Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Teeth whitening misery :(

39 replies

DillyDallyingAbout · 15/08/2023 10:16

I am a week in of my teeth whitening and it just hurts so so much. I can't get to sleep, it then wakes me up, it throbs all day when I don't even have the trays in.

I am using senstive toothpaste and taking painkillers.

This might sound weird but the electric shock pains are so bad that everything else sets my teeth on edge and I am grumpy and can't talk to people. When the trays are in I have to go and hide because I feel so on edge I just have to lie in silence.

It sounds ridiculous. I am usually hardcore with a good pain tolerance. Can anyone advise, will it get better? I have two weeks to go and I don't know if I can do it :(

OP posts:

AutumnCrow · 15/08/2023 10:19

That sounds grim. Is there really not another method??

SlowlyLosing · 15/08/2023 10:21

Is it worth it? It sounds worse than just pain, seems to be damaging your mental health.

Orajel is fab stuff, don't know if you can use it whilst whitening though.

DelHenney · 15/08/2023 10:28

Are you massaging sensitive toothpaste into your gums and teeth and leaving it on? I found the ‘leaving it on” bit was the crucial part. Also, use the strongest sensitive toothpaste (Sensodyne?) Is this a proper dentist procedure, if so , phone them for professional advice. If it’s being done with del and trays at home, your gel % may be too strong for you, you might need a weaker solution.

Original poster

DillyDallyingAbout · 15/08/2023 10:28

I honestly can't stress enough how painful it is. I will look up orajel but yes I am questioning whether it's worth it. I am hoping someone will come on and say the pain reduces over time.

OP posts:

DelHenney · 15/08/2023 10:28

** Gel … not del..🙄

Nickay · 15/08/2023 10:30

Have you tried putting the sensitive toothpaste in your trays and wearing them for a bit/overnight My dentist recommended this and it worked a treat

Nothingbuttheglory · 15/08/2023 10:30

Honestly I would stop immediately and visit a dentist if you can. If it hurts it is damaging your teeth.

florenceandthemac · 15/08/2023 10:32

Is this using the moulds and bleach?

If so, I just either alternated nights or did the top set one night, lower set the next. This was less painful than doing both at one.
They were slightly sore but nothing like you described

Discwriter · 15/08/2023 10:33

I used sensigel one night, one night bleach to help with the sensitivity. It helped a lot.

Original poster

DillyDallyingAbout · 15/08/2023 10:34

I knew there would be some pain involved. I'm not leaving the sensodyne on in trays - prsumably I can't do that WITH the gel? I wear the gel trays overnight. Cant in the day as I can't talk, but I could use my retainers with sensidyne during the day probably.

OP posts:

TheFlis12345 · 15/08/2023 10:44

This doesn’t sound right, I am in my 3rd week of whitening and haven’t had anything like that pain. My teeth have been slightly sensitive to very hot or cold things a couple of times and once or twice my gums have felt a little sore in the morning but nothing serious. I think you need to speak to your dentist.

Spudsanyway · 15/08/2023 10:53

Are you using a dentist prescribed one or something else, I had one from the dentist with zero pain/sensitivity? Could be damaging your teeth.

WhenTheWindBloweth · 15/08/2023 10:55

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

UnderCarraigeWoes · 15/08/2023 10:56

Our dentist says not to leave the gel on the teeth for more than 2 hours at a time. He was horrified when I said I thought I'd need it on al night!! Small steps will cause less damage to teeth and gums and you'll get the same result, it will take longer but it's worth it not to be in pain.

Try the sensodyne overnight in your trays and then maybe after a week try a couple of hours with the gel.

WhenTheWindBloweth · 15/08/2023 10:57

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

boboshmobo · 15/08/2023 10:59

Mine didn't hurt , I'm not sure it's supposed to tbh

Littlemissprosecco · 15/08/2023 11:06

It will settle if you stop the treatment.
But don’t restart it until you’re absolutely sure that you have no outstanding treatment needed. Ie fillings/ cracks etc that need treating/ replacing. Until then keep going with the sensodyne and don’t have anything sweet or acidic in your diet until it settles completely, so no vinegar, alcohol, fizzy drinks etc…

MariaDingbat · 15/08/2023 11:09

I had the same and only lasted two days before I stopped. There's no way I could have done 3 weeks! I keep meaning to get a lower strength gel and try again.

ButteryCup · 15/08/2023 11:11

What gels are you using?
I used the ‘Enlighten’ brand from the dentist. Cost a small fortune but they don’t use peroxide, I honestly had zero sensitivity with it.

Stop using it until you’ve spoke to your dentist.

playthatfunkymusicwhiteboy · 15/08/2023 11:13

Oh my, it appears that teeth whitening is on my mind lately, and then I stumbled upon this post that caught my attention. Out of curiosity, I searched for videos related to teeth whitening pain on YouTube, and I came across numerous ones where people claimed to have experienced significant pain during the process. Even reading through the comment sections, it seems that many others are also dealing with similar discomfort from teeth whitening.

Original poster

DillyDallyingAbout · 15/08/2023 11:15

Thanks all for the messages!

It is being done via my dentist. I am having some work done on my veneers which so I am whitening to get a good colour match. I've used my dentist for 20 years. I have no outstanding work needed. I have used whitening before with Invisalign and had some pain but much less. This method is definitely overnight and is 10% for three syringes' worth and the final syringe is 16%.

I am going to try sensodyne with my retainers during the day and then try again overnight.

I know I sound neurotic but I have a real thing about socks on carpet setting my teeth on edge (all the time) and the other night I was almost in tears with my kids walking around on the carpet. It's such a weird experience!

OP posts:

Original poster

DillyDallyingAbout · 15/08/2023 11:16

I can't remember the brand, I will look when I get home.

OP posts:

Cyanchicken · 15/08/2023 11:55

I would stop the treatment and put sensodyne in overnight until the sensitivity stops - then try one night again - it doesn't have to be continuous? I also found I got a decent result after 7 days - mine were so sensitive I reverted to just painting the gel on the front of my teeth and then putting the retainers in as opposed to getting it all over the biting surface etc

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 15/08/2023 12:18

retired dentist here, it is true whitening causes senstivity in about 30% of patients but only rarely is it as bad as OP describes but it doesn happen especially if you have exposed roots. can you drink iced drinks or bite into icecream? if you can't then you probably won't tolerate whitening

you may need to stop completely or do it every 2nd or thrid day or just 2 hours in evening say when watching TV but it is definitely not worth it if yo need painkillers and can't sleep, but you need to ring your dentist for advice as they wil know what is best for you

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 15/08/2023 12:19

there is a legal limit to whitening agents used by dentists and what you describe is within limits.
the legal limit for over the counter stuff is too low to work as it is a cosmetic licence

Flip

1 2