As a dental hygienist, I practice evidence-based healthcare and want to provide my patients, in my dental chair, and with you, with the best information I can give you. Whitening sensitive teeth can be a pain, and there are some products you want to avoid, but some are a must-try.
Using toothpaste with potassium nitrate and a whitening product with hydrogen peroxide are the best products for whitening sensitive teeth. Avoid abrasive whitening toothpaste as it removes some tooth surfaces when used, which can cause more sensitivity and tooth structure loss.
In this post, I cover more in-depth examples of the best products to use when whitening sensitive teeth that I have used myself and recommend to my patients.
The best products to whiten sensitive teeth
Whitening sensitive teeth can be a pain. Literally a pain. Tooth sensitivity from teeth whitening affects our lives because it interferes with daily activities and can be a negative experience.
The best products to whiten sensitive teeth are;
- Crest Whitestrips for sensitive teeth
- HiSmile PAP+ teeth whitening strips
Crest whitening strips for sensitive teeth
Crest teeth whitening strips for sensitive teeth are specially formulated to reduce tooth sensitivity during the whitening process and decrease the aggravation of already sharp teeth.
This product contains less active ingredient, so it may take longer to see results versus using the original Crest Whitestrips, and it allows it not to cause as much tooth sensitivity.
This is the product that I recommend to my patients who have sensitive teeth. I would much rather them do this over-the-counter treatment with my guidance over having a professional teeth whitening procedure done in the dental office.
I say this because in-office teeth whitening procedures use an extremely high percentage of the active ingredient, which causes a much higher risk of intense tooth sensitivity.
I would rather my patients go slow and steady with teeth whitening or even break up the treatments in order to avoid that intense pain. For example, use half the strips, take a month’s break then complete the 2nd half of the treatment.
But for some people, this product still may cause sensitivity, as I read from the reviews of the product online.
But if you have always been unable to whiten your teeth and suffer from very sensitive teeth daily, a newer product made by HiSmile is called PAP+.
HiSmile PAP+ teeth whitening strips
Below I linked a video made about everything HiSmile PAP+ teeth whitening strips. I go over all the science and why their product does not create tooth sensitivity, and I complete the full 14 treatments, bring you along, show my results, and discuss what I experienced in teeth sensitivity.
I wasn’t paid, encouraged or sponsored to make this video. I tried to product to give you my honest, professional opinion.
I think this product has a way to come to offer more significant results, but the science is fascinating!
To read more about the science of how PAP+ works to whiten teeth without sensitivity, I wrote a blog post that is linked below.
Read Now: Does Hismile PAP+ Work to Whiten Teeth? Hygienist Explains
The best products to use in conjunction with the whitening products
Using a product designed for sensitive teeth is sometimes insufficient to stop the sensitivity altogether.
When talking to my patients who suffer from sensitive teeth and how to whiten them, I always recommend using toothpaste containing potassium nitrate for at least two weeks before starting the treatment.
Potassium nitrate infiltrates the pores of the teeth. It depolarizes the nerve endings in the dentin, preventing the pain signal from firing to the brain and resulting in the pain not being felt.
Using this toothpaste for at least two weeks before teeth whitening is essential.
Sensodyne Fresh Mint has the highest bio-available potassium nitrate percentage, which significantly impacts the teeth to prevent sensitivity. Using this toothpaste for two weeks before whitening is essential, and do not eat, drink, or rinse for 30 minutes after using it.
For the complete guide and step-by-step instructions, specifically on how to whiten sensitive teeth, I wrote a post containing all the information, which is linked below.
Read Now: How to Whiten Teeth With Sensitive Teeth? Hygienist Explains
Products to avoid for whitening sensitive teeth
Gimmicks such as purple toothpaste/goop, lights, at-home concoctions, lemon juice, baking soda, ANY whitening toothpaste, whitening pens, and whitening mouthwash will not change the colour of the teeth.
Whitening toothpaste can reduce the amount of surface stain that is present on the teeth but will not chemically change the colour and tone of the teeth.
Read Now: Teeth Whitening Zingers: How to Prevent or Stop Sensitivity
If you have sensitive teeth, I hope I have helped you find a solution to whiten your teeth. But remember, it is best to have a thorough check and dental hygiene cleaning before whitening your teeth.
This ensures your mouth is healthy and the build-up on your teeth is removed so the whitening ingredients can have the most surface area possible to whiten.
Holly 🙂