Hi, I’m Dr Miff, one of the gentle dentists from Dental House Group in Melbourne.

I just finished a smile consultation with a new patient, Isabelle from Riddells Creek. As part of her smile makeover, we recommended professional teeth whitening, as her teeth are quite discoloured.

Isabelle said to me, “Miff, I’ve always wanted to get teeth whitening, but I’m worried that it will make my teeth sensitive. Will it happen?” This is actually quite a common question, so I thought I’ll make a video answering this question.

It is normal for teeth whitening to cause sensitivity but the extent differs from person to person. Much like how some of us can bite into ice cream while some of us can’t. In the majority of cases, whitening may cause mild discomfort during or just after the treatment but this is temporary, and will typically settle either immediately or after a few weeks.

It is important to have a general check-up prior to commencing teeth whitening treatment. Some dental conditions can increase the likelihood of sensitivity such as gum recession and tooth decay otherwise known as caries. This can make whitening treatments extremely uncomfortable. As part of the consultation, we will also discuss if you are likely to experience sensitivity and the methods we can use to reduce the chance of this.

There are so many products out there that claim to whiten. It’s really important that we look at the ingredients that are being used. Home remedies like baking sodas and a lot of whitening toothpaste have a very gritty texture. When you use it regularly, it will strip away the enamel and can cause prolonged sensitivity of the teeth.

Here at Dental House, we offer to take home bleach trays or in-chair whitening which are extremely safe in maintaining the strength of your teeth. They vary in convenience, concentration and the chance of causing sensitivity. It is important that higher strength whitening products are applied by a dental professional as they can irritate the gums if they are poorly applied, which can cause discomfort and potential long term damage.

So I hope this video gave you a better understanding of teeth sensitivity and teeth whitening treatments. The key is to make sure it is done under the supervision of a dental professional to ensure the correct product is used for you.

If you are looking at upgrading your smile with professional teeth whitening, we would love to help. Simply give us a call on 1800GENTLE, DM us on social media, or complete the form on our website, and we will help you organise your consultation. Bye for now.