Sensitive Teeth After Whitening: What to Do to Relieve Your Pain

If you are experiencing sensitive teeth after whitening them, it can be pretty uncomfortable. In fact, any type of tooth sensitivity can be pretty awful to deal with, but what causes it when you whiten your teeth, and should you be worried? 

This article will discuss teeth sensitivity and why whitening treatments can cause it, as well as answer the following questions: 

• What are sensitive teeth?
• Why do teeth get sensitive after whitening?
• How to help sensitive teeth after whitening
• Are there any home remedies for sensitive teeth after whitening?
• Which products are best for treating sensitive teeth? 

Having sensitive teeth is never comfortable, but fortunately, there are a few ways you can help to reduce the pain and discomfort after whitening them. But, before we get into what to do about sensitive teeth after whitening, let’s find out more about sensitive teeth in general. 

What are sensitive teeth?

If you have sensitive teeth the first sign is usually a sharp pain in your teeth, typically because you have a tooth sensitive to cold or hot stimuli. Sometimes it can be a dull ache that lasts slightly longer, and sometimes, depending on the cause, it can last for a few weeks or months. 

If your teeth sensitivity is causing you intense pain and discomfort or lasts for weeks on end then it’s important you consult your dentist. You may have an underlying issue that needs professional dental treatment.

Some of the causes of teeth sensitivity include: 

• Worn down, thinning, or damaged tooth enamel 
• Gum disease or erosion 
• Tooth decay and cavities (what does that look like?)
• A cracked or chipped tooth 
• Exposed tooth roots 
• Ill-fitting or damaged fillings 
• After a filling or other dental work 
• Pregnancy 
• Teeth whitening treatments 

While you should always check with a dentist to make sure first, some of these causes can be managed at home. 

In the case of sensitivity after teeth whitening, you have 2 main options. You can choose whitening treatments designed for sensitive teeth or you can use products to help desensitize and remineralize your teeth after whitening them. 

But first, let's discuss the reasons why your teeth might feel sensitive after whitening them. 

Why are teeth sensitive after whitening treatments? 

The main cause of tooth sensitivity after whitening is the use of peroxide-based whitening products. Both hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide are effective ingredients in whitening products. 

However, they can cause sensitive teeth because when used in high doses they can be damaging to your enamel and gum tissue. Even when used carefully in safe dosages, they can make your enamel temporarily more permeable resulting in the underlying dentin and nerves being exposed.

Another reason your teeth may feel sensitive after bleaching with peroxides is the way they work. Peroxides release free radicals when they oxidize stains, which results in damage to the tissue affected, leaving your teeth sensitive after the whitening treatment. 

You shouldn't experience any severe pain after teeth whitening, so it's important you consult your dentist if you do. Damage to your enamel can be permanent, so it is important to be careful when whitening with peroxides, and take steps to care for your teeth before and afterward. 

What can you do to reduce sensitivity before whitening treatments?

If you want to whiten your teeth using treatments that may result in teeth sensitivity, there are steps you can take to minimize sensitivity before you whiten. 

• Use whitening treatments designed for sensitive teeth: Although peroxide whitening treatments are popular and effective, they are more prone to causing sensitivity. Using a non-peroxide whitening treatment like Hismile can help reduce teeth sensitivity after whitening, or try a peroxide-based product designed especially for sensitive teeth. 
• Brush your teeth with sensitive toothpaste or remineralizing toothpaste: Using sensitive toothpaste can help to address pre-existing sensitivity as well as prepare your teeth before whitening. Choosing a remineralizing toothpaste will not only help desensitize your teeth but will also strengthen your enamel before you use a whitening treatment. 
• Apply a desensitizing gel: Using a desensitizing gel directly before your treatment can help to reduce teeth sensitivity from whitening. Just apply it for the recommended amount of time and then rinse off afterward.  
• Take over-the-counter pain relief: Taking pain relief before whitening will not help strengthen your enamel but it will take the edge off temporarily after the whitening treatment. It is still advisable to use a product to help desensitize and remineralize your teeth after whitening. 

In the following video, a dental hygienist explains how to reduce teeth sensitivity when you get your teeth whitened.

How to help sensitive teeth after whitening   

Hismile is a tooth whitening company that utilizes PAP as its main whitening ingredient, which is clinically proven to be as effective as peroxide-based whitening treatments. Their PAP+ formula includes nano-hydroxyapatite, a nano-synthetic version that is made from smaller particles that cover a greater surface area of your teeth to strengthen and remineralize them. 

Hismile has a range of PAP+ whitening products including whitening strips, and toothpaste.

Hismile PAP+ Whitening Kit

If whitening causes sensitivity in your teeth, Hismile has the solution. They've created a whitening kit specifically designed for people with sensitive teeth.

The kit works with a VIO405 light which provides faster whitening power than other LED lights – in fact, it only takes 10 minutes per session.

But the real secret is the whitening serum which contains PAP+. PAP+ formula contains phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid which is a safe alternative to peroxides that doesn't release free radicals while whitening — meaning no sensitivity.

It also contains ingredients that help strengthen enamel and eliminate any sensitivity you already had before whitening.

Conclusion

Sensitive teeth after whitening treatments are common with peroxide-based products. That is because your teeth are more porous afterward, which exposes the soft dentin and nerves that are underneath your enamel.

Some peroxide-based whitening products can also damage your enamel and gum tissue if used incorrectly, or at too high doses.    

You can relieve tooth sensitivity after whitening if you use sensitive toothpaste or gel before you whiten your teeth. You can also use whitening treatments designed specifically for sensitive teeth such as the Hismile range of PAP+ products.