By far and large, tooth whitening is one of the safest, if not the single safest cosmetic procedure to enhancing your smile. We liken tooth whitening to weight loss. The catch phrase “white done right” is similar to healthy weight loss. When done correctly, both have minimal to no side effects coupled with a boat load of benefits.

The possible side effects of tooth whitening include:

(Remember these 2 words as we go through this list – “Don’t panic”)

Sensitivity

Sensitivity during or after teeth whitening can range from a mild tingling sensation to moderate discomfort. In general, this lasts anyway from a few hours to 2 days. It is common practice to provide patients with a dose of analgesics (painkillers) before the start of in-office whitening.

Generally, you should avoid cold drinks or desserts for 2 days to minimize the discomfort should it you experience any at all.

In the rare, extreme case, the patient may feel sharp, shooting pain from different teeth during an In-office whitening procedure. Don’t panic. You should notify your dentist immediately so that he/she may stop the procedure and make an assessment of the situation.

All said and done, tooth sensitivity is completely reversible, and goes away by itself. Never fear, no damage is done to the nerve or the tooth.

Soreness/Tenderness of the Gums and Cheek Tissues

Your cheeks and gums are protected with a barrier material and retractors. Upon removal of the gel and protective material, the gums and cheek tissues may occasionally appear whitish and may even feel a little sore or tender. Again, Don’t panic. In the most extreme of cases, the matter would resolve itself over the next 48 -72 hours.

White Spots

If you had pre-existing white spots (fluorosis stains) on your teeth before whitening, you may see that these spots would appear bright white against the bright background of your newly whitened teeth. Don’t panic. The “star-spangled” look doesn’t last for long at all.

Fluoride is a mineral that fights tooth decay. The white spots are quite common in Singapore due to the fluoride content in our water. They turn whiter-than-white during the whitening procedure because they have different moisture content from the rest of the tooth. Your dentist would easily spot these spots (pun intended) and reassure you that you’d look just fine in a day or two after your teeth get back their moisture. (phew… that whole chunk was a tongue twister)

Bridges, Fillings and Crowns

Now here’s a fun fact. Old bridges, crowns, porcelain veneers and fillings (metal or tooth-coloured) don’t whiten at all. If you have a one or two teeth that having a filling or crown, Don’t panic. These restorations will be easily replaced to match the rest of your teeth. It is important to note though that your teeth will only reach its optimum brightness about 2 weeks after the whitening procedure (or after the last day your take home kit was used). It’s best that your new crowns or fillings be replaced 14 days later.