After drinking coffee, soda, and occasionally drinking a glass of red wine, your teeth look a bit yellow, which makes you smile, laugh, and even have a sense of self-consciousness in social and professional situations. Using over-the-counter tooth whitening gels and studs doesn't seem to be the same, you are considering going to a dentist to get professional teeth whitening.

To help you alleviate some of the fears and give you some insight into the surgery, let's see why some tooth whitening products can cause discomfort and how to reduce sensitivity and pain.

How does professional tooth whitening work?

Tooth bleaching uses a peroxide-based gel to gently and safely remove stains, leaving the teeth brightly colored. The gel stays on the teeth for a period of time, usually 45 to 90 minutes, during which time the stains that have been visible for many years are drastically reduced, leaving a shiny white smile.

Most teeth whitening dentists do the process of doing things in the card, in the office, the patient has a gel "painting" to their teeth. In some cases, the dentist will use a gel in combination with UV light to "activate" the whitening solution and obtain improved results.

What does the whitening strip and after treatment cause sensitive teeth?

A few years ago, when teeth whitening was not precise enough, the use of abrasive ingredients destroyed the enamel, causing damage and severe sensitivity. Fortunately, as the innovation in tooth whitening products is improved, the quality of the solution is better, more efficient, and more gentle.

However, this does not mean that there is still no sensitivity. Because peroxide does penetrate the enamel, it can cause slight sensitivity within 24 to 48 hours. Studies have shown that the combination of UV and peroxide whitening gels increases pain and there is no evidence that UV light can effectively achieve better results.