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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

Do teeth whitening pens work?

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I got an email from Living Social for teeth whitening pens for under $20. The ad says that the regular price is over $100, so I am guessing that these must work really well. Do they? – Meghan

Meghan – The results you will get from a pen for teeth whitening depend on several factors:

  1. The cause of the stains in your teeth – Depending on the cause of the stains in your teeth, the whitening gel may not whiten them at all. In some cases, it can actually make the stains worse.
  2. The gel – Type of gel and the strength of the gel in the pen determine how white your teeth will get. Some gels will only remove surface stains. If stains are embedded in your teeth, you will see limited results. Additionally, some pens only paint the teeth white. These painting pens contain no ingredients to break down stains in your teeth.
  3. The means of keeping the gel on your teeth – Customized whitening trays keep bleaching gel pressed against your teeth so the gel will penetrate them. Customized trays also protect your gums from irritation or burning by the gel. When you apply bleaching gel with a whitening pen and no trays are used, you will lose some of the gel between your inner lip and teeth. The gel might even irritate your lips and gums. Much of the gel will be lost, so your teeth won’t get as white as with custom trays.
  4. The source of the whitening pen – Some dentists provide whitening pens after professional whitening treatment. These pens are effective in helping you maintain a brilliantly white smile. But they are not used to whiten your teeth from the start. In-office or take-home treatment with professional-strength gel and supervision by the dentist are completed first.

Before you whiten your teeth, we recommend that you ask your dentist to examine them to anticipate the results you will receive and to determine if this is the right treatment to brighten your smile. You can also ask your dentist how he or she can make teeth whitening affordable for you.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Will whitening my teeth make my breath smell better?

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I am wondering if I use whitening strips if my breath will smell better? Is there something in the whitening gel that is good for breath too? Just checking because I have tried everything else. Thanks L.K.

Dear L.K. – Whitening your teeth, in itself, will not make your breath smell better. But if your teeth are whitening by a dentist, he or she will ensure that you have had a recent dental cleaning. If you haven’t, your teeth will need to be cleaned before they are whitened, because the results of the whitening will be much better.

Professional teeth cleaning can remove debris, plaque, and tartar on and between your teeth, all of which contribute to bad breath. In addition to regularly flossing and brushing your teeth, you can also use a tongue scraper, and brush your tongue with a toothbrush and toothpaste.

If your breath odor persists, see a dentist to determine if the source is a bad tooth, your gums, or if further investigation is needed to determine the cause.

This post is sponsored by Lowell dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Is overnight teeth whitening really bad for your teeth?

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I have bleaching trays from my former dentist and I do periodic touchups. I only do them once a year about a week or two after I get my teeth cleaned. I usually only need to do it one or two nights and I’m good untilthe next year. My husband told me that he read about some people who had problems from bleaching overnight. Is this really a danger? – Haley T.

Haley – The amount of time you leave the bleaching gel on your teeth depends on your individual sensitivity. If the bleaching gel isn’t creating sensitivity, you can leave the trays on.

While you sleep, your saliva production is reduced, and the bleaching gel stays on your teeth much longer and is more effective. Some people who wear the trays overnight experience a lot of sensitivity. In this case, a lower-strength bleaching gel can be used, or the trays can be worn only during the day for a limited period of time.

Anyone who has reason for concern about teeth whitening touch-ups—the gel, or the length of time it’s used—should speak with his or her dentist about it. Your dentist can examine your teeth and let you know if your tooth roots or the enamel of your teeth are being adversely affected.

This post is sponsored by Lowell dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Teeth whitening kit from the dentist hurts and burns!

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Hi. I got a teeth whitening kit from my dentist. I wanted to do things the right way and not get a cheap kit or something that would not work. I can tell that my teeth are getting whiter, but the kit is really hurting my teeth and making them feel like they are being shocked or zinged. Also my gums are burning and turning white. What is this stuff? What should I do now? thank you. – Renae W.

Renae – It is not unusual to experience some sensitivity during teeth bleaching, but what you describe is more intense than usual.

Stop using the teeth whitening kit, and contact your dentist and explain what you are experiencing. You may need a whitening gel that is not as strong. It is possible that the bleaching trays need to be adjusted so that the gel isn’t affecting your gums so much.

Additionally, be certain that you are closely following the instructions on how much bleaching gel to use in each tray and how long you are wearing the trays.

Contact your dentist for additional assistance.

This post is sponsored by Lowell dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Teeth whitening made my teeth feel like they’re being electrocuted!

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I got my teeth cleaned 2 days ago. I know it’s good to do my whitening touch-up after they have been cleaned so I put the gel in my whitening trays and wore them overnight. I didn’t feel any pain overnight, but as the morning went on I felt this huge zinging in my teeth, like my teeth were being electrocuted! It really hurt. Also I noticed that if I drank something cold or hot or ate something sweet, the sensitivity was even worse. It’s getting a little better now but I was really concerned. Why does teeth whitening hurt so bad? –  Rebekah

Rebekah – Teeth whitening can cause some sensitivity, but extreme sensitivity isn’t always felt. And for many people it doesn’t hurt at all.

The teeth-bleaching process opens pores in the dentin of your teeth and causes increased sensitivity. Dentin is the calcified tissue beneath the enamel of your teeth. The nerve in a tooth can also be temporarily irritated by the bleaching process and cause sensitivity.

After you’re finished with the bleaching process, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.

You can ask your dentist for desensitizing gel, which is applied to your teeth about 30 minutes before you bleach them. If you experience extreme sensitivity, some dentists recommend taking ibuprofen before you whiten your teeth. Some patients find it helpful to brush their teeth with Sensodyne® toothpaste in the days and weeks following teeth bleaching.

Other suggestions are to reduce the amount of bleaching gel you place in the trays or wear the trays for a shorter period of time.

This post is sponsored by Lowell dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.