Teeth Whitening And Pregnancy
Why this popular cosmetic treatment is not appropriate for mums-to-be.
The idea of starting a family, or adding to one, can be a very exciting time for mums to be. It can also be a challenge for some, and feeling positive about their self image can help a pregnancy seem less stressful. It is not surprising then, that some of our Burton patients enquire about teeth whitening during their pregnancy. For these patients, we take a look at the safety aspect of this treatment in our latest blog.
Naturally, whether a cosmetic or restorative treatment, consideration needs to be given, not only to the safety of the patient, but to the unborn child also. The experienced dentists at our Burton practice will always check your medical condition and any changes to medication etc, before assessing your suitability for any treatment.
Teeth whitening safety
Generally speaking, a teeth whitening procedure is very safe. It can be repeated as often as you wish with no serious long term effects. A little additional sensitivity may be temporarily felt following the procedure, but this soon returns to normal.
During pregnancy, however, we have to also take into account the fact that chemicals are used to whiten the teeth, and these may enter the bloodstream. There have been a number of studies which have indicated that there is no evidence that this is damaging for either mother or child. However, perhaps due to it being a ‘non essential’ treatment, legislation does exist which prevents anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding from receiving this treatment.
As responsible dentists, we must, of course, follow these laws and are unable therefore to offer teeth whitening to pregnant women. We do also urge that patients in this situation do not seek out the illegal whitening outlets which unfortunately do still exist. Not only are these illegal, but have often been found to be dangerous, using far too high concentrations of the bleaching agent. This could be harmful both for yourself, and your child.
If you have had a teeth whitening treatment at our Burton practice before discovering you were pregnant, there should be no real risk to your child, but it is worth mentioning this to your local GP for further advice.
How we can help
Although we are unable to offer teeth whitening to pregnant patients, we can offer some help. Much surface staining especially can be removed using the high speed brushes employed by our hygienists. Although this won’t whiten the teeth to the extent of a whitening procedure, many patients are unexpectedly surprised by the difference it makes to the colour of their teeth. Although this is not the main purpose of a scale and polish, it is certainly a pleasant bonus.
As gum disease is more common during pregnancy, seeing a dental hygienist is definitely a positive thing. You may even wish to see them a little more often than the usual six months. This will both help to keep your gums in good condition and help to brighten your teeth until such time that you can have your teeth professionally whitened.
If you would like to find out more about our teeth whitening treatment, or any other treatment, whether pregnant or not, please call Mike Allen’s Dental Practice on 01283 845345.