Bleaching Away Sensitivity

Many patients with sensitive teeth have been simply told to avoid bleaching methods and live with yellowed or stained teeth. It’s true that tooth sensitivity can be a problem with bleaching; however, there is an alternative. For many people, it’s possible to reduce sensitivity before beginning the bleaching process. There are a couple of different ways to deal with the problem.
One possible step is to try using a potassium nitrate toothpaste, like
• Sensodyne™
• ARM & HAMMER™ Sensitive toothpaste
• Crest ™ Pro-Health Sensitive and Enamel Shield Gel Toothpaste
• Colgate™ Sensitive

Use one of these for a more than a month before undergoing bleaching. These pastes/gels can help reduce sensitivity and prepare your mouth for treatment. If you have very sensitive teeth we may consider coating your teeth with a desensitizer (a prescription strength fluoride gel or other topical desensitizing agent) before beginning treatment.

In the case of sensitive teeth, we’ll choose the bleaching method carefully. There are some low-sensitivity systems available. Another option is to use “at-home” bleaching but lengthen the schedule so that instead of wearing trays as much as normally recommended, you can wear them for just 1-2 hours a day. Additionally we would consider bleaching every other day( or every 3rd or 4th day) and using the selected desensitizing methods in between treatments. We can also lower the concentration of the bleach you use in the trays from 16% to 10%.

Talk to us about bleaching. Many people who are under the impression that their teeth are too sensitive to be whiter can have more beautiful smile. We’d like to be the ones that help make that possible.

Dental Society of Greater Orlando Florida Dental Association American Dental Association
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