Protecting Our Kids' Smiles

If you have sensitive teeth and want to use a DIY kit to make your teeth look whiter, you may be worried about how the treatment's bleaching agents will affect your sensitivity levels. The bleaching agents in whitening treatments can make teeth even more sensitive than they usually are. While this typically passes as the bleach settles into your teeth, you may want to find ways to avoid adding to your problems by getting your sensitivity under control before you apply a treatment.

Try to Reduce Your Sensitivity

Adding bleaching agents to already sensitive teeth may not be the best idea. If your teeth are already sensitive, your pain may simply get worse after your treatment. So, it's a good idea to try to get your teeth back to a more robust state before you apply a home whitening kit. 

For example, you may find it useful to start using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth before you use a whitening treatment. These kinds of toothpastes contain ingredients that block the nerve endings on your teeth that typically cause sensitivity.

If you use a sensitive toothpaste for a week or two before you whiten, you may well notice that your teeth's sensitivity reduces. If you can lower this level, any extra sensitivity you might get from your home bleaching will, at the very least, be a little less painful.

Desensitise Your Teeth Before Whitening

It may also be worth adding a desensitising gel to your whitening mix before you expose your teeth to the treatment. While these gels are typically designed to be used after a whitening treatment, it may help to use them before you bleach as well.

Desensitising gels contain ingredients that are considered to reduce tooth sensitivity such as potassium nitrate. Potassium ions may help to make your teeth less sensitive by blocking the actions of nerve cells in your teeth. If your teeth are still a little sensitive before bleaching, this may make them a little less painful after the treatment.

Tip: If your teeth are a little sensitive after home whitening, it's a good idea to continue to use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth and a desensitising gel until things settle down. 

If switching toothpastes and using a desensitising gel doesn't help fix your sensitivity issues, it may be worth talking to your dentist before you whiten your teeth. Your dentist may be able to help you find other ways to get your teeth back to normal sensitivity levels; alternatively, your dentist may be able to recommend the best whitening treatments for sensitive teeth.