Whitening strips: dear god the pain!

[JesusInACabbageVan]

Have just tried teeth whitening strips for the first time. Dentist warned me that i might get some 'sensitivity' due to recession on my bottom teeth. Dear god, sensitivity? Agony, more like. Can't sleep due to lower jaw being on fire.

Yikes.

Anyone had similar experience? Am i doing it wrong?

I've used dental strips, just the ones bought online from Colgate I think.

Never had probs Altho if the white stuff got on my fingers it burnt a tiny bit

Your dentist said to use these? I would research these strips and caution use.

Gosh, no. I use Crest and never had any pain.

Until it calms down, Sensodyne is your friend, rub it on, especially round the gum.

It doesn't sound right, no, I'd call the dentist

I only had pain when I accidentally fell asleep with them on. That was UNVELIEVABLE. I'd have happily pulled my teeth out with pliers to make it stop.

Anyway... No, it's not usual. I'd make sure you only put the strips on the enamel part of your teeth, not where your gums have receded, etc. that will help. If I let my strips touch my gums, they hurt.

I had an occasional 'jangly' pain when they were on. Didn't stop me using them because the result was quite good.

!!!!!

Jakers.

Jakers? Not sure what that means.

Spoke to dentist. She said they're fine, pain is not due to any damage but because I've put them too low down and it's hitting the bit where the gum has receded, just like you said AnuvvaMuvva.

Sensodyne and place them higher up, and all shall be fine.

I feel really clever now! :D

Do keep going with the strips - after a while, everyone will compliment you on your gorgeous teeth. I had to have a crown recently and when they were choosing the shade to match my teeth, the dentist said, "You have incredibly white teeth" and I felt amazing!

Bleaching in any way scares me. It must weaken the teeth? It definately can't be good for them. I've heard the crest strips arnt very harsh though so maybe they will do the least damage.

My dentist assures me that it's perfectly safe and doesn't weaken the teeth or damage the enamel, and she's not selling them to me so doesn't have any financial motive. It's not chlorine bleach, it's oxygen so not a nasty chemical.

Where do you buy these strips of which you speak?

My teeth are starting to look yellow (bleurgh! Thanks dad for giving me your strong, yet yellow teeth!) in photographs, and I'd live to brighten them, but no clue where to start!

I get them from America - either when friends go over there and buy then from drug stores for me, or more usually from eBay.

I use Crest Whitestrips. The 3-D Whitening ones are good, or the Platinum or Professional ones. (eBay always has loads for sale.)

They're about £20 for 20 strips. You wear them for 20 minutes, and hhe first time you use them it'll take about 7 days before they are white, and then after that you just wear then whenever they start looking a bit off.

You can buy them from websites here as well like whitestrips4u.co.uk.

Tried them again last night a bit further up, having experimented with what shows when I smile. No pain at all

Just had a look at that site. There are so many types, no idea where to start! Whitened mine 4 years ago with dentist trays and gel. They have started to yellow a bit (not as bad as they were) and need to freshen them up. I hate wearing stuff in my mouth, the trays were grim, I just gagged the whole time - 4 hours a day for what seemed like forever! 30 mins sounds a lot better. Which ones are best?

I used crest whitestrips.

Tips to avoid sensitivity:

1. Never, ever use them straight after brushing teeth. Best used on "dirty" teeth i.e. at the end of the day or in the morning before brushing.

2. Use Sensodyne to brush teeth.

3. Only use once a day rather than twice as the packet says - it will take twice as long to work but avoids any pain.

Sounds like you have solved your issue though! Yes do make sure they strips just touch teeth not gum.