Q. Is it safe for me to use a tooth whitener while I'm pregnant?

A. No. You won't find pregnancy-related warnings on most over-the-counter whiteners, but dentists suggest avoiding them until after you give birth (and finish nursing, too).

Your gums are more sensitive when you're expecting, so using a tooth whitener might increase irritation  -- although no studies have actually been done, according to Kimberly Harms, a dentist in Farmington, MN, and a spokesperson for the American Dental Association. And if you swallow some, it isn't clear how the product's ingredients can affect your baby-to-be, another reason to steer clear.

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