“Tooth damage from teeth whitening?”

Tooth whitening has fascinated patients since they were developed. In the beginning, whitening was done in the dental office. Gradually, systems were developed that gave patients the choice of office, home and office, and home only. Once patients started whitening their teeth, the desire for whiter and whiter teeth increased. Some teeth have been whitened to the extreme that if a whitened tooth needed repair, there are no composite shades available to repair the tooth. Humans being humans no matter what they have been told will push the button. Even with warnings, the belief of "It won't happen to me" keeps them pushing. I don't know how often this happens, but it has happened. Hopefully, you have stopped whitening. Avoiding hot or cold foods. Try using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Keep In touch with your dentist.

Doing whitening is very safe and predictable, but overdoing it can definitely damage the nerve inside your tooth. I always recommend using sensitive toothpaste in order to limit the sensitivity after whitening.

Prolonged bleaching can lead to tooth sensitivity. Take a break from bleaching your teeth. Your dentist can give you a prescription for a more concentrated fluoride toothpaste or you can brush with Sensodyne. Do you have gum recession? If the roots of your teeth are exposed your teeth will be sensitive. Bonding may be needed in these areas. Also grinding at night might lead to tooth sensitivity and you may need a mouthguard.

Tooth-whitening products normally contain an organic bleach chemical called Carbamate Peroxide. Like household bleach, it is diluted to different strengths for safety and efficacy. If you want quick, snow-white teeth, you have to use a stronger concentration of bleach, which opens the possibility of creating sensitivity to your teeth. I don't understand from your statement whether you have been using the same concentration of bleach for the "past years", but by simply "dialing down" the concentration from say 34% to 19% you can significantly reduce post-bleaching sensitivity. 34%, by the way, is extremely strong and I have long ago discontinued its use in my office because of the results you indicate. I would recommend having your dentist issue you a home-bleaching kit with a lower concentration to get you satisfactory results with less sensitivity. It's also commonly known among dental professionals, btw, to pre-rinse with a fluoride rinse which protects the tooth nerves from the bleach and lowers post-operative sensitivity. Your dentist can prescribe a fluoride Rx toothpaste called Prevident Sensitivity toothpaste which will help your teeth recuperate from your latest bleaching treatment. You can also use it just before you bleach as I indicated before.

Why would they be whitened every 4 months? That could make them sensitive. We do the laser whitening once and give the patient custom trays in case they want to do a touch-up

To give you a quick answer: too often getting teeth whitening can permanently damage your teeth that can be irreversible.
I would like you to read this article you will get your answer and then some.
Teeth whitening can cause permanent damage: UBC prof, Jan 6, 2016

https://news.ubc.ca/2016/01/06/teeth-whitening-can-cause-permanent-damage-ubc-prof/

Yes, this is common. I’d recommend you ask your dentist for MI paste. This is a re-mineralizing paste with bioavailable calcium and phosphate. Apply this to the sensitive teeth and this will decrease sensitivity. You can place this inside the bleaching trays and leave it in your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes. The areas you may have erosion and wear are your root structure ms which can create sensitivity, too. Your dentist can apply a bonding on these root structure areas to eliminate sensitivity. There are also desensitizing toothpastes, but I don’t like the long-term use because I don’t think these chemicals are safe long-term.

Best regards,

Dr. Mark Berkowitz