Having a beautiful smile is something that many people strive for, and teeth whitening is one of the most popular ways to achieve this. But before you start whitening your teeth, it's important to understand the potential side effects of using whitening strips. While teeth whitening strips can be effective in lightening the color of teeth, they often cause pain and discomfort in many people. Most professional and over-the-counter whitening products contain hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient.
This possible side effect of teeth whitening is usually short-term and disappears over time. However, with whitening strips, you may experience some slight discomfort or sensitivity during the process, which is quite common. Some people may have teeth that are sensitive to peroxide, and your teeth may start to hurt during the whitening procedure, and you may experience discomfort when drinking or eating hot or cold products. Some patients using whitening strips experience pain and tenderness after applying the strips, especially after prolonged use.
Unfortunately, peroxide used to whiten teeth is known to irritate and inflame gums and tooth roots, and even damage enamel, the outer protective layer of teeth. The higher the peroxide concentration and the longer the teeth are exposed to the whitening agent, the more likely you are to experience pain. The products have improved a lot since then and now use high-quality ingredients that are more gentle on the teeth. Dentin hypersensitivity, or tooth sensitivity, affects the entire tooth and any exposed root surface.
It occurs when the active ingredients in whitening products, such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, reach the nerves of each tooth. One of the most common side effects of people using teeth whitening strips is increased tooth sensitivity. This occurs when the whitening agent contacts the enamel of the teeth and causes it to temporarily become more porous. It's best to limit teeth whitening treatments to a few times a year to reduce the risk of these side effects.
The most common side effects of teeth whitening include gum irritation, tooth sensitivity, and enamel erosion. Whitening pens and gels are a good option if you want to achieve quick results, as they usually produce noticeable changes in tooth color after a single use. Having a beautiful smile doesn't have to be painful, so it's important to know and understand the causes of tooth whitening sensitivity. Switching to a toothpaste for sensitive teeth, such as Sensodyne, can also help limit sensitivity, since these toothpastes contain special ingredients made to help calm the nerve endings in your teeth.
It's also a good idea to change whitening strips to fluoride toothpaste after you whiten your teeth. In some cases, more serious side effects, such as oral cancer, can occur after teeth whitening treatment. It is recommended to wrap strips of gauze around the teeth whitening tray to create a barrier between the gums and the whitening solution. Overall, it's important to be aware of all potential side effects before starting any type of teeth whitening treatment. Having a beautiful smile doesn't have to be painful, so it's important to know and understand the causes of tooth whitening sensitivity.
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