Prenatal Dental Care
If you are pregnant you may be hoping that you can relax a little on your regular dental appointments. Not so! Pregnancy is actually one of the most crucial times to take special care of your teeth and gums. Many parents-to-be don't realize how important good dental care is to the overall health of mother and baby. There are several reasons for this. The first is that during pregnancy, changes in hormone levels can make your teeth and gums extra sensitive to bacteria. These fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels can cause several problems:
- Increased sensitivity and puffiness in the gums may occur.
- Periodontal disease is common.
- Pregnancy can cause an increase in cavities.
- Many experience an increase in plaque formation.
- Frequent effects of pregnancy include, nausea, vomiting, and food cravings.
All of the above can make the prenatal patient more vulnerable to dental disease, and because pregnant women tend to eat smaller, more frequent meals, they unknowingly expose their teeth and gums to more sugars and acids during the course of the day. Cravings for "junk foods" also pose an increased threat to oral health. Additionally, the acids produced in the mouth during a period of "morning sickness" can damage the teeth if great care is not taken to ensure good oral hygiene.
Another very important fact to remember is that women with periodontal disease are at three to five times greater risk of preterm (premature) birth than those who are periodontally healthy.
Nutrition
Did you know that tooth development begins between the sixth and eighth weeks of pregnancy and continues throughout pregnancy? Hardening of the primary teeth begins at just four months of gestation. Your nutritional and oral health habits during pregnancy affect your baby's developing teeth. Mild deficiencies in your diet may cause changes in your baby's tooth formation that could leave his or her primary teeth at greater risk for decay later in life. During pregnancy good dental care and an adequate diet are vital for optimal development of your baby's teeth.
Here are some ways you can significantly increase the chances of healthy teeth in your little one:
- Visit your dentist during the first trimester of pregnancy for assessment of oral health problems and preventive counseling.
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes after each meal or snack.
- Floss at least once a day to disrupt bacteria growth between teeth.
- Chew gum containing Xylitol for a minimum of five minutes after each meal.
- Use toothpaste and mouth rinse containing fluoride.
- Eat a wide variety of healthy foods.
- Avoid sticky or sweet snacks.
- Have a comprehensive dental exam and periodontal (gum tissue) probing.
- See your dentist at the first sign of problems such as pain, bleeding, inflammation or infection.
- Acceptable antibiotics include penicillin, amoxicillin and clindamycin. Avoid tetracycline and narcotic pain medication and aspirin. Acetaminophen should be used in most cases for the alleviation of pain.
- If you are experiencing morning sickness, make a paste by mixing baking soda and water and rub it on your teeth. This will help neutralize the acids produced in the mouth by the vomiting reflex.
We care about your family's overall health. Personalized oral hygiene instruction will help you fight gum disease and promote overall good health for you and your unborn baby.
