Teeth Whitening Hurts

[LemonDrop]

My dentist gave me an Opalescence teeth whitening system to take home with me. It's a kit outfitted with gel-filled syringes and a mouth guard. You wear the mouth guard for about 15-20 minutes after filling it with the gel. But the gel always leaks out, spilling on to the gums and it burns like CRAZY. Is there anyway to prevent this? Thanks!

[Dr Ehsan J. Esfahani]

Hello LemonDrop,

Thank you for your post.

Whitening trays should be well fitting. If this is not the case then the whitening gel will leak out onto the gums and will irritate and burn the gums. Your dentist should assess your whitening trays and confirm they are well fitting. You should then ensure only a small drop of whitening gel is loaded in each tooth reservoir. Finally you should wipe off excess whitening gel that has spilled out on to the gums with a clean tissue. By doing these 3 things you will ensure this is prevented. Whitening consultations are available 7 days a week at Pearl Dental Clinic.