Are Teeth Whitening Safe During Pregnancy?

Many pregnant women want to look good and start considering teeth whitening to get brighter teeth, which subsequently improves their look and gives them a fabulous smile makeover. However, despite all the aesthetic benefits of this type of cosmetic dentistry, Health practitioners do not recommend teeth whitening for pregnant women, and there are several reasons for these general assertions.

Why Is Professional Teeth Whitening Not Safe For Pregnant Women?

Professional teeth whitening procedure requires the bleaching of the teeth to remove stains that cause discoloration in teeth with high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical solution and the most active ingredient in teeth bleaching agents. 

While no research proves that whitening agents are detrimental to the health of pregnant women and their unborn children, the fact that they contain a chemical solution makes it advisable that expectant mothers should avoid these agents and whitening procedures throughout pregnancy.

Chemicals solutions are generally volatile; hence pregnant women shouldn’t subject themselves and unborn kids to any. An expectant mother should only whiten her teeth after delivery.

Possible Risks Of Tooth Whitening And Bleaching Agents To Pregnant Women And Their Babies. 

Pregnancy makes the body much more vulnerable and open to infections, illness, and injuries. This is one reason dentists believe that hydrogen peroxide in teeth whitening agents may harm pregnant women and their children.

Tooth Sensitivity.

The high concentration of hydrogen peroxide can lead to teeth sensitivity after a whitening procedure. During the process, the bleaching agent is absorbed by the enamel, which irritates the teeth nerve. During pregnancy, this symptom may become much telling and lead to extreme discomfort due to the extra sensitivity of pregnancy.

Tissue Damage.

There is a general increase in women’s hormones during pregnancy, making them more prone to gingivitis that results from inflamed and swollen gums. Using highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide to an already inflamed gum would damage the gum’s soft tissue. 

Unknown Effect On The Baby. 

While a highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide might present harm or be totally harmless to an unborn child, there is no research or theory to support or disprove these assertions. This is why dentists recommend that expectant mothers avoid teeth whitening as it places them on a safer side. 

Can A Pregnant Woman Use Traditional Teeth Whitening Products At Home?

Over-the-counter whitening products are no exception. They also contain a high amount of hydrogen peroxide and other chemicals and should be addressed as in-office bleaching agents. The amount of hydrogen peroxide in professional teeth whitening solutions used by the dentist is relatively higher than OTC products, but this does not make them safer.

In fact, using over-the-counter products opens patients to more risk as they may make mistakes or swallow the solution during application. This can be very dangerous for their babies as swallowing bleaching agents can lead to stomach upset in anyone. 

Some teeth whitening products do not contain hydrogen peroxides, such as lumineux and activated charcoal. Still, it Is recommended that expectant mothers first discuss with their dentist before using any of these products.

Is Teeth Whitening, Toothpaste, And Mouthwash Safe During Pregnancy?

Several teeth whitening toothpaste do not contain hydrogen peroxide, while many have a very small amount that poses a threat to the health of pregnant women and their babies.

For Mouthwash, it should be used only on doctor recommendations as most contain alcohol.

Generally, the best way for pregnant women to keep their teeth from getting stained during pregnancy is to eat healthy fruits. You can improve the health of your teeth this way until delivery. After delivery, you can contact a dentist in AZ or phoenix and book an appointment by searching with any of the keywords “emergency dentist 85015, dentist phoenix az, dental cleanings in phoenix, or family dentist phoenix.” The search result will give you a directory of recommended dental clinics and dentists to go for.