Pain With Tooth Whitening
Over time, foods, drinks and medications can stain your teeth, causing them to appear dingy or dull in color. Tooth whitening offers a solution to this problem by removing stains and/or bleaching tooth enamel, revealing a white smile. However, tooth bleaching can be accompanied by some side effects. Knowing what these are and how to prevent them can help you to safely achieve a whiter, brighter smile.
Features
Tooth whitening can be performed in a variety of ways, and advancements in the technique have even made at-home whitening possible. Dentists typically perform tooth whitening by applying a peroxide-based solution to the teeth, or using a laser on the teeth, according to Doc Shop 1. At-home bleaching kits often contain lower concentrations of bleach than those used during a dental office whitening treatment.
- Tooth whitening can be performed in a variety of ways, and advancements in the technique have even made at-home whitening possible.
Side Effects
Side Effects of Whitening With Carbamide Peroxide
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If you do experience these effects, they should only last a few days following your treatment.
Causes
Tooth sensitivity or pain following whitening occurs when the nerves in your teeth and gums become disturbed, according to the Cosmetic Dentistry Center, a Texas-based cosmetic dentistry practice 1. Over time, your teeth’s protective enamel over these nerves may wear down. Because a whitening treatment can bleach your teeth’s enamel, the treatment can potentially affect the enamel and nerves, making you more sensitive or causing pain 1. The nerves typically are not severely affected, and become less sensitive in a few days. However, if your pain continues or increases, see your dentist.
Risk Factors
Disadvantages of Tooth Whitening
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Some people may be more likely than others to experience pain following tooth whitening. These groups should exercise caution and discuss risks with a dentist prior to undergoing a bleaching treatment. These include those who already experience tooth sensitivity issues and smokers, according to Family Gentle Dental Care, a Nebraska-based dental practice. Because smoking damages gums and teeth, applying peroxide to these areas can have a negative effect. Also, those with sensitivity experience pain with tooth whitening at a higher percentage than those who do not have prior sensitivity issues. A dentist may recommend a lower peroxide concentration if you have sensitive teeth.
- Some people may be more likely than others to experience pain following tooth whitening.
- Also, those with sensitivity experience pain with tooth whitening at a higher percentage than those who do not have prior sensitivity issues.
Warning
Over-whitening your teeth — using whitening products so frequently that tooth enamel is affected — will make you more likely to experience pain with tooth whitening 1. This is because whitening exposes small areas in the enamel that can make the nerves more vulnerable. When you apply these whitening treatments frequently, your nerves are exposed more often. For this reason, it may be wise to wait several months to a year between whitening treatments.
- Over-whitening your teeth — using whitening products so frequently that tooth enamel is affected — will make you more likely to experience pain with tooth whitening 1.
- When you apply these whitening treatments frequently, your nerves are exposed more often.
Related Articles
References
- Doc Shop: Teeth Whitening FAQs
- Li Y, Greenwall L. Safety issues of tooth whitening using peroxide-based materials. Br Dent J. 2013;215(1):29-34. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2013.629
- Markowitz K. Pretty painful: Why does tooth bleaching hurt? Medical Hypotheses. 2010; 74(5):835-840. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.11.044
- Alqahtani MQ. Tooth-bleaching procedures and their controversial effects: A literature review. The Saudi dental journal. 2014;26(2):33-46. doi:10.1016/j.sdentj.2014.02.002
Writer Bio
Rachel Nall began writing in 2003. She is a former managing editor for custom health publications, including physician journals. She has written for The Associated Press and "Jezebel," "Charleston," "Chatter" and "Reach" magazines. Nall is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Tennessee.