Just as you have doctor visits for prenatal checkups, it is also important to visit your dentist for prenatal dental care.
With so much going on, your dentist can help discuss body and hormonal changes that can affect your oral care during pregnancy. As well, there is a surprising connection between your dental health and your baby’s health during pregnancy, so visiting your dentist during these 9 months is essential.
Most families are unaware of how pregnancy can affect your teeth, gums, and jaw, so we wanted to take a chance to go over what is happening with your body and what you can do to keep both you and your baby at optimal health.
Dental Health is Imperative During Pregnancy
It is guaranteed that you have heard from your dentist before to brush your teeth twice daily and floss in the morning or at night at least once a day. Luckily, this won’t change during pregnancy, but there are a lot of other oral health concerns that you should be made aware of.
During pregnancy, the changing hormone levels can leave your mouth more vulnerable to bacteria and plaque, both of which create tender gums during pregnancy. This can put you at greater risk for tooth decay, gum disease (gingivitis), and bone damage (periodontitis).
Most of the time, pregnancy-related gum problems will disappear after childbirth. If they continue, contact your oral health professional.
Morning Sickness and Your Teeth
One of the major signs of hormonal changes during pregnancy will be morning sickness. Unfortunately, these changes also introduce stomach acid and bile to your teeth, exposing enamel to demineralization.
After a while, erosion of your teeth’s surface layer will leave your mouth exposed to infections and dental caries. To avoid this, Canada Health recommends mothers follow 3 steps after experiencing morning sickness:
- Rinse your mouth with water or a fluoride mouth wash immediately after vomiting
- After rinsing your mouth, wait for at least 30 minutes to further reduce the acid in your mouth
- Brush your teeth
How a Change in Diet Can Improve Oral Health
As the wise old saying states, “You are what you eat.” When it comes to pregnancy, this couldn’t be any more true.
At this stage in your life, you’re no longer eating just for your own benefit, but your soon-to-be child will be also sharing in the vitamins and minerals you digest. Therefore, mothers-to-be should get a wide range of nutrients from a variety of sources, including vegetables, fruits, and supplements whenever your doctor recommends them.
For oral health, you’ll want to maintain a steady source of protein, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, and phosphorous. Some women will find they need supplements for folic acid and iron to ensure a healthy pregnancy but be sure to consult your physician before investing in multi-vitamins.
Regular Dentist Visits
If you have never been pregnant, 9 months never feels like a long time. However, it is a long time to skip your regular visits to the dentist’s office.
Plenty of women have expressed their worries surrounding dental visits quoting fears for their unborn baby based upon the tools dentists use. Unsurprisingly, avoiding your dentist is never a good decision.
It is recommended that pregnant women should have a checkup within the first trimester to have their teeth cleaned and oral health monitored. If your dentist finds any reason for additional dental work, such as fillings, the best time to have it done is the second trimester.
If you’re pregnant and concerned about your dental health, don’t wait. Call Dawson Dental Hanover today to book an appointment. Our specialists are trained to improve oral health no matter where you are in life.
Just reach out today and book your first appointment.