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Pregnancy changes a woman’s body in a way that she would have never imagined. Your food habits, your lifestyle…everything takes a turn. The key is to remember that the physical changes that you go through in the nine months of pregnancy are temporary and completely worth it. You will also notice stained or discoloured teeth during pregnancy, almost all pregnant women face this problem. To combat this problem if you are thinking of bleaching your teeth then proceed with caution. First, find out if bleaching your teeth during pregnancy is safe or not.
What Is Teeth Bleaching
Teeth bleaching is a technique to whiten teeth enamel making it shine and bright in the process. There are two dental options you can use to bleach your teeth. You can use a whitening toothpaste or get your teeth whitened with professional help. Both techniques use peroxides in various concentrations to bleach the teeth.
Can You Get Your Teeth Bleached while Pregnant?
Is it safe to whiten your teeth while pregnant? There is no clear answer to this, you can whiten your teeth during pregnancy, but it is best to avoid it. Pregnancy is not an easy phase in the first place, so doing activities with potential health complications is never a prudent idea. As such, there is no research that confirms the dangerous effect of bleaching teeth during pregnancy. However, peroxides above a certain concentration in the body have been shown to cause tissue injuries. This is especially important when using peroxide toothpaste, where the chances of swallowing it are higher. The best thing to do is delay the bleaching treatment until after delivery.
Pregnancy Gingivitis and Teeth Whitening
Yet another reason to whiten your teeth after giving birth is pregnancy gingivitis. This condition causes inflamed gums due to the hormonal flux during pregnancy. These hormones increase blood circulation in the gums, making them prone to inflammation and bleeding. You can avoid this by maintaining teeth hygiene, but the peroxide in the teeth whitening bleach can worsen your already sensitive gums.
Natural Teeth Whiteners That Are Safe to Use during Pregnancy
If you find your discoloured teeth giving you self-esteem issues and you are thinking of whitening your teeth in pregnancy, then you can…but use natural teeth whiteners instead. Below is a list of pregnancy safe teeth whitening techniques you can use:
1. Strawberries and baking soda
Take a fresh strawberry and mash it in a bowl. Add around half a teaspoon of baking soda to it. Using your finger or your toothbrush apply this mixture on your teeth. After five to ten minutes, wash out the mixture, then brush and floss properly to remove any strawberry pieces that might have gotten lodged between your teeth. Please ensure you don’t leave it on for too long, as the malic acid in the strawberry can damage your enamel. A mild baking soda can physically remove some teeth stains.
2. Orange peel
You can take an orange peel and brush your teeth with it. Make sure you cover both the front and back surfaces of your teeth. After repeating this a few times, rinse your mouth. The mild fruit acids and vitamin C present in oranges are great for teeth and improve any discolourations considerably.
3. Lemon juice and salt
Squeeze one lemon; add half a teaspoon of salt to the juice and mix well. Rub this mixture all across your teeth. Don’t use this technique if your gums are sensitive or if you are on a reduced salt diet.
4. Turmeric
Put some turmeric powder on your wet toothbrush and then brush your teeth gently in circular motions. It can stain your clothes so use it with care.
5. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has malic acid too, just like the strawberries. You can apply the liquid to your teeth, and wash it off after a few minutes. However, wait a few minutes before you brush your teeth otherwise you might experience dental erosion.
Before you try to whiten your teeth with any new way you found out, consult with your doctor. Further, you can discuss with your dentist about your options regarding teeth bleaching during pregnancy. Either way, remember to make your dental appointments regular, so your teeth can be cleaned of tartar or the yellowish hardened plaque which stains your teeth. Also, it is important that your dentist keeps an eye out for periodontal disease, which can lead to premature labour and low birth weight in newborns.
