There is plenty of whitening toothpaste and gels available in the market. But when your teeth have lost their natural brightness, a visit to the dentist’s office is the best way to whiten your teeth and regain lost confidence.
Teeth whitening is a simple cosmetic procedure available at every dental clinic in the country. It helps reduce or eliminate discoloration of your teeth caused by food stains, medications, and various other factors.
Thousands of people around the world have successfully transformed their smiles with help of this treatment making it the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedure. It is the secret to getting that perfect Hollywood smile you can flaunt with pride.
If you know anyone who has whitened their teeth before, they may have told you it can cause some pain and discomfort. So if you are wondering if the procedure really hurts, we got in touch with an expert to find the answer.
Dr. Micheal Nussbaum is a cosmetic dentist who provides teeth whitening and other dental care in Austin. He shared some information about how professional teeth whitening treatments work and how much discomfort a patient can expect. So read on if you are interested in whitening your teeth on your next visit to the dentist.
How Do Teeth Whitening Treatments Work?
Most at-home and professional teeth whitening treatments use a bleaching agent like hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a safe, FDA-approved chemical agent that removes various surface stains from your enamel.
A tray or strip containing special whitening gel made with hydrogen peroxide is applied to the teeth and covered with protective material. It is left in place for one or two hours depending on how intense of a whitening effect you desire.
When the application time has elapsed, the bleaching tray or strip is removed. You can rinse your mouth with water to clean any leftover gel from the teeth.
How Much Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?
Depending on how long you leave the gel or strips on your teeth, and what method you use to whiten them, the process can cause some discomfort.
Most people experience a little tooth sensitivity after the procedure. This is caused due dental hypersensitivity- a condition where your dentin is left exposed due to damaged enamel. The sensitivity can be felt immediately or in the days following the treatment and usually resolves itself within a few days.
If you have dental hypersensitivity and your teeth are susceptible to heat or cold sensitivity, you can talk to your dentist and use a low-potency formula or keep the whitening strips for shorter periods spread over a few sittings.
Another reason behind the discomfort and pain after whitening treatment is the wrongful application where the whitening gel touches your gums causing irritation. Your gums need to be protected from the gel to minimize the chances of irritation.
Hence, it is highly recommended to avoid DIY kits and get the treatment done at a dental clinic where the dentist will take the required precautions to protect your gums.
To wrap up, professional teeth whitening has minimum risk and pain involved. So you need not worry about being in pain during or after the treatment.
If you are still anxious about the procedure, you can book an appointment with Dr. Michael Nussbaum at 360 Dental Care for a comfortable experience. He uses Glo-Science whitening system which is the best teeth whitening service in Austin, Tx.
The system uses a special warming light and sensitivity-free whitening gel to get amazing results with minimal discomfort. So call his office right away to know if you are a good candidate for the teeth whitening treatment.