Is laser tooth whitening safe for everyone? i've read that mothers who are nursing maybe shouldn't have laser tooth whitening done, but i'm curious as to what can happen. is it bad for the baby, or bad for the mother?

There : There is not enough data showing that bleaching your teeth will pose a significant risk to you or your baby. Unfortunately, we don't have enough data to say it's safe, either. The peroxide used in bleaching causes an oxidative process, and we know that oxidation can be harmful to tissues and cells. It is usually not a problem for adults, but how it affects infants is unknown. For that reason, women who are nursing should not have their teeth bleached.

Gainesville, I : Gainesville, i know of no adverse effects. The issue is about any elective care during pregnancy. Hope this is helpful, michael i. Wollock, dmd, agd fellow dentistry at suburban square 610-649-0313 www.Dentistryatsuburbansquare.Com.

It's : It's generally not a good idea to whitening your teeth, either by using over-the-counter products or laser whitening at a dental office, while you are pregnant or nursing your child. Although the effects are unknown on nursing or the unborn child, the hydrogen peroxide used in the whitening gel does go into the patient's system.

The : The only reason the recommendation is there is because there are no studies to prove that it is safe. I don't think anyone would fund a study using pregnant or nursing women or young children as guinea pigs. While it is likely safe, if there is any risk, it is an ethical issue to find out if it is true or not.