Teeth whitening during pregnancy.

Author of the article:

Soldatova Lyudmila Nikolaevna

Candidate of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Clinical Dentistry of the St. Petersburg Medical and Social Institute, Chief Physician of the Alfa-Dent Dental Clinic, St. Petersburg

Teeth whitening is usually contraindicated for pregnant women, this applies to both professional methods and home procedures. It is best to wait until the birth of the child, since whitening is a serious dental procedure based on oxidative processes; the lightening of the enamel is a consequence of the effect of atomic oxygen on its surface. In order to activate the reaction, special compounds are exposed to lasers, lamps, etc.

Dentists say there are ways to safely whiten teeth during pregnancy. So, if you are impatient, you can use this option. We suggest you look into the issue in more detail, find out why bleaching is harmful, what methods are available and what can reduce the negative consequences.

How to whiten teeth: features of the procedure

For professional whitening, special gels based on hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide are used; these active substances act on dental tissue. They change the color of the pigment that is responsible for the color of teeth. In each case, the intensity of whitening depends on the procedure, the composition of the gel and, most importantly, on the natural characteristics of your enamel. Therefore, some will require several procedures, while others will shine with a Hollywood smile after the first one.

Whitening does not disrupt the crystal structure of the tooth, so there is no fear that it will somehow affect the mineral composition of the enamel.

Before you begin the actual whitening process, you should prepare thoroughly. Firstly, it is very important to cure teeth from caries and remove chips. Secondly, it is recommended to carry out professional hygienic cleaning about a week in advance, which will remove plaque and tartar. Depending on the condition of the teeth, preliminary remineralization therapy may be required. Your dentist will prescribe this procedure for you. It must be done a month before bleaching. Remineralization is needed to restore enamel and increase its strength. The procedure helps to avoid gum and tooth disease.

Remember that crowns and fillings will not lighten with bleaching. Therefore, after the procedure, they will stand out noticeably against the background of the snow-white surface of the tooth. Therefore, be prepared that they will have to be replaced. It is best to do this within two or three weeks.

Why are my teeth not white?

A bright Hollywood smile is the dream of many women; of course, everyone wants to look no less impressive than the stars on TV. Thanks to new technologies and growing popularity, it has become available to almost everyone. But do not forget that the color of enamel depends very much on genetics, and, in addition, on eating habits, smoking and many other factors. Because of this, not everyone manages to have beautiful light teeth.

In addition, in fact, a yellowish tint is characteristic of healthy teeth. We owe this to dentin - a light yellow substance that determines the shape of the tooth and is its basis. On top there is a layer of transparent enamel, through which the yellowish tint of dentin shines through.

The layer of dentin on fangs is much thicker than on other teeth, so they are always darker. These features are due to our nature, so you don’t have to worry that your smile does not shine white, since white is an unnatural color for it. But by today's standards, beauty is not always what comes naturally. In addition, progress gives us a wider choice for our own improvement. It should be understood that whitening always weakens the health of teeth, but with proper care this effect is temporary.

By the way, in addition to genetics, your habits also affect the color of your smile. The enamel has a crystalline structure; food pigments accumulate between its rods. Gels extract them from the enamel, allowing you to achieve impressive results.

Teeth whitening at home

Women try to avoid additional visits to the dentist, especially if they know ways to restore the beauty of their smile without leaving home. When whitening teeth at home, they successfully use ready-made preparations and folk remedies. Each woman chooses the most suitable method for herself.

Special strips, pencils and mouth guards

Teeth whitening strips are applied to the teeth for the time specified by the manufacturer, twice a day. Their action is based on oxidative processes with released oxygen ions affecting tooth enamel. The required effect is achieved by using this product from 7 days to 1 month. Do not overexpose the strips, otherwise the enamel will crack. The question arises: can pregnant women use whitening strips (see also: Rigel whitening strips)? It is extremely undesirable, since with this method the mucous membranes of the mouth come into contact with chemical reagents.

Teeth whitening pencils are thin tubes filled with gels that contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide (we recommend reading: Is it possible to whiten front teeth if they have fillings?). Well-cleaned and dried teeth are colored with a pencil. The procedure is repeated at any time of the day as necessary.

The good thing about mouth guards is that you can independently select the active ingredient that suits you personally. The selected gel is applied to the mouthguard and placed on the jaw. The method has a mild cleansing and whitening effect.

Folk remedies

One of the most effective means of teeth whitening at home is regular activated carbon (we recommend reading: how to use activated carbon to whiten teeth?). You can:

grind the charcoal tablets into powder, add a drop of water or lemon juice and brush your teeth with this mixture;
Sprinkle coal dust onto the toothpaste squeezed onto the brush.

Another affordable and popular remedy is hydrogen peroxide. It is available in every home, and whitening with its help is simple and effective. Apply the liquid with a cotton swab for 4 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly. Rinsing your mouth with a solution of a glass of water and a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide is very useful.

Tips for pregnant women when whitening teeth

Pregnancy is a very resource-intensive process for any woman’s body, one of its consequences is weakened gums and teeth. Active bleaching agents can significantly worsen the situation. They not only weaken the enamel even more, but also enter the body of the expectant mother, and this means the child.

At the same time, contraindications are temporary; doctors recommend not to rush and postpone bleaching until the baby is born.

But if you still decide to lighten your enamel, be sure to consult a professional dentist. Do not neglect the advice of a specialist. The dentist will offer you safe procedures that do not disturb the body’s condition and allow you to restore the whiteness of your smile.

Professional teeth cleaning

You can choose a completely safe procedure that, although it will not make your teeth bright white, will allow you to return their natural shade. Professional cleaning removes plaque from your teeth, making your teeth noticeably brighter. This has a positive effect on oral health and is good for your immunity.

Cleaning can be done in several ways. The two most popular are Air Flow and ultrasound.

Air Flow is a special device that delivers a jet of a special composition with abrasive under high pressure. It gently removes soft plaque not only from the surface of the teeth, but also between them. After the procedure, you will notice that your teeth have become lighter and smoother. The procedure lasts approximately half an hour.

Another way is to remove plaque using an ultrasonic device. Using ultrasound it is possible to remove not only soft plaque, but also tartar. This is a more serious effect, so be sure to consult with your supervising physician, especially if it is a question of carrying out the procedure in the first trimesters of pregnancy.

Teeth whitening at home

Professional home whitening systems differ from office whitening systems in having a lower concentration of active substances. Therefore, this type of whitening has a more gentle effect; in order for it to fully manifest itself, you will need to carry out the procedures for about six weeks. With this approach, the action is less aggressive, but in any case you need to consult with your doctor.

The essence of such whitening is that a special gel must be placed in trays, which can be standard or individually made in a dental clinic. The last option will be the best, as it eliminates the leakage of the gel as much as possible.

In addition to trays, you can use other professional whitening methods at home. One of the most inexpensive and fairly effective options is strips with whitening gel. You will get the result after about two months of use, and it will last at least six months. During the procedure, you should stop smoking and eating coloring products.

Onlays for teeth

You want to get absolutely white teeth without risking your health and the health of your child, then your option is veneers. These are special overlays for teeth that allow you not only to change the color, but also to obtain the desired shape of the tooth. It is important to remember that they do not affect the condition of the teeth in any way and are used purely for cosmetic purposes. Before installing them, you should also put your teeth in order: clean them, cure caries and treat your gums. Veneers are one of the most expensive ways to get a Hollywood smile. But perhaps it is worth it, since it is one hundred percent effective and harmless.

Useful tips

It is best to sanitize the oral cavity at the stage of pregnancy planning. If you want to have healthy, snow-white teeth, it will be enough to have professional cleanings twice a year and visit the dentist regularly. Cleaning will return the natural color of teeth without harming the enamel.

Remember that healthy teeth are yellowish in color, and whitening always carries some risks. It is normal for teeth to have a darker color near the gums than at the incisal edge. Such transitions will persist even with chemical bleaching.

If you want to gently lighten your teeth, use ASEPTA PLUS Gentle Whitening paste. It effectively cleans teeth, and the soft abrasives included in its composition lighten the enamel as gently as possible. The paste is approved for use by pregnant women.

A true Hollywood smile with an absolutely even white tone is the result of installing veneers or coponiers.

Safe Home Remedies

Can pregnant women whiten their teeth at home, without professional cleaning? Yes, if you use gentle products to cleanse tooth enamel. In this case, we are talking about the same gels, but they will be used somewhat differently.

The essence of such whitening is that the solution is placed in special trays, which can either be ordered or made directly in the hospital (this can be done by a dentist). The second option is, of course, better, since it significantly reduces the risk of gel leakage and, as a result, prevents its penetration through the placenta to the fetus.

Clinical researches

Clinical studies have proven that regular use of professional toothpaste ASEPTA GENTLE WHITENING for a month allows you to lighten tooth enamel by 1.5 tones, increases anti-caries effectiveness by 3.4 times and increases enamel remineralization by 2.6 times.

Sources:

Report on determining/confirming the preventive properties of toothpaste “ASEPTA PLUS” GENTLE WHITENING” Author: doctor-researcher A.A. Leontyev, head Department of Preventive Dentistry, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor S.B. Ulitovsky First St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I.P. Pavlova, Department of Preventive Dentistry
Report on the determination/confirmation of the preventive properties of personal oral hygiene products “ASEPTA PLUS” Remineralization doctor-researcher A.A. Leontyev, head Department of Preventive Dentistry, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor S.B. Ulitovsky First St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I.P. Pavlova, Department of Preventive Dentistry
Clinical studies of antisensitive toothpaste “Asepta Sensitive” (A.A. Leontyev, O.V. Kalinina, S.B. Ulitovsky) A.A. LEONTIEV, dentist O.V. KALININA, dentist S.B. ULITOVSKY, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof. Department of Therapeutic Dentistry, St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I.P. Pavlova
Report on determining/confirming the preventive properties of toothpaste “ASEPTA PLUS” COFFEE and TOBACCO Author: doctor-researcher A.A. Leontyev, head Department of Preventive Dentistry, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor S.B. Ulitovsky. First St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I.P. Pavlova, Department of Preventive Dentistry

The effect of pregnancy on dental health

Carrying a child is actually the most important and responsible stage in the life of any woman. During this period, her body is greatly reconstructed both physiologically and hormonally; all processes occurring in the body are aimed at successfully bearing a child and feeding the fetus with the necessary substances.

There is a significant hormonal imbalance, a lack of vitamins, as well as some important substances and microelements. This condition can often negatively affect the condition of a woman’s teeth and is manifested by the following:

more rapid development of caries;
weakening of the enamel, due to which it darkens, dulls and weakens;
gums become more sensitive to any irritants, they often become inflamed and may begin to bleed even from regular brushing of teeth;
Also, the gums become looser and may become swollen, which causes discomfort even when eating food.

This negative impact of pregnancy on the condition of the oral cavity is the main reason why teeth whitening should not be done during this period.

At about 10 weeks, the fetus begins to develop teeth. This process requires a large amount of calcium in the mother's body. It is very important to maintain oral hygiene. Caries is a source of infection for the fetus, which can provoke a threat of miscarriage, premature birth and the birth of a low-weight baby.

Hormonal imbalance in a woman’s body leads to changes in the composition of saliva and the acid-base balance in the oral cavity. This is facilitated by early toxicosis and a change in eating habits (craving salty or sour foods). Not enough vitamins and leaching of minerals lead to cracking of the enamel, which leads to gum inflammation and caries.

Consumer Reviews

Natalia1508 (otzovik.com)

I have quite sensitive teeth and I try to use a gentle toothpaste. I came across Asepta Sensitive therapeutic and prophylactic toothpaste in the Magnit-cosmetics chain of stores. This is the first time I noticed this.

So. I’m very pleased with the toothpaste (I’ll buy another one before the promotion ends!). Mint colored paste. The consumption of the paste is not high. Foams well. The taste is pleasant, minty. The taste is not strong. Your teeth feel comfortable while brushing.

The manufacturer writes that the paste is all safe, super effective and gentle. I, in turn, as usual, say that I want to believe, because I never affirm something that I myself am not convinced of. But I’m not convinced because I can’t check the ingredients and so on.

I still recommend the pasta!

Guest (otzyvru.com)

“I have very weak gums that often bleed. On my last trip to the dentist, the doctor again said that I had no illness - just a very sensitive oral cavity. The doctor advised me to buy a special paste “ASEPTA SENSITIVE”, which helps with such problems.

Then I read on the Asepta website that active ingredients, for example, hydroxyapatite and potassium citrate in this paste protect tooth enamel and reduce tooth sensitivity. There are also medicinal herbs that soothe and restore damaged gums.

I ordered this paste from an online pharmacy and am using it now. In general, the paste perfectly cleans plaque from teeth and prevents inflammation in the gums. After brushing your teeth with Asepta, the feeling of freshness lasts for a long time. And, most importantly, my gums stopped bleeding.”

Ekaterina Sergee (otzovik.com)

“I received Asepta Plus Gentle Whitening toothpaste as part of a Vertex care cosmetics set...

...The promised effect is gentle and safe whitening of sensitive teeth. Sensitive teeth and gums are just my option.

The paste itself is white with bluish inclusions.

The taste, which is a plus, is not sharp, gentle and pleasant. I often can’t use whitening toothpaste precisely because of the strong taste; I mostly buy herbal ones.

The paste cleans well, there is no unpleasant tingling or burning sensation in the mouth. Freshens breath.

I didn’t see a noticeable whitening effect, and I didn’t expect it, to be honest. In 10 days of use, which is exactly how long this miniature was enough for me, you won’t achieve a visible effect, you need a course, at least a month.

But, I liked the paste in terms of taste and feeling while brushing my teeth. I recommend it as a regular good toothpaste for every day.”

How to whiten teeth at home

When using these methods, it is important that the mother and baby are not allergic to any component. The most common remedy is soda. This is a strong and gentle natural bleach. Mix a quarter teaspoon of baking soda with water and brush your teeth with the mixture.

Apples and strawberries can whiten enamel naturally. But it is important only to eat strawberries and not leave pieces of the berry on the enamel and gums. With prolonged exposure, the acid in strawberries can damage tooth enamel. In addition, you should be careful when eating this berry during lactation, as it is a fairly allergenic product. You can find a complete list of allergenic foods here.

Dentists recommend periodically rinsing your mouth with salted water. To do this, stir a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm boiled water. Wait until it cools down and rinse your mouth. Salt water cares for gums, relieves inflammation and kills harmful microbes. In addition, it gradually whitens the enamel.

A mixture of bay leaf and orange peel is another affordable way to whiten enamel. To prepare the product, use a few pieces of orange peel and one bay leaf. Grind the crust, grind the leaf to a powder and mix the ingredients. Rub the mixture onto your teeth and leave for five minutes, then rinse your mouth with warm water. Repeat the procedure once a week.

You can use banana peels in a similar way. Take a small piece of banana peel and rub it on your teeth. Leave the mixture on for two to three minutes and rinse your mouth with warm water. This cleaning is done twice a week.