If your teeth are already sensitive, or your gums are unhealthy, see a dentist before you whiten: sensitivity can have a cause that needs treating first. If your teeth and gums are healthy, choose a whitening product formulated to help prevent sensitivity, follow the timings exactly, and stop if it hurts.
Temporary sensitivity, often to cold, is the most common side effect of teeth whitening. This guide explains why it happens, what SmilePro does to help prevent it, and how to keep whitening comfortable.
Can you whiten your teeth if they are sensitive?
Not until a dentist has checked them. healthdirect Australia says teeth whitening is not recommended if you have sensitive teeth, gum disease, cracks or holes in your teeth, or untreated dental problems. A dentist can find the cause of your sensitivity and tell you whether, and how, whitening is right for you.
Why can teeth whitening cause sensitivity?
Whitening gels can make teeth temporarily sensitive to cold. The Australian Dental Association lists sensitive teeth as one of the risks of teeth whitening, and healthdirect advises seeing your dental professional if sensitivity or gum irritation lasts more than 1 or 2 days.
The risk is higher with strong gels, with treatments left on longer than directed, and when gel touches the gums. That is why the strength of the product, the treatment time and a careful application all matter.
How does SmilePro help prevent sensitivity?
SmilePro's gel is Sensitivity-free: developed by dental professionals and formulated to help prevent sensitivity in healthy teeth, with potassium nitrate in the formula. It is also enamel safe when used as directed.
- The Advanced Kit light has a red LED setting designed for a more comfortable treatment, alongside the blue LED that speeds up the gel.
- Each kit treatment is 10 minutes, and the light switches itself off, so you never have to time it.
- You paint a thin layer of gel straight onto your teeth with a pen, which helps keep it off your gums.
- SmilePro strips are formulated to help prevent sensitivity in healthy teeth too. Leave them on for 30 minutes and no longer.
What should you do if whitening makes your teeth sensitive?
Stop, rinse with water and pause your course. Use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth and avoid very hot or cold drinks while it settles. If the sensitivity or any gum irritation lasts more than 1 or 2 days, see your dentist, as healthdirect advises. You can also contact our team, who can talk you through your routine.
Is an LED kit or whitening strips better for sensitive teeth?
Both SmilePro options are formulated to help prevent sensitivity in healthy teeth. The kit's treatments are shorter, 10 minutes against 30 for strips, and its red LED is designed for comfort; strips need no light. Whichever you choose, if your teeth are already sensitive, see a dentist before you start.
Tips for comfortable whitening
- Check your teeth and gums are healthy first, ideally at a recent dental check-up.
- Brush with water before a kit treatment, and use a thin, even layer of gel.
- Avoid direct contact of the whitening gel with your gums, and wipe away any excess.
- Follow the timings exactly: one treatment a day for the 7-day course, and never more than directed.
- Do not use whitening products for more than 14 consecutive days without a dentist's supervision.
- After each treatment, wait 1 hour before eating or drinking anything except water.
- Stop and see a dentist if your gums or mouth become irritated (redness, swelling or soreness).
Who should not whiten their teeth?
SmilePro whitening products are not for anyone under 18, or anyone pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not use them if you have gum disease, an oral infection or recent dental surgery, or amalgam fillings without consulting a dentist first. If you have sensitive teeth or unhealthy gums, see a dentist first.
Read next: Whitening strips vs LED kit: which should you choose?, Teeth whitening aftercare and Is teeth whitening safe?.
Sources
This guide is general information, not dental advice. If you have any concerns about your teeth or gums, speak to a dentist.
- healthdirect Australia, Teeth whitening, last reviewed February 2025.
- Australian Dental Association, Teeth whitening (teeth.org.au), read 7 October 2026.
- SmilePro product information: Advanced Teeth Whitening Kit, Teeth Whitening Strips, and our Terms and Conditions.
Last updated: 7 October 2026.
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