Is It Possible to Whiten Sensitive Teeth?
Dr. B. Kanagasabapathy
[M.D.S. (Ortho), Fellow ICOI]
Teeth Whitening is the process of lightening the surface color of teeth to a certain degree. It is a widely performed cosmetic dentistry procedure for people who want to get rid of teeth discolorations and redefine their pearly, white smile. Generally, patients feel some sort of sensitivity in their teeth after the bleaching procedure.
The degree of sensation varies for each people but will subside in a few days. It is inevitable because the bleaching agents penetrate the enamel layer. It means that people with worn-out enamel will have a lot of trouble.
Hence cosmetic dentists deliver custom-made, comfort whitening solutions to those who have sensitive teeth.
Why do teeth whitening treatments cause teeth sensitivity?
Whether it is in-office or at-home teeth whitening, the bleaching agents contain abrasive ingredients like carbamide or hydrogen peroxide. When the whitening agent is applied over the teeth surface, it protrudes inside the enamel and reaches the dentin where nerves and soft tissues are located. When such soft tissues are exposed to a foreign substance, they get irritated and provoke sharp pain.
Over time, the bleaching agent becomes inactive but pores in the teeth are exposed, which causes teeth dehydration. The sensitive pan is occurred due to the combination of irritation in soft tissues and pressure exerted on the minute grooves in enamel.
Teeth sensitivity after whitening will exist until the pressure is relieved due to rehydration through saliva production after many hours.
What are the teeth whitening solutions available for sensitive teeth?
If you have teeth sensitivity and require dental whitening, inform your dentist during consultation. Once your dentist pinpoints the root cause of sensitiveness in teeth, he/she will whiten the teeth after fixing the underlying problem.
However, teeth whitening is not viable if the sensitivity is caused by the cavity or gum diseases. Here are the customized bleaching solutions available to whiten sensitive teeth:
- Professional Teeth Whitening – People with sensitive teeth can also get in-office dental whitening treatments. It is because the whitening agents used nowadays are well-buffered so that you don’t worry about the irritations. Moreover, dentists use gels and desensitizers to reduce sensitivity during the procedure. Meanwhile, the dentists monitor the process to ensure whether the teeth are safe during the whitening treatment.
- DIY Teeth whitening trays – If you prefer at-home whitening solutions, get the whitening trays from your dentist. It contains alternate fluoride with whitening agents to bleach your teeth without any irritations. You cannot get whitening trays with recommended sensitivity products in the market. So it is better to get it from your dentist and use it as per the doctor’s guidelines.
- Dental Veneers – Veneers are teeth-colored thin shells made up of ceramic or porcelain. They are affixed over the teeth surfaces using an adhesive agent. Veneers are preferred during smile makeover procedures when stains are stubborn and cannot be eliminated with whitening solutions. They are also recommended for people whose enamel is extremely worn down.
Bottom line
Except certain circumstances, teeth sensitivity cannot prevent you from whitening your teeth. Bleaching sensitive teeth is also now achievable thanks to the advancements in whitening technology. Moreover, you have numerous options like fluoride rinses, gels, toothpaste, and varnishes formulated to keep the teeth with worn-out enamel clean & white. Consult your dentist to choose the right one.
