Question: What shall I do if my teeth are becoming very sensitive while I’m bleaching?
Answer: Here we have an excellent reason for doing your teeth whitening under professional supervision, especially supervision by a well-trained cosmetic dentist. Teeth sensitivity can often occur while you are bleaching, and there are a number of possible remedies available to your expert cosmetic dentist. And it’s important to address the sensitivity issue because, if it’s ignored, it could lead to damage to the tooth.
Usually the sensitivity is mild and transitory, but there are rare occasions when it can become extreme. Expert cosmetic dentists are generally familiar with special desensitizing gels that can be used during the bleaching process. You can also decrease the bleaching frequency to, say, every other day, or use a different bleach gel formulation that addresses the sensitivity problem. Or there are other remedies, such as a special toothpaste for sensitive teeth.
The sensitivity during bleaching could also be coming from a leaky filling or a cavity or other problem in a tooth that should have been fixed before starting the bleaching.
Almost every brand of toothpaste claims to be a whitening toothpaste. There is maybe one brand that can claim that, but in general, toothpastes will not whiten the structure of your tooth.
Related information:
- Read about Zoom bleaching treatments.
- Click here for referral to an expert cosmetic dentist.
- To return to the frequent questions page, click here.
This content was written by Dr. David Hall.
Click here to ask Dr. Hall a question and receive an answer by email.