When you use over-the-counter whitening products, do your teeth often feel sensitive afterward? You may not be able to enjoy hot or cold foods as easily, but it also makes it harder for you to get the results you want. Thankfully, there are ways you can lessen it. Simply follow these tips, but learn how your dentist can help make a more dramatic transformation that’s comfortable.
How Can I Reduce Any Sensitivity I Have After Whitening?
Store-bought whitening kits expose your smile to bleaching gel. It’s designed to penetrate your enamel to remove stains, but it’s oftentimes weak, only giving you a one- or two-shade difference after a couple of weeks.
You’ll likely use these products consistently to get the results you want, but they erode your teeth’s outer layer over time. This exposes the dentin underneath, which has channels that go down to the nerve. When this happens, it causes sensitivity you know all too well. Here are a few ways you can get relief from it:
- Limit hot, cold, acidic, and overly sweet foods for a short while. They can trigger the discomfort you feel, so avoid them when it’s time to eat.
- Take breaks from whitening products, as it’s easy to overuse them. Stopping can help your enamel recover, but if you continue, then you can worsen the side effect.
- Use desensitizing toothpaste as it has special ingredients that remineralize the outer layer of your teeth while also blocking the channels in dentin. Using them can help you get rid of it over time.
Is There a Way to Avoid Post-Whitening Sensitivity?
As was mentioned above, your dentist can help you get a brighter smile that usually doesn’t lead to sensitivity. They do this with a professional whitening treatment, which uses a much higher-quality bleaching gel. Regardless of whether you do it at home or in the office, they customize your service, so you enjoy getting safer and more effective results.
What Should I Expect During a Professional Whitening Treatment?
If you go in-office for a professional treatment, your dentist will first take steps to protect your gums and tongue. They’ll then apply the whitening agent to your teeth and let it sit there for a short while. You’ll be checked on periodically to ensure your enamel is still strong and healthy. The entire visit often takes about an hour, but you get results that are up to eight shades brighter.
A more convenient option is a take-home kit. Your dentist will give you customized trays that you’ll wear for a specific amount of time for about two weeks. Keep up with their directions, and you can get similar results as an in-office visit.
In the end, your dentist has your best interests in mind. They’ll personalize your treatment, doing their best to help you avoid any sensitivity; that way, you enjoy your refreshed smile without any worries.
About the Practice
At Collinsville Dental Associates, you benefit from a compassionate team of dentists who look after you and your oral health. We are happy to help the local community get the aesthetic grins they dream of with a wide range of cosmetic treatments, such as professional teeth whitening.
By tailoring your service, we can get you to the results you love without the discomfort you may get from store-bought products. If you are interested in getting a brighter set of teeth, schedule an appointment or call our office at (276) 647-1494.