Actual whitening treatments can cause tooth sensitivity, but what about whitening toothpastes you can use at home? SEM, scanning electron microscope *It forms a protective layer over the sensitive area of the teeth.

Strontium chloride treats sensitivity in teeth by blocking the message between the pain receptors and the brain. I have included Sensodyne Daily Care here as it is one of the cheapest potassium nitrate containing toothpastes. If this is the case, simply switch brands for a few weeks or months and then you can switch back again.Ultimately, tooth sensitivity is caused by exposed dentin tubules (the nerves that sense pain lie within these parts of the tooth). As well as using a sensitive toothpaste, you could consider a sensitive mouthwash, or a prescription product from your dentist. My recommendation would be to stick to Sensodyne Daily Care Original, or even the gentle whitening version to help reduce staining, and to avoid the paste with SLS and unnecessary colourants. For an alternative, you could check out our list of potassium nitrate containing sensodyne toothpastes below.

But if it carries on for over a week, or suddenly gets a lot worse, make sure you get it checked by a dental professional. Strontium chloride doesn’t treat the root cause of the sensitivity and so you may develop tooth sensitivity again in the future. All Sensodyne toothpastes contain either stannous fluoride or potassium nitrate and are useful if you suffer from sensitive teeth. Honestly, if you suffer from sensitive teeth and want a fluoride free toothpaste you should check out GC Tooth Mousse in the list above. All Sensodyne products contain fluoride, which helps fight against cavities, so you can maintain healthy teeth every day.

Pronamel also offers the benefits of a daily toothpaste, including cavity protection and fresh breath. In terms of managing the sensitivity with toothpastes, you will need to give whatever paste you are using some time to work – about 2-4 weeks. Unfortunately, there are very few toothpastes on the US market which do contain arginine, so choice is limited. Well bear in mind that these will only remove stains, and will not lighten the overall colour of your teeth.

Anecdotally the treatments work, and there seems to be a lot of evidence from manufacturers, but there is only limited evidence when reviewed independently by the Cochrane Collaboration. If your dentist confirms no underlying issues, a sensitive toothpaste may be a good option if your symptoms are becoming bothersome. Brush teeth thoroughly for at least 1 minute twice a day (morning and evening), and not more than 3 times a day, or as recommended by a dentist or doctor.

Their unique formulation with stannous fluoride builds a protective barrier over sensitive areas of your teeth, so you can beat sensitivity pain fast—and keep it from coming back. Sensodyne Repair and Protect toothpaste provides effective lasting relief from the twinge of sensitivity and offers everyday cavity protection. Generally, stannous fluoride is linked to staining on teeth, also manufacturers claim they can reduce this effect with the correct formulation. You need to use these products for a few weeks to see if they work for you, and if they do help – do not stop using them!