While teeth whitening is often painless and without side effects, it is not completely safe. Some people end up with sensitive teeth, irritated gums, and pain. If a strong bleaching solution is used improperly, it can burn your gums.
If you have burned your gums from teeth whitening, it is important to seek immediate treatment from a dental professional. In the meantime, you can try the following steps to help alleviate the pain and promote healing:
- Rinse your mouth with cool water to help reduce any inflammation or swelling.
- Use over-the-counter pain medication, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to help manage discomfort.
- Avoid hot or spicy foods and drinks, as they may irritate the burned tissue.
- Avoid using tobacco products, as they can slow down the healing process.
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth to help reduce any swelling.
- Avoid brushing or flossing the affected area until it has fully healed.
- Follow your dentist’s instructions for the burned gums, including using mouthwash or topical ointment.
Sometimes, teeth whitening can give you chemical burns and not merely dehydrate your teeth. There might be pain that lasts for quite a while and not minor side effects that disappear in a day or two. Is there any way to soothe your burned gums or help them heal better?
Why Do Whitening Treatments Sometimes Burn Your Gums?
The best chemicals for whitening your teeth are hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide. These two chemicals can penetrate the surface of your teeth and get rid of deep stains. Gentler substances like baking soda can work for some people but are not as effective.
While these two substances are powerful, they are also potentially harmful. They can dehydrate your teeth and make them very sensitive or burn your gums and other mouth tissues.
A dentist will try to minimize contact with your gums, but some still get burns. Some people are more sensitive to bleaching agents than others.
No way to get your teeth whitened using these chemicals without risk. Usually, teeth whitening is harmless, but it is not risk-free.
How To Treat Burned Gums From Teeth Whitening
First, don’t keep using a treatment that is hurting your gums. A small problem that will go away quickly could worsen if you continue using the treatment.
If you are using a whitening tray at home, stop as soon as it starts hurting your gums. The whitening gel can burn your mouth. You can go from irritation to burns that won’t heal immediately if you keep using the product.
Rinsing out your mouth as well as possible can help you. Using salt water to rinse your mouth can soothe your mouth and make you feel a lot better if your burns are minor.
Assuming that your problem is not serious, you might also use over-the-counter painkillers. Most of the time, the pain goes away in only a few days. Not all chemical burns are serious. Over-the-counter painkillers might be enough.
If the pain is serious or doesn’t go away quickly, you need to talk to your dentist. You may have injured gums, and they may need to be treated professionally. Even if the injury is going away, you might need more powerful pain medication or anti-inflammatory drugs until your injury heals.
Other Ways To Protect and Heal Your Gums
If you are putting whitening gel on your teeth at home, ensure that you wipe it off if any gets on your gums. Please don’t leave the whitening gel there, or it might hurt your gums more than you expect. Read the instructions and never use the product for longer than directed.
Don’t use products you order over the internet. You won’t know what you are buying and can’t trust a company claiming its products are safe. If it isn’t legally available over-the-counter and a dentist won’t prescribe it, don’t use it.
Brushing and flossing your teeth every day can help your mouth heal faster. You can also use desensitizing toothpaste, brush your gums gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush, and avoid hot/cold/acidic foods. Be as gentle with your gums as possible to give them time to heal.
