At my last dental appointment they told me I have a cavity. It’s my first one. I didn’t know how to feel. The dentist also said if I wanted to whiten my teeth, now was the time. I’ve been talking about whitening my teeth for some time, which was why he mentioned it. However, I read online that you shouldn’t get your teeth whitened when you have cavities.
Missy – New Hampshire
Missy,
Well, you’re both right. They don’t recommend teeth whitening when you have cavities because of the sensitivity. A cavity opens your tooth, putting the whitening that much closer to the nerves.
However, if you get your teeth filled first, you have two choices. 1. You can guess at what level of whitening you’ll get and try to get the right color, or 2. Fill the cavity, have your teeth whitened, then re-do the whitening to match the new whiter teeth.
There are things you can do to help with the sensitivity. Start by using a fluoride rinse. Your dentist should be willing to give you a prescription rinse.
This blog is brought to you by Dr. Theodore Hadgis.