Dental Care During Pregnancy


When you’re pregnant, you do everything you can to help prepare for a healthy baby. Maintaining good oral hygiene while you’re pregnant is an important part of your overall health. Many expecting women have questions like “Can I go to the dentist when pregnant?” and “Are my teeth affected during pregnancy?” 

 Dental Care & Pregnancy
According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, dental health is an important part of overall health during pregnancy and throughout your lifespan. Be assured that the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oral conditions are safe during pregnancy. Should you have to have a dental procedure completed while you’re pregnant, local anesthesia (lidocaine with and without epinephrine) is also safe while you’re pregnant. 

 X-Rays & Pregnancy
According to the American Dental Association (ADA) current guidelines say that it is more risky for a pregnant woman to postpone dental treatment than to have treatment completed, and the best way for a dentist to make an accurate, timely diagnosis is to take X-rays of your mouth. We take necessary precautions to protect you and your baby during X-rays, and our dentists will use a lead apron/thyroid collar for maximum safety. It’s important to note that untreated dental disease can transfer bacteria to your child, so diagnosing and treating any dental issues is crucial during your pregnancy.

 In general, routine dental X-rays expose people to less radiation than other common activities such as flying on an airplane. Since our clinics use digital X-rays, you can rest assured you’ll be exposed to a very small amount of radiation. Learn more about dental X-rays, including how minimal radiation exposure is from modern dental X-rays.

 How Pregnancy May Affect Your Teeth & Gums
During pregnancy you may notice some changes to your oral health, including one or more of the following conditions:

 Pregnancy Gingivitis
Nearly 50 percent of women will experience pregnancy gingivitis—a condition in which plaque build-up creates an inflammatory response and causes the gums to swell. This is why we stress that regular oral hygiene habits are so important. Your Dental Associates dentist may also recommend an additional hygiene cleaning appointment during your pregnancy to safeguard the health of your gums.

 Tooth Erosion
Erosion of the tooth enamel may occur if you experience morning sickness, gastric reflux, or hyperemesis gravidarum. It’s important to rinse your mouth out with water after vomiting to try to remove as much acid as possible. Brushing immediately can ground the acid into your enamel, so we recommend rinsing first, then brushing after about 5 minutes. Another way to neutralize the acid is rinsing your mouth with a teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in a cup of water.

 Pregnancy Tumors
Tumors may appear on your gums in between your teeth during the second trimester. Poor oral health can increase your risk of pregnancy tumors, and if they bleed easily, we may recommend they be removed.  

 Tooth Mobility 
During pregnancy, you may notice your teeth become looser than normal. After your baby is born, your teeth will usually tighten up and you won’t experience any tooth loss unless there was an underlying condition prior to pregnancy. 

 Dental Caries
You may have a higher chance for cavities during pregnancy due to increase acidity, food cravings, and changing hormones. Good oral hygiene will minimize this risk.

 Important Things to Tell Your Dentist When You’re Pregnant
Even though your dentist is not your PCP, it’s important to tell them as much information as possible so they know how best to treat you. Here are some things to disclose to your dentist if you’re pregnant:
  • How far along you are in your pregnancy 
  • If you have a high risk pregnancy 
  • If you have noticed any loosening of your teeth, sore gums, redness, or bleeding in your mouth
  • Any medications you’re taking 

Steps to Keep Your Mouth Healthy during Pregnancy

Here are some simple ways you can help minimize your risk or oral health issues when you’re pregnant:
  • Maintain routine care with your dentist including exams and cleanings
  • Uphold good oral hygiene with brushing two times a day and flossing at least once a day 
  • Eat a well-balanced diet and minimize the consumption of sugary snacks

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Smoking and Your Oral Health

Image
By now we all know that smoking is bad for our health. It increases the risk for cancer, heart disease, and numerous other problems throughout the body. Your mouth is no exception. With the New Year right around the corner, what better time is there to quit? Hewlett Family Dental  wants to help the cause of moving towards a smoke-free life by providing our community members with some more reasons to quit. How Smoking Affects Your Oral Health One of the commonly overlooked dangers of smoking is how it affects oral health.  The truth is, several oral health problems are directly related to smoking, and continuing to smoke can put you at increased risk for: Gum disease Oral cancer Dry mouth Discolored teeth Bad breath Tips to Quit Smoking is addictive and therefore not easy to quit. Some people even try quitting multiple times before they succeed at never picking up another cigarette. We understand how difficult quitting can be and are here to provide support f
Read more

When To Start Brushing Babies Teeth

Image
Early dental care for children is very important. Although most babies do not have visible teeth for the first six months to one year of their lives, good dental care starts from the very beginning. Baby teeth will eventually be replaced by permanent adult teeth, but neglect of your child’s first teeth may lead to serious health issues. In making sure your child has proper dental care, you will help to safeguard their smile, and also assist them in building a lifetime of good oral care habits. Before Tooth Eruption The first baby teeth start to show up at around six months old and will likely appear in the front of the mouth. But even before they arrive, you need to keep your baby’s mouth clean. Using a clean, warm, moistened cloth or a piece of sterile gauze,   gently wipe your baby’s gums with your index finger. Be thorough, but use light pressure. The goal is to remove any food particles or milk film from their gums. Teething Teething can be frustrating for a baby
Read more

5 Ways To Stop Bleeding Gums

Have you ever noticed inflamed gums or slight bleeding while you brush or floss? Like many individuals, you may have ignored the inflammation and blood until one day you realized that the problem only got worse. If you’re feeling alarmed, it’s for a good reason. According to the  National Library of Medicine , bleeding gums is an early sign of  gum disease that requires a sense of urgency and treatment. After noticing signs of gum inflammation and/or bleeding, it’s critical that you make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible. Though your appointment maybe a few days or even weeks away, there are steps you can take to reduce the inflammation and stop the bleeding in the meantime. Check out our methods below! Improve your diet Improving your diet means one thing: eating  healthier . Throw out the sugary foods and candy that are not only hurting your gums but hurting your entire body. Your gums require good nutrition to stay healthy. Consider increasing your in
Read more