Is Teeth Whitening safe during pregnancy?
Peroxide whitening is considered safe when used as directed, but it hasn't been studied in pregnancy. Many wait; ask your dentist.
What the sources say
A review found hydrogen and carbamide peroxide whitening safe and effective when manufacturer instructions are followed, with tooth sensitivity and gum irritation as common side effects. No pregnancy studies were found, so ask your dentist. LactMed says carbamide peroxide in whiteners is unlikely to be absorbed and breaks down to substances normally in milk, so no special precautions are needed while breastfeeding. Routine dental care in pregnancy is considered safe.
Common alternatives
Also listed as
teeth bleaching, tooth bleaching, tooth whitening, whitening gel, whitening strips, whitening toothpaste
Sources
- NIH PubMed (peer-reviewed review): Tooth whitening: what we now know (J Evid Based Dent Pract, 2014)
- NIH LactMed: Carbamide Peroxide - Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed)
- NIH PubMed (peer-reviewed review): Oral health during pregnancy (Am Fam Physician, 2008)
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.