Is It Safe to Use Dental Whitening Strips While Pregnant?

Pregnancy comes with several changes to your appearance, diet, and habits. In addition, you start establishing and maintaining healthy and safe choices for you and the baby. Therefore it is normal to have numerous questions at this time. For example, one of the things people ask is whether it is safe to undergo a teeth whitening treatment. Read on to learn the answer.

What Is Teeth Whitening?

Everyone desires perfect teeth that complement their smile and enhance their self-esteem. Therefore, more people are considering cosmetic dental treatments to achieve desired smiles. One of the treatments that improve the appearance of your smile is bleaching or teeth whitening. This is a procedure to enhance the color of your teeth eliminating discoloration.

Teeth whitening is popular since it is fast, effective, and affordable. You can undergo the treatment in the comfort of your home using teeth whitening kits. These kits contain small amounts of hydrogen peroxide. So, they require several applications to show whitening effects. They include whitening strips, toothpaste, gels, mouth rinse, and dental trays.

Alternatively, you can visit the dentist for professional teeth whitening. In-office teeth whitening in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, is safer and results better. The dentist will examine your gums and teeth. It ensures the bleaching agents will not cause gum irritation or enamel erosion. Some methods dentists use are Zoom® whitening, Laser whitening, and Opalescence.

Is Teeth Whitening Safe for Pregnant Women?

No, teeth whitening is unsafe for pregnant women. Instead, dentists recommend postponing elective treatments like teeth whitening. Below are some reasons you should avoid teeth whitening while pregnant.

• Morning sickness and nausea lead to frequent vomiting while pregnant. As a result, acids from your stomach reach your teeth leading to enamel erosion. If you whiten your teeth, the peroxide will increase erosion damaging your teeth further.
• Pregnancy cravings or inability to clean your teeth increases your risk of cavities. Teeth whitening should not be performed on teeth with untreated cavities.
• Your gum tissues are prone to infections and irritation while pregnant. Bleaching your teeth exposes the gums to peroxide, which can permanently damage them.
• Your body releases increased amounts during pregnancy to help develop the baby. High levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones cause the loosening of the teeth. When you whiten your teeth in this condition, the bleaching agent can damage the tissues inside your teeth.

Is It Safe to Use Whitening Strips During Pregnancy?

Over-the-counter whitening products contain less peroxide than those used by dentists. As a result, some individuals consider them to be safe for use while pregnant. They argue that the low amount of peroxide in products like whitening strips cannot impact their oral health.

However, this is not true. The bleaching agent in whitening strips can damage your gums and cause enamel erosion. It is because you will need to use the strips severally before noticing any changes to the color of your teeth. Continued application impacts the health of your gums and teeth.

How Can I Keep My Smile Whiter While Pregnant?

Although whitening during pregnancy is not recommended, you can still get whiter teeth. One way to do this is to avoid foods that can stain your teeth. These include coffee, tea, dark chocolate, and highly pigmented and acidic foods and drinks. Also, avoid snacking on sugary things frequently. They cause decay, impacting the color of your teeth.

Maintain proper dental hygiene by brushing and flossing your teeth every day. Brush in the morning, evening, and after eating foods that can discolor your teeth. Use fluoride toothpaste to strengthen your teeth and prevent decay. However, you may choose a toothpaste brand that does not trigger nausea when cleaning your teeth.

You can use warm water and salt to brush if you cannot stand the smell of toothpaste. In addition, you can rinse your mouth frequently with an antimicrobial mouthwash. This helps eliminate bacteria and keeps your teeth whiter. If you have trouble brushing or flossing due to nausea, pick a time when you are less likely to be nauseous.

Visit a dentist near you for regular dental check-ups. The dentist will help keep your smile whiter through professional dental cleaning. In addition, our experts at Talent Dental will give you more tips to keep your smile whiter during pregnancy.