Teeth Whitening for Sensitive Teeth: What to Expect

A brighter smile can help you look your best and feel more confident. And with the latest advancements in teeth whitening, you have options to break up stains and get that pearly smile you deserve. 

That said, whitening can cause one unwelcome side effect: heightened tooth sensitivity. If you already have sensitive teeth, you might be concerned that brightening your smile will make your discomfort unbearable. 

Fortunately, you can get whiter teeth without a lasting sensitivity issue. Here at Sokoly Dental in Washington, D.C., Thomas D. Sokoly, DDS, and our team offer whitening options tailored to your teeth. This way, we can minimize gum irritation and tooth sensitivity while helping you move toward your smile goals. 

Let’s take a closer look at why professional whitening is a less problematic route for sensitive teeth. 

Store-bought whiteners and sensitive teeth

You can buy teeth whitening products in the store, but they heighten your risk for sensitivity issues. Strips, trays, and pens aren’t designed to fit your specific smile. As a result, it’s relatively common for the whitening agents in store-bought solutions to move around in your mouth. 

That means the whitening agent has the opportunity to come into contact with your gums, irritating them and making your mouth more uncomfortable. 

At the same time, the whitening agents in store-bought options aren’t as strong as the ones in our professional teeth-whitening treatments. That means you have a heightened risk of sensitivity paired with less dramatic results. 

Protecting your teeth while brightening your smile

Here at Sokoly Dental, Dr. Sokoly and our team offer two paths toward whiter teeth: in-office whitening or take-home kits. 

When you choose to whiten your teeth in our office, we apply a protective coating over your gums before we get started. This helps minimize irritation and sensitivity afterward.

If you opt for take-home whitening, we customize the trays to your smile. That means they fit precisely over your teeth, keeping the whitening agent where it should be. 

No matter which type of professional teeth whitening you choose, you slash your risk for tooth sensitivity and gum problems. And at the same time, you get access to higher-grade whitening agents, delivering a notably brighter smile. 

So, if you struggle with tooth sensitivity already, you might have some discomfort right after treatment. It should go away within a few days. We also have some suggestions to help you manage that brief period. 

Tips to help with sensitivity after whitening

If you’re doing at-home whitening, you can wait longer between using your trays to minimize your sensitivity. 

With both in-office and at-home whitening, using toothpaste for sensitive teeth before and after may also help. Look for a toothpaste that contains potassium nitrate, which has been shown to reduce sensitivity. 

Finally, be cognizant of the temperature of the things you eat and drink the first few days after whitening. Avoid frozen things like ice cream, and if you’re drinking a cold beverage, use a straw. Let hot drinks and foods cool a bit before you enjoy them. 

Ultimately, if you have sensitive teeth, you can still whiten your teeth. Working with an experienced team like ours helps minimize any additional sensitivity you feel. 

To explore your professional teeth whitening options, call our Washington, D.C., office or book your appointment online today.