Tackling A Few Of The Most Common Misconceptions About Teeth Whitening During Pregnancy
Posted on: 2 July 2015
Being pregnant may be a joyous occasion, but it does come along with bodily changes that are anything but pleasurable. From ill-fitting clothes to feeling frumpy overall, you will likely be quite eager to make sure that at the very least, you can still show off a pearly white smile. However, there are not many women who will try to whiten their teeth during pregnancy thanks to some pretty common misconceptions. Here are a few of those common misconceptions about dental whitening and pregnancy and the facts to push them out of the way.
Misconception: Because whitening products contain peroxide, even the at-home whitening products are considered dangerous.
Fact: It is true that at-home whitening kits and strips do contain minimal amounts of peroxide compounds to whiten your teeth and remove stains. However, most of these products contain very small amounts of these ingredients and would be considered safe. However, you should always ask your dentist or obstetrician about any over-the-counter products you intend to use.
Misconception: If you accidentally swallow teeth whitening agents it will hurt the baby.
Fact: You would likely have to swallow a great deal of a whitening product to cause any harm to yourself or the baby you are carrying. Many products, such as teeth whitening strips, make it almost impossible to swallow large amounts of bleaching agents if they are use correctly.
Misconception: The cosmetic dentist will refuse to do professional whitening while you are expecting.
Fact: Not all dentists will perform teeth bleaching while you are pregnant, but there are some that will. There have not been studies to show that this could be harmful. The only difference in treatment if you are pregnant is that the dentist will be a little more cautious to ensure the bleaching agent does not get on the soft tissues of your mouth.
Misconception: You can't even used whitening toothpaste while you are pregnant.
Fact: Not all whitening toothpastes contain peroxide compounds like other whitening products, but even those that do have very little. If you see something on a whitening toothpaste's ingredient label that you are unsure of, talk it over with your doctor before using it, but in most cases, whitening toothpaste is perfectly fine.
Even though you are feeling very pregnant, it does not mean that you have to compromise when it comes to a pretty smile. Talk to a cosmetic dentist, such as Clendenon Kirby DDS, about any further concerns you have about dental whitening during pregnancy.
Share