Has anyone successfully whitened sensitive teeth?

[Wonderingwhyme]

I have tried every single OTC and online whitening things and they haven’t really worked. Couple years ago I went to the dentist and they have two options, one you do at home every day overnight and one you sit there and it’s done. Dentist said do at home as teeth are sensitive. Trouble is after a few days my teeth are so sensitive and it hurts so I have to stop or have a break. Trouble is the stuff is only ‘valid’ for one month and can’t use it after that so they never get white white.

I did see an improvement when I first did it but it didn’t last long. I’m tempted to go back to dentist and fork out for the one where you do it there... before dentist advised she home.... but if I’m doing it at home and it hurts.... over a long time.... isn’t it better to do at dentist and put up with it a short while??

I don’t know what else to do... they aren’t horrific but need doing!

I do the one at home when my teeth feel okay. Usually for a couple of days on then a couple of days off. If they get really niggly I put sensodine toothpaste in the moulds, which really helps.

I use that toothpaste as the dentist was adamant that would fix it. Still use it each day. So you put the actual toothpaste in with the whitening gel? Doesn’t that affect the result? Make it uneven?

No, I put the toothpaste in on it's own instead of the gel when necessary, at my dentist's recommendation.

What concentration of gel do you use? If your teeth are sensitive use 10%.

I use overnight phillips zoom. If you find your teeth are sensitive you can use it for a 3 hours at a time in the evenings, rather than overnight. It will take longer to get the results but can prevent sensitivity. You can also try a system of whitening overnight alternated with sensodyne in the moulds overnight. Not at the same time.

What I do is whiten overnight for two nights. Then a night of sensodyne in the moulds

Then a few days off. Then another 2 days of whitening, followed by sensodyne. I find I only have to do this a couple of times for my teeth to be white.

Or if you are already using 10% and it's sensitive use 16%, 16% is quicker.

So it will be more sensitive but less nights of whitening needed. Short term pain but quicker. Then the odd night of 16% every month or so should keep on top of it. It will be painful for a day or so after but then settle.

I carry around a small tube of the recommended toothpaste and rub a tiny amount on my teeth when they feel too sensitive. I use the at home trays and 16%

Yes it’s The Zoom and it’s the 10% as dentist said best for sensitive teeth but I’d rather quicker results and quicker time for sensitivity?

Ah toothpaste in the moulds! Yes makes sense.

So which would be better buy the higher % and do say 3 hours or overnight but some break days or stay as I am with toothpaste in the moulds overnight?

I find rubbing the toothpaste directly onto the teeth doesn’t help the pain, I take pain killer which isn’t ideal but only when very bad...

Also where can I buy it from other than dentist? Philips don’t sell it direct? Don’t want to risk getting a dud.... maybe just trek to dentist..?

There is nothing wrong with taking painkillers if you are in pain OP. There are no prizes for not and lots of people have to take them to get out of bed. In fact if you are adamant you want to press on although it causes you pain I'd highly recommend taking them consistently at doses high enough that they help.

Has the sensitivity been investigated by the dentist? Or is it something you only have when using whitening products. I would ask the dentist for advice tbh, if there is no solution or underlying cause then I suppose it's no pain, no gain if you are that committed to it. Ouch!

They’ve always been sensitive. Enamel is fine and nothing has been reported by any dentists. He isn’t remotely interested. I get ‘brain freeze’ when eating very cold things which apparently is caused by sensitive teeth, I g e no problem day to day now, just whitening.

I am committed to it, I’m annoyed that I have to keep stopping as it hurts too much as this takes 2-3 weeks. I did ask the dentist if it would be better (sensitivity wise) if I should say alternate nights with the gel and he said no.... I just want to do it, say even if it’s a week then be able to stop as I have results?

You could try 16%. It will be painful but it will be quicker. You will get results after a week, if you can just push through the pain.

Sensitivity after whitening is normal unfortunately

I am a dentist, initially I did 3 days of 16% overnight. It was then really painful so I stopped for about 4 days. Then I did another 2 days overnight, then stopped for 4 days, then one more day. So in total 7 days.

Having breaks kept my sensitivity down. It doesn't make a difference if you do 7 days across 7 days, or 7 days with the odd couple of days of gaps in terms of results.

Once I was at the level now I just do 3 hours in the evening watching tv about once a month, I find this length isn't sensitive at all.

Do whatever keeps your sensitivity at bay, I would try different methods and see what works best.

If you have 10% left use that alternated with sensitive toothpaste to start. If you don't find that's working get some 16% and try a couple of days with breaks. If that's too much 3 hrs in the evening with 16%.

You'll have to buy it from the dentist I think.

I was the same as you @Wonderingwhyme
I did it a few years ago and my teeth were so sensitive I couldn't bear to go outside if it was cold or windy!
I'm having a crown replaced at the front and wanted to try again.
Phillips zoom now do a daytime option. You're meant to do twice a day or 30 minutes but the dentist said once per day is probably adequate. So with trepidation I brushed with sensodyne (think it's called fast relief or something) for two days prior to starting and I've not had any sensitivity at all. Some days I do it once sometimes twice.
The only problem I'm having is the vials keep leaking meaning I'm losing bloody expensive product.
The dentist also gave me a tube of Phillips 'relief' which you put in the trays and use for a week if it gets unbearable but I haven't needed it.
I bought from my dentist but as half the product oozed out, I did buy some 9% on line through a dental website.

@BlueCornsihPixieI I’m thinking perhaps try the 16% then? What happens if I do 3 hours each day for a week? It would just take longer? Or I could try overnight first and see what it’s like? May be a stupid question but will a higher % make the pain worse? As in unbearable? dentist sells these in syringue that doesn’t need refrigerating anymore which is great but expires after a month.

What is the difference between the day and the night one?

Can anyone knowledgeable compare the day and night one with me please? I’m thinking short time day use would be better for me? Doable..... would it mean it takes longer to work?

The problem with whitening in the UK is that legally dentists are only allowed to use either 6% or 16% of the whitening bleach and in the US they use 35% which is why most Americans have great teeth and is British have bad teeth, I agree that we do.

I’m a smoker and an ex heroin addict so 16% is useless for me so I go to a girl in Edinburgh that orders the American gel from a website and charges £40 for 2 applications that you put on twice every 30 mins and my teeth are sparkling white and I have very yellow teeth.

I think you should order a mini LED light and the 35% bleach stuff in strips or injections because it’s the only way you’ll see a real difference.

Strange isnt it that we have different rules.

My teeth are pretty good but I do want nice and white. Not a4 white paper white but josh nice? They are uneven too. The dentist says that’s due to years of using whitening toothpastes and whitening products that haven’t worked.

I’m dubious about ordering things off the internet.... what difference does the lamp make?

I use the Phillips day white
Make sure it's the sensodyne rapid relief (the others are useless on me)

The lamp makes the gel whiten your teeth faster, I see a difference in one go with the lamp but only with gel from America, the whitening products here are useless and I don’t understand why it’s legal in the US to use 35% but not here

Iv got the 16% one and doing 3 hours ... I do have that toothpaste and have been using it daily for a good 6 months now. Should I do it daily or every other?! Want to try to reduce sensitivity as that’s a bitch of a pain!

Also my teeth were yellow yellow due to methadone and smoking cigarettes and this is why I need the strongest gel.

6 months?! Omg that’s terrible! Can’t you see if there’s anyone near you that will do the American whitening? Prices vary though, ask about and some of them advertise on Facebook.

Your dentist would probably advise against it but 6 months of using whitening and you feel you still need it isn’t good when in one go with the 35% you can get them white, not A4 white but darker white.

I have used the sensodyne toothpaste for 6 months not whitening gel for 6 months!

Bit dubious to trust people I don’t know or no one can recommend...

Iv just seen it’s 16% but the night wite they’ve given me I asked for the day one.... does that mean It won’t work as well?

Ahh got you! Whitening toothpastes are crap, the ones here anyway.

I don’t know much about night and day.

I met the woman that does my whitening through a friend so maybe ask for recommendations or if he/she’s on Facebook Then they may have reviews which is what most business owners would want if they advertise online.

It sounds like your teeth are no way near as bad as mine so maybe 16% will work for you.