Everyone wants a beautiful smile! So, you may consider teeth whitening in Ottawa to achieve your dream smile and boost your confidence.
But some products may cause sensitivity after receiving whitening treatment. Fortunately, you can take steps to minimize this sensation after teeth whitening treatment done by a dentist in Downtown Ottawa.
Let’s explore some straightforward and efficient methods for this.
What Leads to Teeth Sensitivity After Teeth Whitening?
Many people seek this treatment from dentists in Downtown Ottawa due to staining or discoloration. This stain often occurs from drinking coffee or from smoking cigarettes. But the treatment might result in intense sensitivity.
This basically happens due to the following reasons:
- The enamel gets dehydrated, that results from teeth whitening trays. This could temporarily make them sensitive.
- Whitening gels often make the enamel more breathable, exposing the soft dentin layer. This layer has the nerves in your teeth.
- Your gums may become irritable and thus sensitive. This mostly happens when bleaching gels used in teeth whitening procedures come in contact with your gums.
Steps to Take Before Teeth Whitening Process
There are some preventive measures you can take before your process of teeth whitening in Ottawa. This is to minimize the sensitivity you will experience afterwards.
- Brush your teeth with desensitizing toothpaste
To reduce teeth sensitivity after the treatment, you can use a desensitizing gel. The toothpaste contains ingredients designed to make you comfortable with sensitive teeth.
- Take pain medication
You can take painkillers like Ibuprofen before your teeth whitening treatment. It can help to minimize discomfort.
You can continue to take this medication after your treatment to manage any discomfort.
- Apply a Desensitizing Gel
You will need this right before the treatment. Remember to keep the gel on your teeth for the suggested amount of time. Then, rinse with water.
Steps to Take after Your Teeth Whitening Process
Taking the following steps after the teeth whitening treatment in Ottawa will help you to shorten the duration and intensity of any tooth sensitivity you experience:
- Drink Through a Straw
Drink through a straw right after a whitening treatment. This will prevent the liquid from making contact with your teeth, thus minimizing the discomfort.
So, if you experience teeth sensitivity after whitening, consider investing in a good-quality reusable drinking straw.
- Avoid hot and cold foods and drinks
Your teeth will be the most sensitive during the first couple of days after the treatment. Make sure to steer clear of very hot or very cold food and beverages.
Resort to foods and drinks that are at a regulated temperature. Be sure to drink through a straw. This is to ensure that the liquid doesn’t touch your now overly sensitive teeth.
- Do not consume acidic foods and drinks
Dentists in Downtown Ottawa opine that foods and drinks with acidic properties, like sodas and citrus fruits, can hurt your teeth. It can increase the sensitivity you experience.
Less acidic meal alternatives are:
- Milk
- Cheese
- plain yoghurt
- Bananas
- Oats.
- Rinse with salt water
Another simple and fruitful solution for tooth sensitivity is rinsing the mouth with salt water. Take some salt into a cup of warm water and then mix it until the salt is dissolved.
Wash your mouth with the mixture for 30 seconds. Saltwater can help to soothe the nerves in your teeth and reduce swelling in your gums.
- Apply a cold compress
Cold compress in this scenario might be helpful in temporarily relieving pain by reducing the swelling. This will also numb the nerves in your teeth.
You can pack some ice cubes in a towel or use an ice pack to create a cold compress. Massage your cheek with this for 10-15 minutes.
- Brush with a soft bristle toothbrush
Be mindful of using a hard-bristled toothbrush, as that could worsen your pain and sensitivity. A hard toothbrush can be too rough and irritate your teeth and gums further.
Use a soft bristles toothbrush after teeth whitening treatment in Ottawa to gently clean your teeth without adding any pain.
- Do not brush too hard
When brushing your teeth, applying too much pressure can cause discomfort. Heavy brush can cause pain and discomfort by wearing down your tooth enamel.
It will expose the sensitive parts. Avoid scrubbing back and forth. Instead of that, brush in a circular motion.
- Do not brush immediately after the process
Brushing immediately after having your treatment could open up pores and expose the dentine in the teeth.
Brush before the procedure, but wait until bedtime before you brush again post-whitening.
Wrapping Up
If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity after teeth whitening in Ottawa, reach out to your trusted dentist in Downtown Ottawa right away.
Choose professional in-office treatments for the immediate impact. Getting a brighter smile is now within your reach. So, embark on your journey towards a more radiant and confident smile with white teeth.
Visit our home-page for more information
