Teeth whitening risks and side effects

Teeth whitening treatments are considered to be very safe when procedures are followed as directed. There are really only two potential risks/side effects associated with teeth bleaching. Both are temporary even if they are sometimes very bothersome.

1. Burning gums

One of the most common side effects is irritation/burning of the gums caused by a small amount of corrosion damage. This occurs when the whitening gel comes into contact with the gums because of lack of technique at the clinic, improper use of the teeth whitening gel or teeth whitening trays with poor fit.

2. Hypersensitivity and shooting pain

Another common side effect is shooting pain or hypersensitivity. In some cases the shooting pains can feel constant and relatively troublesome. This is caused by the bleaching substance penetrating the tooth’s outer layer and irritates the tooth nerve. Statistically light to moderate pain is experienced by 4 out of 10 patients that undergo tooth whitening.

If the patient agrees to accept an increased risk of temporary pain when undergoing an in-office tooth whitening it is possible to treat the teeth for a longer period and by doing so achieve better results.

The side effects subside within 48 hours

Irrespective of the type of troubles experienced after a correctly performed tooth whitening these normally subside within 24-28 hours or if the treatment is temporarily stopped. Very few patients experience troublesome side effects and discontinue the treatment because of these.

« Professional teeth whitening options | Teeth whitening costs »