Over time, a person’s teeth can become yellow or discolored for a variety of reasons. In order to return them to a white color, many people use teeth whitening products. Many of these products are carbamide peroxide whitening gels. Unfortunately, the product can cause certain side-effects, such as teeth sensitivity, gum irritation, sore throat, and uneven whitening. Many of these side effects are mild or moderate in nature and many will disappear once the whitening process is stopped.
Gum irritation can be the result of an ill-fitting whitening tray, or because of the carbamide peroxide whitening product itself. If the product is exposed to gums, it can cause irritation. Custom fitting dental trays preempt this problem because they stop just below the gum line and this helps to prevent the product from contacting the gum. Over-the-counter whitening products normally use trays that may overlap the gum, allowing the product to come in contact with it. Ill-fitting trays may also rub against the gum and cause irritation.
Another one of the side effects of carbamide peroxide whitening gel is tooth sensitivity. This effect can include sensitivity to air, thermal sensitivity, and tooth pain. Air sensitivity can be felt when a person breathes through his mouth, and thermal sensitivity can occur when a person eats something hot or cold. A person may experience tooth pain when the whitener seeps into his teeth and causes inflammation of the living tissue within the tooth. People who have had some sort of teeth sensitivity before using a whitening product may be more likely to develop more sensitivity while using the product.
Some people may swallow the carbamide peroxide whitening product, especially if they use it overnight. Contact with the throat can cause throat irritation. Since the product is in contact with the throat for only a short time, this side effect usually passes. Another side effect that a person may experience is uneven whitening. This effect is more common with solutions containing a higher amount of peroxide and usually passes after a few days of use.
Side effects using carbamide peroxide whitening products are fairly common. In fact, one in every three people may experience some sort of side effect when using the product. For most, the effects aren’t obtrusive enough to cause them to stop using it. Some easy methods for reducing sensitivity include using anti-sensitivity toothpaste or taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications to reduce the inflammation. A person may also reduce or discontinue use of the product to control unwanted side-effects.