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Most people who have used DIY teeth whitening products report teeth sensitivity and soft tissue irritation.  So why does this happen? 

One obvious reason is the whitening gel placement.  Most DIY kits instruct the user to place the whitening gel in the tray instead of the tooth surfaces.  The Oratrue teeth whitening kits instruct the user to place the whitening gel on the teeth first then place the mouth tray and teeth whitening light in the mouth.  The significance here is that there is a lower probability that the gel will come in contact with the soft tissues and cause subsequent soft tissue irritation.  

Another reason is dryness or dehydration.  I know that it is not easy to understand this concept because our teeth are basking in saliva but something called anhydrous glycerin can dehydrate the teeth during the whitening process. The anhydrous glycerin is used as a thickener for many whitening gels but  is also a dehydrating agent.  The Oratrue teeth whitening kits come with pre-wipes that actually enhance hydration of the teeth before the whitening process.  These are a couple of the reasons for discomfort after teeth whitening and we will reveal some more reasons soon.  Thanks for reading our latest post.

James Ligon,  DDS,  MA