Teeth whitening procedures can often lead to increased sensitivity in the gums and teeth. The sensitivity can be to heat, or cold, or pressure on the teeth from chewing. The most likely cause of increased sensitivity is the hydrogen peroxide that is the active agent in all teeth whitening procedures.
The most likely candidates for sensitivity reaction to a teeth whitening procedure are people with receding gums, with leaks through a tooth crown or with cracked teeth. The bleaching agent is the cause of increased sensitivity; for that reason a reaction of over sensitivity is more likely to occur in people who have opted for a dental office teeth whitening option. Dentists use a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide than what is provided with at home teeth whitening kits.
Gum irritation is another common reaction to teeth whitening. Over half of all people who undergo treatment using a bleaching agent will suffer some degree of gum irritation as a result. Irritation can last several days, or it may recede when the bleaching is stopped. Some home teeth whitening kits require several days of repetition to complete the process.
Past dental work such as porcelain veneers, crowns or bonding will not respond to teeth whiteners. They will retain their original color, which is a shade that your dentist chose to match the color of the teeth surrounding the installed restoration work. The result after using a whitening agent is going to be a mix of shades in your mouth. It’s something worth discussing with your dentist prior to pursuing a whitening procedure. If your crowns are molars that aren’t visible in a smile, the difference in color won’t be noticeable.
Finally, there is the risk of disappointment. Some home whitening kits just don’t have adequate strength for their bleaching agents to make much of a difference. There are also internal stains in teeth that only a dentist is going to be able to remove. That’s why reviewing the whole process with your dentist is worthwhile, even if you can’t afford to utilize his services for your teeth whitening goals.