Does Teeth Whitening Cause Tooth Sensitivity?

Are you considering whitening your discolored teeth with sensitivity in them? You might wonder whether the teeth whitening treatment will cause additional sensitivity and try to understand what steps can help you with the pain after the treatment. If you are apprehensive about tooth sensitivity after getting your teeth whitened, kindly continue reading answers to your questions from the dentist in Loveland performing teeth whitening treatments on many patients.

Does Teeth Whitening Make Your Teeth Sensitive?

Many patients experience sensitivity in their teeth after undergoing a procedure to whiten them from dentists. Dental professionals are unsure of what causes the sensitivity but think it is related to the dentinal microtubules, the microscopic channels in your teeth connecting the outer surfaces to the tooth’s nerves that help you feel sensations when eating and chewing.

Teeth whitening ingredient slightly weakens the enamel exposing the microtubules in your teeth, making them sensitive to pressure, temperatures, and other sensations.

The discomfort you experience explains why the sensitivity doesn’t remain for long but subsides when you brush with fluoride toothpaste after the teeth whitening treatment, which helps strengthen tooth enamel by remineralizing the teeth with the minerals lost during the whitening treatment. As a result, brushing with fluoridated toothpaste helps eliminate tooth sensitivity.

How Long Will You Experience Sensitivity after Teeth Whitening?

How long you might experience sensitivity from the teeth whitening treatment differs between patients. Most experiences heightened sensitivity for a few days after receiving the treatment. Unfortunately, some people prone to teeth sensitivity might experience discomfort for extended periods remaining with them for a couple of weeks.

Can You Get Your Teeth Whitened with Sensitive Teeth?

Yes, you can whiten your teeth even if tooth sensitivity affects you. However, it helps if you discuss your situation with the dentist near me providing the treatment before receiving it. The dentist will evaluate your teeth to determine whether you have undiagnosed dental issues causing the sensitivity and will adjust your whitening treatment to best suit your needs.

For example, the dentist may suggest using lower concentrations of hydrogen peroxide for the in-office whitening treatment or home whitening to whiten your teeth gradually instead of aiming to provide instant results. In addition, the lower concentration of hydrogen peroxide helps reduce the feeling of sensitivity to keep you comfortable during your treatment.

How to Deal with Sensitivity After My Treatment?

If you intend to deal with the sensitivity after your treatment, you must brush your teeth daily with fluoride toothpaste that helps strengthen your tooth enamel. You can also switch over to other brands offering similar anti-sensitivity toothpaste. The toothpaste and regular brushing alleviate your discomfort. You can also receive help from fluoride rinses for strengthening and cleaning teeth.

It helps if you avoid using electric toothbrushes that vibrate and consider switching to a soft-bristled toothbrush for gentle brushing with your teeth and gums to prevent discomfort.

In addition, you must avoid extremely hot or cold foods for a few days after your whitening treatment if you feel sensitivity in them.

Whitening treatments provided by dentists in the office or at home remedies consider your unique needs to tailor a treatment plan explicitly for you. However, the dentist providing the treatment will not be aware of your tooth sensitivity and require the information from you to ensure the lower concentration of the ingredients used during the whitening treatments.

Dentists are aware many patients experience tooth sensitivity after their teeth whitened. Therefore at the end of every treatment, the dentist asks the patient to rinse their mouths and receive a fluoride treatment to prevent sensitivity even when they have not received any information from the patient. However, if you discuss your tooth sensitivity with a nearby dentist, they will customize your treatment to ensure you are comfortable during and after getting your teeth whitened.

When you discuss your concerns with the dentist, they will likely give you a list of products you can purchase over-the-counter for home use for a couple of weeks after getting your teeth whitened to help alleviate the sensitivity. However, you must provide them with the information to ensure they act accordingly and make every effort possible to ensure you enjoy your beautiful smile after the whitening without the sensitivity or discomfort in your mouth.

Fox Creek Dental by Espire Loveland frequently performs teeth whitening treatments on many patients after examining them and inquiring about tooth sensitivity to create a tailor-made treatment plan for them. If you experience tooth sensitivity but need teeth whitening, discuss your problem with this practice to prevent discomfort after whitening your teeth.