Do you notice dark or yellow stains forming on your teeth? Dental discoloration can disrupt your beautiful smile. Your dentist can offer a whitening treatment that will get rid of these stubborn stains to make your smile stunning and pearly white again. However, some people may worry that the bleaching ingredients could cause discomfort like tooth sensitivity as a side effect.
Modern techniques in this teeth-whitening treatment prioritize the minimization of this dental discomfort. But you can also rest assured that further research published in the Journal of the American Dental Association can make this experience even more comfortable for dental patients. In this recent clinical trial, individuals who took both 400 mg of ibuprofen and potassium fluoride before a teeth-bleaching treatment saw a lower chance of experiencing sensitivity.
Opus Dental Esthetics already employs a desensitizer as part of the in-office whitening treatment. In the wake of this new study, our office may update our protocol and advise patients to take ibuprofen prior to their cosmetic dental appointment in order to minimize tooth sensitivity. Read on to learn more about what to expect from teeth-whitening treatment and how you can prevent sensitivity pain.
How Does Professional Teeth Whitening Work?
Professional teeth whitening at Opus Dental Esthetics uses Kor bleaching products. This brand successfully brightens your smile with minimized side effects like tooth sensitivity. The in-office session involves applying bleaching gel to the discolored teeth.
The bleaching agents seep into the tooth’s enamel and reach deeper stains. There, they dissolve the darker molecules and make your smile appear brighter. Because the product penetrates deeper into the tooth, close to the nerves, patients might worry about the treatment causing sensitivity pain.
Kor whitening treatment includes a desensitizer that a dentist applies to the teeth prior to the bleaching gel. The product serves to block nerves from transmitting pain signals to the brain so that you will have a low risk of feeling tooth sensitivity.
This process works better and protects the teeth from sensitivity, unlike other whitening solutions. Treatments that include lasers will not activate bleaching ingredients like they claim and can even aggravate nerves within the teeth. Plus, you should seek the protection that expert application of desensitizers and bleaching products through this professional care will bring.
How Can I Further Minimize the Risk of Tooth Sensitivity After Whitening Treatment?
You can find the best teeth whitening results, including a reduced risk of tooth sensitivity, when you seek treatment from your dentist. Over-the-counter products may promise to brighten your tooth color. But they cannot target your unique dental needs and offer the same degree of protection that your dentist can.
You can also protect your tooth enamel with healthy oral habits. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily to ensure that lingering plaque does not contribute to enamel erosion.
A highly acidic diet may also eat away at your dental structure. So pay attention to the foods and beverages you consume, especially after teeth-whitening treatment. Talk to your dentist about other ways you can avoid tooth sensitivity and other uncomfortable dental concerns.