pain after Zoom! Archives - Coleman Dental

Tooth pain and sensitvity after Zoom whitening.

August 31, 2021 by Brian Sartin

Why do my teeth hurt after getting Zoom whitening done? I didn’t anticipate not being able to eat normally, drink, or heck – even breathe after getting the treatment. Is there something wrong or did my dentist mess up? What is going on? The tooth pain is so intense I’m considering going to urgent care to see if they can do anything. My dentist is gone for the week and I’m left feeling helpless.

– Vic in California

Vic,

Sorry to hear you are having a difficult time after Zoom whitening. Do you typically have sensitive teeth? From the sounds of it, there is a good chance that you do. And for someone that does have sensitive teeth, this is pretty common. The pain should only be temporary and can be managed. It is surprising that your dentist didn’t prepare you for this possibility, especially if you have sensitive teeth.

Your teeth are covered in tiny, microscopic pores or what are referred to as tubules. These pores were opened during the Zoom whitening process so that the whitening agent could penetrate deep into the teeth. It is not uncommon for sensitivity to occur after any teeth whitening treatment for a couple of days following the appointment. Since these tubules were opened, this also means that anything else that you expose your teeth to may irritate the teeth and cause some pain. That is because the food, drink, or even your breath as you mentioned, is reaching the inside of your teeth. It is also important to avoid anything that may cause immediate staining like tea, red wine, and berries for several days immediately following the whitening appointment. All that to be said, some people have more sensitivity than others. Others won’t even notice anything out of the ordinary.

Here is what you can do to manage the discomfort.

Take an over-the-counter ibuprofen or pain reliever as needed for a couple days.
Do your best to breathe using your nose instead of your mouth.
Drinking from a straw will help.
Avoid extreme hot or cold food and drink.
A fluoride rinse can be used to reduce tooth sensitivity. Although, this is typically more effective when it is started prior to getting Zoom done.

In rare instances, patients may have another dental problem that is causing the pain. If the pulp of the tooth is inflamed than you may be dealing with the pain for a longer period of time, up to two weeks. The treatment for this condition is similar. But if the pain doesn’t subside within a few days, call your dentist. They will be able to check you out to make sure there isn’t anything else going on that is causing your discomfort. If the dentist is out of town, there should be another back-up number to call.

As always, if the tooth pain is waking you up at night or is too intense to handle, contact your dentist right away. Professional treatment may include a stronger pain medication or desensitizing treatment.

Thank you for your question.

Does Zoom whitening hurt?

August 28, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I got some teeth whitening kits from the drug store. I really wasn’t happy with them. They actually hurt. I am looking into Zoom whitening but was wondering if it has hydrogen peroxide in it because I think that is why my teeth hurt.

Also, do you have to get Zoom done multiple times to see results?

– Jeff in Illinois

Jeff,

Professional teeth whitening treatments done by a dentist are much more powerful than any over-the-counter whitening toothpaste or strips that you would get from the store. The whitening agents used in professional whitening are much stronger and remain on the teeth much longer. Therefore, the whitening agents deliver much more effective results.

In regard to Zoom whitening, there is a percentage of hydrogen peroxide in the whitening agent. When the special Zoom light is used and shone on the teeth prepared with the Zoom whitening gel, it activates and accelerates the bleaching process. Oxygen is able to penetrate deep into the teeth and give results that are up to 10 shades whiter. You don’t have to go back into the office multiple times for treatment, but the dentist will perform multiple sessions at the whitening appointment. It will all be done in one appointment.

As far as your question asking if Zoom hurts, that is a possibility. Any teeth whitening procedure can cause increased sensitivity. But with Zoom, the heat of the light and the powerful whitening agents can intensify the sensitivity. Patients have reported increased sensitivity that usually subsides after a few days. But for some, the symptoms last longer than that. Talk to your dentist about your experience and expectations. Maybe take home whitening trays are more appropriate for you. Zoom is popular, but isn’t right for everyone.

No one told me I’d be in pain after Zoom!

August 20, 2021 by Brian Sartin

My gums felt strange yesterday during the Zoom whitening procedure I had done. They kind of tingled a little, bit but it wasn’t too bad. When I told the dental assistant, she kind of adjusted something but didn’t say anything else about it. The tingling kept happening. Again, it was never painful, but it was noticeable. Well, at home overnight my gums hurt really bad. The annoying pain kept me up during the night and then in the morning I am noticing they look puffy. They also have white in them in places, almost like a little blister. No one told me I would be in pain! Do I need to go back into the dentist? What’s happening?

– Diane in Maryland

Diane,

Sorry that you are having to go through this. Based on the symptoms you have described, it sounds like you had a reaction to the Zoom whitening agent. Most dental offices will be very careful to prevent this from happening when they protect your gums. But every once in awhile, the gums can be exposed and the white blister you are describing sounds like you have experienced a chemical burn. This sounds frightening, and although very uncomfortable, it is typically a minor issue.

The gums will heal from a burn similarly to other parts of the body. For example, the blister may peel and then after a week or two, the skin should be healed.

If it continues to be bothersome, feel free to take Ibuprofen and be very careful while eating and brushing your teeth. You don’t want to further irritate that area of the gums. It would be wise to call into the dentist office to see if he or she has any other recommendations or precautions. At the very least, if you were sent home with teeth whitening trays, you will not want to use those until the area has completely healed. A warm, salt rinse will help aid the healing of the gum tissue and prevent infection.

Again, feel free to contact the office so they are aware of the situation. But you shouldn’t have to go back in unless the area is not healing after 5-7 days. Sorry to hear you had a negative experience with Zoom.