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FAQ: Teeth Whitening

Teeth Whitening: Fact and Fiction
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Question:
Trigeminal Neuralgia: While bleaching my teeth with the trays provided by my dentist, I suddenly experienced a sudden shock-like jolt up one of my top teeth into my gum area that lasted about 3 seconds. I immediately removed the tray and have not bleached since.

Since then I continue to get these shock-like jolts about 4 - 5 times a day at random times. Could a nerve have been damaged while bleaching, thus resulting in TN? Neither my dentist nor a rootcanal specialist have an answer for me. ...Visitor from CA

Answer:
Bleaching teeth can be a very safe procedure, however sometimes the bleach will open up small tubes in the teeth which are located in the dentin (the inner hard material under the enamel).

This results in a sharp electrical type pain. Usually this discomfort only lasts for one night when doing the in office 1.5 hour bleaching system such as BriteSmile or Zoom!.

If the pain is lasting longer then the teeth need to be bathed in a potassium nitrate and fluoride solution (such as RELIEF from the Discus Dental Company who provide and manufacture ZOOM). This is placed in a tray and held against the teeth for a few minutes a day.

The potassium will do two things. First it will plug up the small holes in the dentin second it will raise the action potential of the nerve in the tooth by increasing the extracellular potassium. When all else fails then some nerve medicine may help. Time will also render this condition neutral.

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