How Do I Stop My Teeth From Being Sensitive After Whitening?
The abrupt jolt of pain that comes with tooth sensitivity can zap the joy out of an otherwise delicious treat. Tooth sensitivity can arise because of different reasons, such as weak tooth enamel and teeth whitening.
Teeth whitening is an amazing treatment with wonderful benefits. However, the main disadvantage is that it causes tooth sensitivity. However, not everyone experiences this; some may come out of the procedure with dazzling teeth and no sensitivity.
Seeking professional teeth whitening is the best way to go since our dentist near you can give you tips on how to care for your teeth if your teeth become sensitive.
Teeth Whitening and Tooth Sensitivity
Teeth whitening is a very common procedure and with good reason. Who wouldn’t desire to have an attractive smile? In any case, the treatment is safe and will not harm your teeth or gums, especially when our dentist near you carries out the procedure.
Even though the procedure is safe, some patients will experience tooth sensitivity in varying degrees. If you have tooth sensitivity after teeth whitening, you will experience pain or even discomfort minutes, hours, or even days after whitening your teeth.
Our dentist has to use a bleaching agent known as hydrogen peroxide to whiten your teeth. Peroxide passes through the pores on the enamel and gets into the inner surfaces of the teeth to break down the tooth stains. The bleaching agent temporarily weakens the tooth enamel to whiten your teeth. After a few days, your enamel will be back to normal.
But when peroxide reaches the nerves within the teeth, you will experience pain and tooth sensitivity. The severity of your sensitivity is dependent on:
- The strength of the products used in the whitening procedure
- Previous teeth whitening procedures
- The unique traits of your teeth
Fortunately, there are various preventive and pain-relieving measures that we can undertake to ensure that tooth sensitivity has been greatly reduced.
Tips for Reducing Tooth Sensitivity
After teeth whitening, you will need to arm yourself with some tricks to ensure that you enjoy your new bright smile. You can do the following:
- Adjusting Your Diet
As stated earlier, your teeth will become a bit weak immediately after teeth whitening. You might need to embrace that you will have to indulge in soft foods and smoothies for a couple of days. If you go for tough, crunchy, or even crispy foods, you might hurt yourself since biting into these foods requires a lot of pressure. This will be very painful. So, ease back into them after the sensitivity has subsided.
- Using a Tooth Desensitizer
After your treatment, our dentist will place a tooth desensitizer on your teeth to help you reduce sensitivity for 24 hours, which is the most critical period because this is when sensitivity is the worst.
- Use Toothpaste Designed for Sensitive Teeth
You can decide to invest in toothpaste for sensitive teeth so that you can use it for several days after your teeth whitening treatment. Getting this toothpaste is essential since it will help you keep your teeth clean and help dial down the sensitivity.
- Avoid Drinks and Foods With Extreme Temperatures
If you go for foods and drinks with extreme temperatures, you will worsen sensitivity. You can still enjoy your favorite foods and drinks, but you just have to take them when they are lukewarm or room temperature.
- Undergo Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride treatment is an excellent way of aiding your enamel to regain the lost minerals. This will ensure that your teeth are strong and there will be reduced tooth sensitivity.
- Use a Pain Reliever
Using a pain reliever before your procedure will help in reducing the sensitivity. You can just get any pain reliever from your local drug store.
- Use Soft-Bristled Toothbrushes
Soft bristles are kind to sensitive teeth than medium or hard-bristled brushes. Using this kind of toothbrush will help reduce your symptoms.
We Are Here for You
Mostly, tooth sensitivity will last no more than a few days. It is more intense the first 24 hours, then after that, the sensitivity subsides.
But, if the sensitivity intensifies or is still there after several days, then you might need to visit us at Summerland Dental Center, and we would love to help you.