That “teeth being electrocuted” feeling is spot on—definitely not fun.
Oh man, that’s exactly how I’d describe it. I tried whitening strips for the first time last month and legit thought I broke something in my mouth. The sensitivity toothpaste helped a bit, but I never thought about fluoride rinse. My enamel’s always been kinda thin, so maybe that’s why? I wish there was a way to know before you go through the “zappy teeth” phase...
Yeah, that zappy feeling is the worst. I’ve always had sensitive teeth too, and whitening strips just seem to make it ten times worse for me. I tried spacing them out every few days instead of daily, and it helped a little, but not much. Has anyone noticed if certain brands are less harsh? Or maybe it’s just a gamble if your enamel’s on the thinner side...
I totally get what you mean about the zappy pain. I actually tried a couple different brands when I first got my braces off—Crest strips were brutal for me, but the generic pharmacy brand didn’t sting quite as much, oddly enough. Maybe it’s just luck of the draw with how your teeth react? I’ve also heard some people use a sensitive-teeth toothpaste before and after strips, but I’m not sure if that actually helps or if it’s just placebo. Has anyone had luck with those “sensitive” formulas, or is it all marketing?
Honestly, sensitive toothpaste can help a bit, but it’s not a magic fix. I usually tell people to use it for a week or two before starting strips. Some folks still get that “zappy” feeling no matter what, though... teeth are weird sometimes.
My kiddo has super sensitive teeth, and we tried the sensitive toothpaste trick too. It helped a little, but she still got those sharp zings with the strips. We ended up spacing them out—like every other day instead of daily. Made a difference for her, at least. Teeth really do have a mind of their own...
