Modern teeth whitening is highly effective, but it also carries a slight risk of side effects. This type of dental work can sometimes cause tooth sensitivity – a subtle sense of soreness in one’s enamel. Should you pursue it soon, you’ll want to know how to avoid sensitivity after teeth whitening. The good news is that your Wakefield dentist can help you do so! With that said, read on to learn some great ways to avoid post-whitening sensitivity.
Teeth Whitening & Sensitivity
Teeth whitening is a very safe procedure, especially compared to other cosmetic dental options. Still, the treatment could make your grin a bit sensitive.
It comes down to how whitening uses hydrogen peroxide. While this ingredient makes enamel porous, it also exposes your dentin – the layer of your smile with tubules and nerves. Such an effect can make your teeth temporarily sore after a whitening procedure,
Of course, it’s not like this sensitivity is truly harsh. Any felt aches should fade within a few days, and the pain won’t be intense.
3 Ways to Avoid Post-Whitening Sensitivity
Rather than suffer post-whitening sensitivity, you should try to avoid it entirely. Therefore, please use the following tips:
Get Professional Treatment
Unlike store-bought whitening, professional whitening rarely causes sensitivity. That means you could avoid post-treatment issues by getting care from a dentist.
The truth is that a dentist’s whitening work is personalized to your smile. Indeed, it tailors the amount of bleaching gel used to ensure treatment is ache-free. Professional whitening also tends to use special trays, which reduce the risk of the gel irritating your mouth. These elements make the “pro” approach unlikely to cause any tooth sensitivity.
Use a Numbing Toothpaste
Another option is to clean your newly-whitened smile with a numbing toothpaste. After all, doing so would ease any soreness in your teeth.
Numbing or “de-sensitizing” toothpaste can prevent achy teeth. As for the reason, it’s simple: this paste would block pain signals to the brain or seal your smile’s dentin layer. Either effect would ensure your smile is protected from aches and similar discomfort.
Only Eat Room-Temperature Food
Lastly, patients can often avoid post-whitening aches by only eating room-temperature meals. Refraining from hot or cold foods for a few days leads to less pain.
You see, hydrogen peroxide can react harshly to extreme temperatures. Enamel covered with the stuff can thus ache from very hot or cold objects. If you want to avoid such pain, sticking to room-temperature foods and drinks is the best option. You should also rely on mild oral care products.
If you’d like, you can learn other ways to avoid sensitivity after teeth whitening. Just consult your dental provider about the relevant methods!
About the Practice
Schumacher Dental is based in Wakefield, MA. Led by Drs. Schumacher and Staniek, our practice loves to provide quality dentistry to the local community. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and even restorative treatments, as well as care for dental emergencies. Our team can also provide you with pain-free teeth whitening, assuming you’d want to try it. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (781)-334-3400.