The following article has been medically reviewed for factual accuracies and current orthodontic practices by Dr. Febin Mary George, DDS.
Did you know that according to HealthDay News, one in eight people suffer from sensitive teeth after whitening? It may not seem like a big deal to those who don’t deal with the after-effects, but for those who do, it’s a serious problem. People who experience sensitive teeth after whitening shouldn’t have to suffer from whitening treatments and be stuck with less than desirable teeth. Let’s look at one of the safest ways to whiten teeth.
Sensitive teeth after whitening occur for a variety of reasons but the main one is that your gums are being exposed to the treatment. Gums are not teeth. The anatomy of gums is completely different from teeth. They are two different body parts and respond differently to textures, chemicals, and substances. When whitening gel from teeth strips or light rays from blue light whitening treatments hit your gums during the treatments, they can become puffy, sensitive, sore, or even begin to bleed. This is a red flag that your whitening treatment is not working correctly or that you are over whitening. Whitening strips can slip off and their gel can come into contact with your gums making them sensitive or damaging them and whitening lights will blast your entire mouth.
If your gums are fine, but you’re still having sensitive teeth after whitening, then you are probably using a whitening treatment that is too strong. Teeth are protected by their enamel and when that wears down they can become extra sensitive to hot or cold liquids or other substances like whitening gel. Some whitening kits offer just one whitening gel for all. That may work for most people but for the ones who suffer from sensitive teeth, it’s not worth the risk. SportingSmiles offers two different types of whitening gel with their custom whitening trays. The 35% carbamide peroxide is the industry standard when it comes to whitening treatments but for those who want less strength to prevent sensitivity, SportingSmiles offers 22% carbamide peroxide, perfect for those who want a little less strong but still want white results.
While whitening kits like blue lights, white pens, and whitening strips can expose your teeth to extra gel or harsh treatments, custom whitening trays are designed to protect your entire mouth. Wearing custom whitening trays will encase your teeth in protective trays that the gel is placed into. When the gel is in the contact with your saliva, it will foam and whiten the backs, front, cracks, and crevices of your teeth. The bigger benefit of whitening trays for sensitive users is that the trays protect your gums. You won’t need much gel in the trays because it foams up and the trays encase your teeth so it’s very difficult for the gel to escape from the trays and land on your teeth. This is a protective measure that will whiten your teeth while still keeping them safe from the contact of gel.
SportingSmiles has been in business crafting custom whitening trays since 2009. We’ve helped over one million people brighten their smiles, some with sensitive teeth which is why we offer the 22% carbamide peroxide. Along with the safety of your teeth, you won’t need to leave your home with free 3-way shipping. Just order the patented impression kit from SportingSmiles and take impressions of your teeth before sending them back to the state-of-the-art dental lab. Sensitive teeth after whitening occur when the gel is overused or the enamel of teeth has been worn down by strong treatments. SportingSmiles and the custom whitening trays offer a safe option for those who suffer from teeth sensitivity but want that perfect white smile.
