Dirty, discolored teeth can keep you from smiling, prevent you from landing a good job and make you look older than you actually are. Often, people turn to teeth whitening as an effective way to remove tooth stains.  Although teeth whitening can promote self-confidence, it can be painful for people with sensitive teeth. If you have dirty, sensitive teeth, here's what you need to know about teeth whitening, besides ways to make this process less uncomfortable. 

How Teeth Whitening Sensitivity Occurs

The solid exterior part of a tooth is the enamel. Encased in this hard outer layer is what's known as dentin, which contains nerves. During the process of tooth whitening the enamel becomes more porous, which exposes the dentin.

Whitening trays that are poorly constructed can cause whitening gels to leak out, which can irritate gums from chemical burns. Even worse, the trays in tooth whitening products can place orthodontic pressure on the teeth, causing soreness.

Factors Impacting Sensitivity

The two primary tooth whitening factors affecting sensitivity are peroxide levels and application time.

Most teeth whitening products contain peroxide. The higher levels of peroxide concentrations in professional teeth whitening products are formulated to whiten teeth faster. However, these higher peroxide levels can cause tooth irritation and sensitivity. These sensitivity problems have resulted in new research. As a result, there are now whitening products with lower levels of peroxide. Therefore, people with sensitive teeth should use these products.

Another key factor affecting whitening effectiveness is the length of time hydrogen peroxide is on the surface of teeth. Longer application times can negatively affect teeth. People who have sensitive teeth should have shorter application times, such as only five minutes for a single application. Rather than whitening your teeth every day, cut back to every other day. Brief breaks between treatments can sometimes help relieve sensitivity.

Additional Tips to Decrease Tooth Whitening Sensitivity

•           Carefully follow the instructions of either a commercial product or the guidelines of a dentist.

•           Take NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) before whitening your teeth.

•           Don't drink extremely hot or cold beverages after whitening your teeth, because this can promote sensitivity.

•           Use toothbrushes that have soft bristles. This not only reduces sensitivity, but it's also gentler on your teeth.

Professional vs. Home Tooth Bleaching

To save money, some people whiten their teeth at home by using over-the-counter products. But they may not realize that they could be risking their gums becoming damaged or irritated. What's more, professional teeth whitening renders faster results. When a cosmetic dentist whitens your teeth, results can be seen immediately after a treatment. It only takes a few applications for the entire process to be completed. On the other hand, it can take several weeks or months for over-the-counter products to work.

If you have any questions about whitening your teeth, see your dentist before you begin a treatment. Even over-the-counter whitening preparations should be supervised by a dentist. By diagnosing the reason for your sensitivity, your cosmetic dentistry professional can treat the root cause, which may include tooth wear, gum recessions, tooth grinding.or other problems.

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