1. Painless Polishing
Teeth whitening is a popular way to take years off your smile. Over time teeth get dingy or yellow due to the foods we eat and drink. Smokers have more trouble with yellow teeth than others, but regular coffee and tea drinkers get lots of staining as well. Even with the best of brushing, flossing and rinsing, most of us experience some tooth discoloration as we age. Teeth whitening is a fairly quick process performed in the dentist's office. Teeth whitening products use peroxide to whiten teeth so there's usually no pain associated with the process. If your experience produces pain, let your dentist know right away.
2. Tender Tissues
The soft tissues of the mouth are naturally sensitive. Since teeth whitening uses peroxide and peroxide is a caustic substance some irritation can happen. That's why most dentists take great care in isolating each tooth so the gums and tissue don't come in contact with the peroxide. Dentists use a dental dam to protect the mouth from the bleaching agent.
3. No Numbing
Dentists do not numb a patient's mouth during teeth whitening. The reason is because teeth become sensitive to the whitening process if it takes too long. This lets the dentist know that they've done enough for one visit so that the nerve tissue inside the tooth isn't irritated. Discomfort also helps the dentist know that peroxide might be coming in contact with the mouth or gums.
4. Too Hot, Too Cold
After a dental whitening procedure at the dentist office, teeth sometimes have sensitivity to hot and cold things. This is true even if you've never had tooth sensitivity before. Many dentists finish the whitening process by adding a fluoride treatment. This can reduce the sensitivity. It's also easy to get over the counter toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Toothpaste like Sensodyne relieves sensitivity with continuous use.
5. Rare But True
Occasionally after a whitening treatment patients can experience sudden pain hours later. This might be a signal that the whitening agent came in contact with the nerve inside the tooth. It also may mean the process dehydrated the tooth. This is especially true if the dentist used a laser light or activating light during the whitening process. Over-exposure of the teeth to excessive heat from these types of lamps can cause pain. If you experience any of these symptoms after a whitening procedure, contact your dentist immediately.
