You’ve just finished using your whitening strips, excited to see a brighter smile, but instead of that, you’re greeted with sudden sensitivity. Now, instead of showing off that radiant smile, you’re left wondering how to relieve tooth pain from whitening strips. Don’t worry; there are ways to get back to enjoying your smile – here’s how.
How Do Whitening Strips Work?
Whitening strips are thin sheets of plastic coated with bleaching gels such as hydrogen or carbamide peroxide. Using them is pretty straightforward – you place one on the upper teeth and one on the lower ones.
Once the strips are on the teeth, the active ingredient in the gel brightens up your smile by removing surface stains from drinking coffee, eating certain foods, and other practices that cause discoloration. How long you leave them on varies from one product to another, and it’s super important to follow the guidelines when it comes to this.
Are Whitening Strips Safe?
As long as you follow the product’s instructions, this teeth whitening method is generally considered safe. However, you should only use strips with the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance, as there are many products out there, and some of them are neither effective nor safe. After all, with around 35 million people trying out different products each year, there are bound to be some bad apples in the bunch.
Why Are My Teeth Feeling Sensitive After Using Them?
It’s pretty common to experience sensitive teeth after brightening your smile, especially if you’re trying at-home solutions such as whitening strips. If that’s the case, there are a couple of reasons why your teeth and gums are feeling irritated all of a sudden:
- You’re using a product with too much hydrogen peroxide,
- You’ve put the strips the wrong way or left them on for too long,
- You’re not sure how often you can do it and are overusing it,
- You’ve got existing dental conditions such as weakened enamel.
How to Relieve Tooth Pain From Whitening Strips
While sensitivity is a pretty common occurrence when using these strips, the good news is that it usually lasts only a couple of days. If it sticks around for more than a week or starts to feel even more uncomfortable, schedule an appointment with your Charlotte dentist in SouthPark as soon as possible. In the meantime, there are a couple of things you can do to keep the sensitivity at bay.
Try a Soft-Bristled Brush and Desensitizing Toothpaste
Adding a desensitizing toothpaste to your usual oral hygiene routine can make a big difference. Make sure to let it sit on your teeth for a few minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water. When brushing, stick to a soft-bristled toothbrush – anything else, and the sensitivity could get more intense, especially if you’re used to brushing a little too hard.
Avoid Both Ice-Cold and Warm Foods and Drinks
Knowing exactly what to eat is very important to feel as comfortable as possible. Ice-cold or hot drinks and meals won’t be delicious when you’re dealing with sensitive teeth, so make sure to stay away from those. The same goes for acidic things such as citrus fruits and sodas, as they can increase sensitivity.
Aspire Dental Wellness Offers Comfortable Ways to Brighten up Your Smile
While ADA-approved whitening strips can be a great at-home solution for brightening up your smile, even the best products can get rid of only surface stains. This means that for deeper discoloration, these over-the-counter kits simply won’t do the trick.
So, if you’re looking for a more thorough solution or you’d like to make sure everything is completely safe, a cosmetic dental treatment done by a professional is the way to go. And we’re not talking about one single method. Our practice of cosmetic dentistry in Charlotte, NC, can treat even the most complex cases of discoloration, but for most smiles, the following options are more than enough:
- At-home kit – we can create a completely customized tray to use with a fluoride solution, and we’ll walk you through the whole process,
- TouchWhite™ Fotona – this is a laser treatment that completely minimizes the chances of sensitivity or irritation occurring, all while bringing long-lasting results,
- MAX Whitening – combining the convenience of at-home care with one in-office laser session, this option delivers both immediate and long-term results.
Still Want to Try Whitening Strips? We Can Always Provide Guidance
As you can see, our team at Aspire Dental Wellness doesn’t only offer in-office solutions. We can create completely customized trays with a safe whitening agent, helping you bring out those pearly whites from the comfort of your own home.
However, if you’ve found an over-the-counter product you really want to try out, our cosmetic dentist in Charlotte, NC, will be more than happy to provide you with guidance. One quick dental exam is all we need to make sure your oral health is where it should be, and you’re all set for this dazzling adventure. And if anything goes awry at any point, you can always count on our team to have your back.
Let’s Bring Comfort and Sparkle Back to Your Smile!
With our team, led by Dr. Sladjana Bjelac, sensitivity can’t put a damper on your bright new smile! We’re here to make sure your teeth get the care they need in a welcoming, stress-free atmosphere.
Even if you’d much rather work on your smile from the comfort of that comfy living room couch, we’ll provide you with the necessary guidance so that everything goes over smoothly. Contact us and schedule your appointment today – it’s the only thing holding you back from enjoying a brighter smile in the most comfortable way possible!
