How to Stop Teeth Sensitivity after Whitening?

March 1, 2022

Do you think a gleaming white smile boosts your self-esteem and confidence? If so, you might consider getting teeth whitening treatments to have the smile you desire. Teeth whitening is a straightforward procedure you can have at your dentist’s office or even at home. Perhaps the only downside to teeth whitening treatments is the sensitivity you might sometimes experience.

This article provides information on tooth sensitivity from teeth whitening treatments and the steps you can take to alleviate your symptoms.

Causes of Sensitivity after Teeth Whitening

You might experience tooth sensitivity as a wave of pain responding to hot and cold temperatures—information about why teeth whitening treatments because sensitivity isn’t known. However, hydrogen peroxide, the primary ingredient in most teeth whitening treatments, weakens your tooth enamel to expose the dentin. The dentin of your tooth is the inner layer beneath the enamel surrounding the dental pulp, housing the nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels. When your tooth’s nerves get irritated, they cause pain to create the sensitivity you experience.

Steps to Take Before Your Teeth Whitening Treatment

If you have sensitive teeth, discuss the problem with the dentist in 92024 to determine whether you qualify for teeth whitening treatment. Dentists are reluctant to provide these treatments to sensitive teeth because the therapy can aggravate the pain. However, it doesn’t mean you don’t qualify for the treatment. You can prepare yourself for teeth whitening by using the tips mentioned below:

• Approximately ten days before your teeth whitening treatment, start using desensitizing toothpaste. The toothpaste helps block pain impulses from your tooth surface to its nerves. Let the toothpaste remain on the surface of your teeth before rinsing it off after a few minutes.
• Apply a desensitizing gel before the teeth whitening treatment. Before rinsing with water, let the gel remain on your teeth for the recommended duration.
• You can take over-the-counter pain medications before your teeth whitening treatment to help minimize sensitivity and discomfort. You can continue taking the pain relievers even after the treatment to control any lingering sensitivity.

You Received Your Teeth Whitening Treatment: What Next

After receiving teeth whitening in Encinitas, CA, take the following steps to shorten the duration and intensity of any sensitivity in your teeth:

• You will experience sensitivity during the first 48 hours after the treatment. It is when you must avoid foods and beverages that are scorching or freezing. On the contrary, you must choose foods and drinks stored at room temperature.
• Acidic foods and beverages like sodas and citrus fruit drinks irritate your mouth to increase your sensitivity. Therefore avoid them for some time after a teeth whitening treatment.
• Your dentist recommends using a desensitizing toothpaste and applying desensitizing gel for the initial 48 hours after your whitening treatment. These products help you cope with any sensitivity you experience.
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush gently besides rinsing with lukewarm water to minimize sensitivity.
• Toothpaste and mouthwash containing fluoride help remineralize teeth and block pain impulses to your oral nerves.
• Use a straw for drinking to prevent liquids from making contact with your teeth after the teeth whitening procedure. The prevention mechanism can minimize discomfort from sensitivity.

Get Teeth Whitening from a Dentist

You might think dentists charge you a higher price for teeth whitening and prefer instead to use over-the-counter whitening products. For example, you might purchase teeth whitening trays available from many brands with the sole intention of cutting back on costs. However, have you realized over-the-counter trays are generic and don’t fit the contours of your mouth correctly? In addition, the bleaching gel provided by the manufacturer can cause sensitivity to your teeth, leaving you with more damages than you imagined.

If you prefer to overlook the additional costs and get teeth whitening from the dentist, the professional ensures the soft tissues of your mouth are protected with cheek retractors and rubber dams before they apply concentrated hydrogen peroxide to your teeth four times during the hour at 15-minute intervals each. Heat and light help the dentist accelerate the bleaching process to leave you with brighter teeth by approximately eight shades than earlier. Most importantly, the professional monitors the treatment from beginning to end and even provides fluoride treatment after the therapy.

If you want to have a gleaming bright smile without the sensitivity involved, the better option for you is to schedule an appointment with Sinclair Smiles to receive safe and effective teeth whitening treatments without any sensitivity.

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