Have you just gotten your teeth whitened and are experiencing pain or discomfort every time you have a sip of ice-cold water? Do hot drinks make you wince in agony? If so, then what you are experiencing is tooth sensitivity, a common side effect of whitening your teeth. To help you minimize the pain you might be feeling, here are six tips that are guaranteed to improve your tooth sensitivity.
Build a Resistance
Try to decrease tooth sensitivity before your next whitening appointment by brushing with tooth sensitivity toothpaste or gels. Doing this a week before your scheduled treatment will not get rid of it completely, but it will reduce your discomfort throughout the process.
Post-treatment Care
Tooth sensitivity is often at its highest after a whitening treatment. To combat this, brush with a tooth sensitivity toothpaste or gel after your appointment. It is common for sensitivity to last about two days, meaning you can switch back to your regular toothpaste afterwards.
Be Gentle
To keep your teeth from causing you discomfort, be gentle when brushing your teeth after a whitening treatment. Use a soft bristle brush and lukewarm water to get rid of any active sensitivity that is bothering you. As well, leave the toothpaste in your mouth for a few extra minutes before rinsing to give it more time to reduce your sensitivity.
At-Home Whitening Kits
If you have decided to whiten your teeth at home with a kit, the place some of your favourite sensitivity toothpaste into the whitening tray after you have finished the treatment. Place the toothpaste-filled tray on your teeth for 20 minutes to drastically reduce future tooth sensitivity.
Avoid Cold or Hot Drinks
For the next few days after your tooth whitening treatment, avoid consuming any hot or cold liquids, as that will cause immense discomfort for you. As well, avoiding drinks like coffee and tea will prevent you from staining your freshly whitened teeth. However, if you absolutely need that morning cup of coffee, then drink it through a straw, making sure all liquid bypasses your teeth completely.
Long-Lasting Sensitivity
If you find that your teeth are still highly sensitive after the 48-hour mark, then contact your dentist. They will be able to recommend or even prescribe products that might be able to help with the discomfort. For unbearable pain, consider looking into painkillers that contain anti-inflammatory properties.
At Slipacoff Dental, we provide our patients with the best dental care around. Located in Sarnia, Ontario, we use cutting-edge technology and equipment to improve your oral health. With dental treatments that include dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, preventative dentistry, dentures, wisdom tooth removal and more, we offer patients a relaxing environment while we get the job done efficiently. With over 30 years of dental service, be sure to call us or visit our website to book your next appointment.