In what will probably be my final posts on teeth whitening for a while (though I'm always open to questions), I'll discuss two of the biggest issues with whitening that practitioners sometimes ignore: teeth sensitivity and relapse. Lets begin with sensitivity.
Though teeth sensitivity from whitening is almost always transitory, it can be quite annoying for some people. This sensitivity typically manifests itself during and/or for a few days after whitening treatment. The symptoms generally include sharp pain to hot or cold things upon tooth contact, and the spectrum of pain can be anywhere from mildly annoying to, on occasion, downright unbearable . It is unclear whether teeth dehydration during treatment or the hydrogen peroxide in the whitening agent plays a larger role in causing this transient sensitivity. Younger people (below the age of 40 or so) are typically more prone to sensitivity due to the higher nerve activity within their teeth, as are people whose teeth are already somewhat sensitive to hot or cold liquids. In reality, though, it is difficult to predict whose teeth is most prone to sensitivity. Options do exist to help prevent sensitivity, and they are as follows:
- Whiten less frequently (every other day as opposed to every day) and/or use a weaker whitening agent. Both of these options will cause your teeth to whiten more slowly, though.
- Use a whitening agent that contains the desensitizer potassium nitrate (active ingredient in Sensodyne) and/or fluoride which has also been shown to reduce teeth sensitivity.
- Inject Potassium Nitrate and/or 1,000 ppm (parts per million) sodium fluoride into customized whitening trays for 10 to 30 minutes before and after each whitening session.
- Brush with a prescription level, 5,000 ppm fluoride toothpaste for a week or so before whitening and during whitening.
- Apply the syringe-delivered desensitizing gel included with some in-office whitening systems.
- FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS. This is especially true for higher concentration whitening agents. If, for example, the instructions say to leave the whitening agent on for an hour and you use it overnight, your teeth will very likely become sensitive. I have seen this happen and believe me, the people where not happy!
It is important to reiterate that any tooth whitening sensitivity experienced is almost always transitory. Though cases may be out there where permanent damage was done to teeth from whitening, I haven't encountered any in my research. So if your teeth continue to feel sensitive a week or two after whitening without any signs of getting better, see your dentist because there is a reasonable chance the pain's origin is not the whitening agent.
My next post will be on whitening relapse. Happy Holidays everyone!
-DRS
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