Ibuprofen and potassium fluoride combo may reduce tooth sensitivity after tooth whitening suggests a new study published in The Journal of the American Dental Association.
The authors evaluated the synergistic analgesic effect of preemptive administration of 400 mg of ibuprofen (IBU) and potassium fluoride 2% (KF2), both in isolation or combination, on the painful perception of tooth sensitivity after tooth bleaching. Fifteen patients participated in this triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The study used a crossover design for drug administration and a split-mouth design for a desensitizer agent. Four paired groups were formed: ibuprofen plus potassium fluoride 2% ( ibuprofen + potassium fluoride 2%); ibuprofen ( ibuprofen + placebo KF); potassium fluoride 2% (placebo ibuprofen + potassium fluoride 2%), and placebo (placebo ibuprofen + placebo KF). The outcome measure was the perception of tooth sensitivity, assessed using a visual analogue scale. Data were collected at 4 different times: immediately after tooth bleaching (baseline) and after 6, 30, and 54 hours. Statistical analysis was performed using the Friedman test and relative risk. Results: ibuprofen plus potassium fluoride 2% was found to be more effective in reducing tooth sensitivity immediately after bleaching (baseline) compared with the placebo group (P < .05). The risk of experiencing moderate or severe tooth sensitivity was approximately 4 times higher in the placebo group than in the ibuprofen plus potassium fluoride 2% group. The combined use of 400 mg of ibuprofen and potassium fluoride 2% appears to be beneficial in managing postbleaching tooth sensitivity. It provides a superior analgesic effect compared with placebo. The preemptive administration of ibuprofen plus potassium fluoride 2% reduces tooth sensitivity after tooth whitening when compared with placebo.

Reference:
Lima NLB, Sette-de-Souza PH, Siqueira AHC, Costa SGA, Alves PVM, Silvestre FA, Meneses NE, Santiago SL, Peixoto RF. Preemptive use of ibuprofen and desensitizer decreases immediate tooth sensitivity after in-office bleaching: A triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Am Dent Assoc. 2024 Jan 20:S0002-8177(23)00714-6. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2023.11.011. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38244017.
Keywords:
Ibuprofen, potassium fluoride, tooth sensitivity, tooth whitening, Lima NLB, Sette-de-Souza PH, Siqueira AHC, Costa SGA, Alves PVM, Silvestre FA, Meneses NE, Santiago SL, Peixoto RF, Dental bleaching; ibuprofen; tooth sensitivity