Dear George,

 

Your complaints are not uncommon with over the counter teeth whitening systems. Generally speaking home bleaching is a safe procedure if done properly. There are two generally accepted methods used to bleach teeth.

 

1.      In office whitening

2.      Home treatments

 

The most popular in office whitening system is the BriteSmile Professional Teeth Whitening System. The BriteSmile system utilizes a patented blue light, which activates a gentle hydrogen-peroxide gel that is applied to your teeth. The peroxide bleaches the stains in your tooth enamel, safely and effectively whitening your teeth. This procedure usually takes just a little over an hour. I have used this system in my office for several years and often see patients’ teeth ten shades whiter after the BriteSmile procedure!

 

Home treatments consist of: 

 

1.      Brush-on whitening

2.      Strips you stick on your teeth

3.      Trays with bleaching gels.

 

Brush-on whitening is a great concept, however it is not very effective as a primary teeth whitening system. However, it can be effective as a touch-up system.

 

Whitening strips are simple to use, however they do not bleach your teeth uniformly. The strips are flat and are unable to form to the contours of your teeth’s anatomy. This usually results in uneven whitening.

 

Trays with bleaching gels are still the best way to bleach your teeth at home. Just a note of caution here, not all tray/gel systems are created equal. Some over-the-counter trays do not conform to your teeth and do not hold the gel in the proper position. Many over-the -counter whitening gels are not thick enough to stay in place and leak out of the tray, and onto the gums. Many over-the -counter gels typically contain less effective active ingredients or a lower concentration of active ingredients.

 

Some people experience temporary tooth sensitivity during treatment. Others have reported discomfort in the gums or in loose fillings. Gum irritation usually disappears within one to three days after beginning the procedure and upon the discontinuation or completion of treatment.

 

George, it sounds like your trays may have leaked bleaching agent onto your gums, causing gum irritation. The pain you experienced in your teeth may be due to cracked or missing fillings, or you may have gum recession that has exposed a portion of your roots. The bleaching solution tends to penetrate these areas, causing the nerves in teeth to become irritated resulting in generalized tooth pain.

 

The preferred method for the home bleaching is only available from you dentist. Your dentist will do a complete exam noting any areas that might be potential problems, before dispensing the system. Custom molds will then be taken of your teeth, and custom trays fabricated. These custom trays allow for uniform distribution of whitening agent, and cause less gum irritation. All in all a better result!

 

Better smiles for all.

Dr. John J. Russo