desensitizing gels, you should also apply them before treatment. You might also take pain medication before your appointment to reduce the risk of pain further.
You should also continue to treat your teeth for a few days or a week after you receive treatment. Continue using the desensitizing toothpaste every time you brush your teeth, and take pain medication whenever your teeth bother you.
Fluoride Treats Sensitive Teeth
Fluoride can prevent tooth sensitivity from whitening treatments and general causes. Fluoride can prevent the nerves in your teeth from sending pain signals. Fluoride can also help strengthen and repair your teeth, which may prevent tooth sensitivity.
Another chemical that may prevent sensitivity is potassium nitrate. Adding potassium nitrate can prevent side effects if you use an at-home bleaching tray to treat your teeth. You can talk to your dentist to get potassium nitrate.
Use Gentler Treatments and Treat Your Teeth Less Often
There’s no point in using a stronger treatment than you need to get your teeth white. Sometimes, baking soda is enough to whiten your teeth, as is whitening toothpaste.
If that is not enough, whitening strips are a somewhat mild treatment. You don’t always have to visit the dentist to get your teeth whitened. You can save money and avoid side effects if you get your teeth whitened at home.
If your teeth are whitened at the dentist using a stronger bleaching agent, you might treat your teeth infrequently. The more frequently you go, the stronger the bleaching solution, and the longer the treatment takes, the more likely you will experience side effects.
Treating your teeth at the dentist isn’t always a bad idea – professional treatment is the most effective way to whiten your teeth. However, you might take a long break between treatments to give your mouth time to recover.
There is a Small Risk of Long-Lasting Sensitivity
Usually, sensitive teeth go back to normal in only 48 hours. However, if you experience pain lasting longer, contact your dentist, who will help you. You might need anti-inflammatory medication for longer-lasting and more serious discomfort.
