No One Wants Dental Sensitivity! Here’s How You Can Avoid It After Teeth Whitening

When you eat ice cream, your teeth hurt. When you bite into a hot brownie, your teeth hurt. And when you suck in too much air too fast – your teeth hurt! This is dental sensitivity, and no one would say that it’s a fun experience. Knowing this, you might be worried about getting a teeth whitening treatment.

While it’s true that store-bought products can make your teeth tender, professional treatments rarely cause prolonged discomfort. By working closely with your dentist, you can tip the odds to be even more in your favor.

Customize Your Whitening Treatment

One of the reasons professional treatments are generally safer than store-bought whitening is that your dentist can customize your plan. Here’s a few ways they can adjust your take-home kit:

• Lower bleach concentrations. If you have a history of dental sensitivity or simply don’t want to deal with potential unpleasantness, your dentist can lower the concentration of your whitening agent to be gentler on your enamel.
• Use smaller quantities. Applying less bleach to your trays can also help, and your dentist will be able to find the right balance between quantity and effectiveness.
• Personalize your trays. Unlike with store-bought whitening trays, your dentist’s will fit your smile perfectly, minimizing the risk of the bleach touching your delicate gums.

Take a Break

The cool thing about take-home whitening kits is that you can treat your teeth at your own pace. If your pearly whites do start to feel a bit tender, you can simply take a break. Wait a day or so for the discomfort to fade, then pick your trays back up and continue applying the whitening agents as normal.

Desensitize Your Teeth

In the weeks leading up to your appointment, you can take steps to desensitize and strengthen your touchy pearly whites. Talk to your dentist, and they can recommend effective desensitizing toothpastes to add to your oral hygiene routine. Depending on the extent of your sensitivity, they might also recommend getting a fluoride treatment for some extra protection.

With your dentist’s professional insight, you can successfully avoid prolonged dental sensitivity after your teeth whitening treatment!

About the Author

Dr. Karen Ho has been practicing dentistry for 20 years, so you could say she knows her way around a teeth whitening treatment. With a natural attention to detail, she’ll be able to create an effective plan for helping you avoid dental sensitivity. To schedule your pain-free smile transformation today, call Dr. Ho’s office at 408-558-9444 or submit your request online.