Using Whitestrips While Breastfeeding??

I asked my dentist about it and she said to wait. It may be okay, but she would rather I be safe than sorry.

C.,
I have a four month old who I am breastfeeding too. I would say DON'T DO IT! According to the cancer coalition (http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/general/dirty_doze...) Crest Tartar Control Toothpaste causes cancer so who knows what the teeth whitener will do. When I had my daughter 3 years ago I didn't research or worry about chemicals in my home. Thank goodness she is healthy and strong! I became a lot more aware when I found out I was having a boy. Autism is 3 times more likely in boys. Before he was born we got all the chemicals out of our home and have made some serious life choices to protect our kids. I'm not being paranoid; I'm just trying to be smart. There are a lot of options more and more stores are offering "green" products that will be safer for your family. This is probably more information than you wanted, I am just a bit passionate about it. Thanks for listening!

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The ingred. that is the main 'active' ingred. is peroxide, so not much of a risk there. However, because of the way that hormones are while nursing, you may be more sensitive to any chemical. If you are really wanting a more defenitive answer, call or email any local La Leche League leader. They will have a 'Hale Book', a book written by Dr. Hale that addresses the safety of any medication while breastfeeding. Great job, and enjoy your nursing relationship, they grow up so quickly!

You know I've never thought about that, but I would vote "wait". I would question the ingrediants/chemicals they use in regards to being safe for my baby. When people told me that my baby will take in what I take in, I never really understood it until I ate spicey foods! YIKES!!!
God bless you during your decision making.

I have a friend of mine who is a dentist as well as a SIL who is a dentist. They both advise against using any kind of whitening products until after pregnancy and breastfeeding. You will probably continue to hear both sides but my philosophy when I was pregnant or nursing is that if I couldn't get a definitive answer from many people then I went with the safest thing. Best wishes!

I am a dental hygienist in Fort Worth and have personally spoken with the makers of Crest Whitestrips with this question. The advise from the makers is "it is not recommended because there are no studies to determine what the side effects are." I will say that I have also been given the go ahead by others like my obgyn but chose to wait until I weaned to do so. Hope this will help you. I do know if you get a little sun this summer and get more color on your skin and choose lipstick or gloss in the right shade your teeth do appear brighter.

i wouldn't do it. my dentist/dental hyegenist won't do flouride treatments or any unnecessary treatments while i'm nursing. better safe than sorry.

I work for a pediatric office and it is totally safe to use these strips and nurse. I personally did and I nursed my daughter for 4 years. Dr. Newman in Canada is a well known pediatric physician who deals with nursing moms; he says that there are very few things that WOULD PREVENT NURSING. I say go for the white teeth and give your son the best thing ever, Mama's Milk!!

My doctor told me to wait.....so, we waited. Better safe than sorry---I guess. :-)

What's difference between using toothpaste and Crest Whitening strips... I have no clue but that's my opinion. I mean I use both and know the results are great. My point is if you are brushing your teeth with toothpaste and also using Crest white strips, what's harms difference between the two if you are breastfeeding.

I was told not to by my dentist. However, maybe that was her "safe" answer, due to liability. However, I still wouldn't. Not worth the risk. I assume you'll stop breastfeeding when your baby is 1 year? If so, that's just 2 months away. I say wait - you're almost there!

I asked my pediatrician about it when I was nursing, and she said the store-bought at-home whitestrips (regardless of brand) are totally safe. They're strong enough to have a small whitening effect on your teeth, but weak enough that there's not going to be much of anything getting into your bloodstream. She did advise AGAINST professional whitening while nursing, though.