How to Avoid Sensitivity After Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is an amazing service, but it can sometimes make your pearly whites sensitive and sore. The risk is enough that many would-be patients hesitate; no one wants to have an aching smile. Luckily enough, there are ways to prevent sensitive teeth after your treatment. Your North Bethesda dentist will even share them with you, ensuring you have a smoother path to a pretty smile. Just keep reading to learn how to avoid sensitivity after teeth whitening work.

Teeth Whitening Causes Sensitivity?

While modern teeth whitening is quite safe, it does have a slight downside. The treatment can make teeth feel sensitive in some instances.

You see, whitening products – whether professional or over-the-counter – use hydrogen peroxide as their active ingredient. This material can make enamel more porous and expose your smile’s dentin, which has various nerves. That means a whitening treatment may cause your teeth to ache during and after your procedure. (However, in-office methods hardly ever do; the effect is more common with store-bought approaches.)

The good news is that such sensitivity is a short-term effect. After a few days at most, it should go away without any issues.

How Can You Avoid This Sensitivity?

Given the right steps, a patient can avoid post-whitening sensitivity. All you’d need to do is use the following tips:

Stay Away from Extreme Temperatures

After your whitening procedure, try not to put anything really hot or cold in your mouth. You’re more likely to avoid sensitive teeth that way.

A newly whitened smile can react harshly to extreme temperatures. With its dentin (temporarily) exposed, contact with hot or cold objects may cause pains and aches. You should thus stick with room temperature foods and drinks right after treatment, as well as mild oral care products.

Consider Lower Peroxide Levels

If you’re whitening your teeth at home, use lower peroxide levels as best you can. Doing so will reduce the risk of post-treatment sensitivity.

Remember, it’s hydrogen peroxide that can make teeth sensitive in the first place. Using less of the stuff will leave your smile less porous and your dentin better protected. To that extent, consider using mild teeth whitening products from your local supermarket or pharmacy. Applying them for short intervals would be a good idea as well.

Use Desensitizing Toothpaste

Another idea is to clean your teeth with desensitizing toothpaste after whitening. After all, it shouldn’t cause your smile any major soreness.

Many desensitizing toothpaste brands keep teeth from feeling sore at all. Thanks to their ingredients, they can either block pain signals to the brain or seal your smile’s dentin layer. That means such toothpaste will protect you from post-whitening aches and other discomfort.

If you want further advice, consult your local dental practice. They’ll gladly help you avoid sensitivity after teeth whitening.

About the Practice

Aesthetic & Family Dentistry of North Bethesda is based in North Bethesda, MD. Led by Drs. Obholz, Kaur, and Jung, our practice always offers trustworthy dental care. Patients can rest assured that we tailor our varied services to your smile’s exact needs. In doing so, our team ensures your whole family can sport strong grins for a lifetime! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (301)-658-7647.