Is It Safe to Whiten Your Teeth During Pregnancy?

When you get pregnant, your body begins to change in numerous ways. The gaining of weight and increasing abdominal circumference becomes just a few of the things you are self-conscious about in your body. With many things out of your control throughout your pregnancy, you may feel the need to improve your appearance to gain back a little control. It is why some pregnant women begin to find interest in cosmetic dental procedures to improve their appearances. At this point, you should schedule an appointment with one of our dentists at BX Dental PC to learn more about teeth whitening protocols for pregnant women.

What Is Teeth Whitening?

It is the process of improving the whiteness and brightness of teeth to boost the aesthetic appearance. Bronx dentists perform teeth whitening by bleaching the enamel of teeth to remove any stains and up the shade of color of your teeth up to four times higher.

What Does Teeth Whitening Treatment Entail?

Teeth whitening in Bronx, NY, is a 45-minute procedure in dentistry that usually requires only one dental visit. The initial step of the treatment involves a dental exam. The dentist must evaluate the state of your oral cavity thoroughly before using any bleaching agents on your mouth. If professional teeth cleaning is necessary, your dentist will recommend going through with it first, before the whitening process. Cleaner teeth are ultimately brighter than teeth covered in layers of plaque and tartar.
Since the process of teeth whitening is painless, you should not expect any local anesthesia for numbing. The dentist will apply the whitening agents to your teeth, usually gel or paste. The dentist then uses a laser tool to activate the whitening agents to start bleaching the enamels of your teeth. After a few seconds, they wipe off the products and reapply accordingly. The goal is to rid your teeth of all present stains, which is why your dentist may repeat the same thing about 3-4 times. Once your teeth are satisfactorily white, your procedure is as good as done.

Teeth Whitening During Pregnancy

Although you may feel ready to whiten your teeth when pregnant, your dentist may advise against it. Usually, your teeth and gums are sensitive during pregnancy. Many women have bleeding gums or even gum disease. Recommending against teeth whitening when pregnant has nothing to do with the process being unsafe but rather is a preventive measure of protecting the state of your oral cavity throughout your pregnancy. You only need to wait a bit before you can improve the appearance of your teeth. According to the American Pregnancy Association, the hold-off eliminates any potential risks to a fetus. Since teeth whitening is an elective procedure to boost the aesthetics of your smile, there is no harm in postponing your appointment for a few months.

Potential Oral Health Concerns During Pregnancy

However small the likelihood of damage is, pregnant women should still not risk their health or their child just to fulfill a desire for brighter and whiter teeth. Some oral health concerns you expose yourself to when you try teeth whitening when pregnant are:

• Gingivitis – may start with bleeding gums due to the slightest abrasion during teeth cleaning and bleaching. The change in your hormonal framework may increase the risk of gum bleeding, even without teeth whitening treatment.
• Enamel erosion – the frequent morning sicknesses you experience during your pregnancy can significantly increase the acidity in your saliva, which may promote enamel erosion.
• Pyogenic granulomas – are round lumps or growths on your gums, usually caused by hormonal imbalance.
• Dental cavities – your heightened cravings for sweet foods may increase your risk for dental cavities.

Caring for Your Dental Health During Pregnancy

For the next few months of your pregnancy, the following tips should help you cater to your oral needs and reduce the risk of various dental problems:

• Brush your teeth at least twice every day.
• Floss daily.
• Eat healthily – ensure most, if not all, of your meals are balanced diets.
• Rinse your mouth with a mixture of warm water and baking soda. It will help reduce the acidity in your mouth due to morning sickness.