Oh no! You were applying the take-home teeth whitening gel, but suddenly you felt burning sensations in your mouth. You check out your teeth and notice redness, soreness, and swelling in the affected area. Not to worry; this happens more often than you think. We would show you how to treat burned gums from teeth whitening at home. But first, what is this all about?
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is the procedure you do to fix discoloured teeth or remove ingrained stains on your tooth. Normally, you can carry out this procedure in two ways: in-office teeth whitening or take-home whitening.
During in-office whitening, the dentist performs the procedure by first cleaning your teeth thoroughly. Then, the dentist applies the whitening gel and activates it with a special light. You repeat this procedure until you achieve the level of whiteness you want.
Conversely, in take-home whitening, the dentist creates a whitening tray custom-made to your specifications and applies the whitening gel to it. You can take this tray home and apply it according to the instructions carefully labelled by the dentist.
Unfortunately, in both cases, the procedure can go awry, and burns can happen. When this happens, how to treat burned gums from teeth whitening becomes paramount. Here are the signs to look for:
What Are the Signs of Burned Gums?
Here are a couple of things that can reveal burned gums from teeth whitening:
- If you experience a burning sensation on your gum or around the affected area.
- Redness, swelling, or irritation around the affected area.
- Pain and soreness of the gum, especially during brushing, flossing, or eating.
- Extreme sensitivity to hot, spicy, or cold foods and liquids.
If you experience any or all of these things, we advise that you immediately follow the steps we are about to mention. These steps will provide a suitable guide on how to treat burned gums from teeth whitening.
Treating Burned Gums from Teeth Whitening
We strongly encourage immediacy in these steps mentioned, as that may be the key to preventing further damage and preserving gum integrity. If you experience any of the aforementioned signs, immediately:
- Stop the treatment: Stopping the treatment helps prevent further damage and complications that may arise. It also helps to ascertain the level of damage that has already occurred.
- Thoroughly rinse the mouth: Rinsing the mouth thoroughly with cool water will help remove the excess whitening gel that is left smeared on the teeth. It also removes chemical residues. You can do this by swishing water around the mouth gently for about 20–30 seconds at a time.
- Apply a cold compress to the affected area: Applying a cold compress or ice pack to the affected area can reduce swelling greatly and provide a temporary soothing feeling to the burning sensation. Please do not apply an ice pack to the burn directly, as this can increase irritation further. Rather, place the ice pack on the outside of the cheek, covering the affected area for about 10–20 minutes at a time.
- Pain relief drugs: You can purchase over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce the pain experienced because of the burns. Remember to always consult your healthcare practitioner to know which drugs are suitable for your treatment.
- Soothing gels and ointments: You can also apply soothing gels, like aloe vera gel, to ease the burning sensation. Alternatively, you can rinse your mouth with diluted salt water to prevent infection of the sores.
- Avoid spicy, hot, or cold meals: In order to reduce sensitivity during this period, avoid irritants like hot or peppery foods and liquids.
- Additionally, you can chew away from the affected area during the healing period. Also, take care to brush and floss carefully so as not to disrupt the healing process.
Teeth Whitening Treatment at Downtown Dentistry
Ideally, burned gums heal quickly, usually in a few days or a couple of weeks. The body creates a flaky white area around the sores to cover the surface area and prevent infection. Then the affected tissue repairs itself over time, and you develop new tissue soon enough.
The steps listed above describe how to treat burned gums from teeth whitening. However, in the case of prolonged healing or no healing at all, consult your dentist in Toronto immediately.
At Downtown Dentistry, we pride ourselves on providing excellent care before, during, and after the teeth-whitening procedure. We have a team of experienced and skilled dentists to handle the procedure with a high success rate and low accident risk. Whether you choose to do in-office whitening or take-home whitening, we provide clear and concise instructions and tips to ensure that we prioritize your oral health and well-being.
What’s more? Our Toronto dentist is always around to address your concerns and questions concerning the procedure during our free consultation. Forget about how to treat burned gums from teeth whitening when you whiten them with us.
Let Us Protect Your Smile
Consult us today to receive tips on how to treat burned gums from teeth whitening and lots more at our dental office in Toronto. Receive and experience the Downtown Dentistry experience! Let us protect and restore your bright, white smiles.
