A lot of body changes happen while you are pregnant. While you can't change what is happening internally as your baby grows, you can make sure that your dental health needs remain up-to-date. As a first-time pregnant woman who strives to look her best, you want reassurance that it is safe to continue having your teeth whitened during your gestation period. Here is a list of dos and don'ts when it comes to teeth whitening during pregnancy.
Do Wait for the Second or Third Trimester
There is no medical evidence that having your teeth whitened during pregnancy will cause issues. However, to give you peace of mind, wait until the second or third trimester before you have the process done. You are statistically most at risk of losing the baby in the first 12 weeks of gestation, so avoiding unnecessary chemicals or stress at this time is a wise choice.
Don't Do It Yourself
There are plenty of do-it-yourself teeth whitening kits which you can purchase from the chemist. These units are normally fine because they don't contain chemical levels which are higher than those limits regulated by the Australian government. Nevertheless, home whitening kits can damage your teeth if you don't use them correctly or if you buy from a less-reputable source such as a stand at your local market. Dentists legally can use whitening kits which have higher levels of hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide than those kits available for general sale at chemists and supermarkets. This means they can give a greater level of whitening while making sure the correct application occurs.
Do Monitor for Tooth Sensitivity
Sometimes after finishing the tooth whitening process, sensitivity occurs in the teeth or the gums. This could be a reaction to the chemicals in the whitening kit, or it could be that the chemical has inadvertently touched the gumline and chemically burned it. Either way, if sensitivity occurs for more than 48 hours, give your dentist a call. It is important during pregnancy that you eat and drink enough to help your baby grow, so you don't want to be suffering from any condition which makes eating or drinking uncomfortable.
If you have any further concerns about getting tooth whitening while you are pregnant, speak to your dentist about this. They can put your mind at ease with their knowledge on this subject, and you can then go ahead with the process knowing you are in safe hands.
Share28 December 2018
As you age, it can become harder to take care of your teeth. Motor challenges can make it hard to floss, while memory issues may make it easy to overlook brushing. Whether you are a senior looking for solutions to some of the common dental problems or a senior with specific questions about cavities or oral surgery, you have come to the right place. In this blog, I am going to touch on a range of topics related to seniors and oral health. This is the type of resource I wish my mum would have had access to in her senior years, and I hope you enjoy having access to it during yours. I appreciate you reading my posts.
