Do Teeth Whitening Treatments Lead to an Increased Tooth Sensitivity?

When you go in for a teeth whitening treatment at your local dentist, you can expect a lift of years of stains from teeth, revealing a vibrant and enhanced smile. When used with restorative dental treatments, a teeth whitening treatment can be a useful tool to rejuvenate your smile. If you are looking for a dentist in the El Dorado, Arkansas area who offers teeth whitening treatments, you should schedule an appointment with Dr. Paul Burns and his skilled team.

You may have heard that teeth whitening treatments can cause discomfort and tooth sensitivity or that those with tooth sensitivity should not get a whitening treatment. Tooth sensitivity can indeed be a side effect you face after a teeth whitening treatment, so let us examine why and whether teeth whitening treatments are suitable for those with already sensitive teeth.

WHY TEETH WHITENING CAUSES TOOTH SENSITIVITY

A potential side effect of a teeth whitening treatment is tooth sensitivity, but why is this? This sensitivity is often a reaction to the bleaching solution that whitens your teeth. In some instances, it can strip your teeth of minerals located in the enamel, causing your teeth to become porous. When this happens, tubules within the teeth become exposed. These are tiny channels that link the tooth’s surface to the center, where nerves are located. When these tubules become exposed, your tooth’s sensitivity will increase.

SYMPTOMS OF TOOTH SENSITIVITY

If you suffer from tooth sensitivity following a teeth whitening treatment, the symptoms could be mild

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to moderate. Most who suffer from tooth sensitivity do so only when breathing in cold air or when eating either hot or cold food and drinks. Common symptoms of tooth sensitivity include:

• Shooting pain in the tooth that extends to the root
• Sudden pain when the tooth is exposed to fluctuations in temperature
• Pain when eating acidic, sweet, or sour foods

If you are interested in learning more about teeth whitening or if you want to set an appointment for treatment, please call W. Paul Burns, DDS today at (870) 686-4232.