How to Avoid Sensitivity After Teeth Whitening Treatment

September 18, 2025

Woman smiling outside

If you have ever had your teeth whitened, it is possible that you will experience pain or discomfort afterward. Teeth whitening is an effective way to address discoloration and enhance your confidence, but is it worth the discomfort afterward? Is there any way to avoid this? The good news is that sensitivity related to teeth whitening is temporary and there are ways to lessen this in the future. Read on to learn why this happens and how you can avoid it.

Why Does Teeth Whitening Cause Sensitivity?

Most teeth whitening products contain hydrogen peroxide as their active ingredient, but many people have teeth that are sensitive to this key substance. This can cause teeth to ache during the procedure, and people tend to feel discomfort when eating or drinking hot and cold foods and beverages. Fortunately, this is short-term and will go away with a little bit of patience.

How Can You Avoid Teeth Whitening Sensitivity?

  • Avoid Hot & Cold Temperatures: Even after using milder treatments, teeth whitening sensitivity can still occur. One of the most effective things that you can do is stick to room temperature beverages. Hot and cold drinks can trigger painful sensitivity if your teeth are vulnerable.
  • Carefully Choose Your Products: Try to find products that have lower levels of peroxide or that have shorter application times. This will help to keep your teeth from ensuring too much of the sensitivity-inducing ingredient.
  • Get Your Teeth Professionally Whitened: By choosing a professional take-home whitening kit, you can get the results that you are looking for faster. The great thing about professional treatments is that they are customized, so they are much less likely to cause sensitivity.

How Does Professional Teeth Whitening Work?

During your initial consultation with your dentist, they will determine the cause of your stains and make an impression of your mouth to crate your customized whitening trays. This allows for additional comfort and a more even distribution of the whining agent. The whitening agent is formulated to minimize tooth sensitivity and reverse stains. You will need to wear your trays for two to four hours each day for about two weeks. By the end of the two weeks, your teeth will be up to eight shades whiter!

Beauty doesn’t have to be painful. By using the tips above and opting for professional teeth whitening, you can brighten your grin with little discomfort.

About the Practice

At Advanced Dental Care of Springfield, Dr. Victoria Driskill and Dr. John Neely work together to treat patients in the Springfield community. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need under one roof. They offer Philips Zoom NiteWhite take-home whitening kits. To learn more about teeth whitening or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (217) 546-3333.