Pregnancy and Oral Health: Here’s What Expecting Mothers Need to Know
Caring for your teeth and gums is always essential but gains additional importance during pregnancy. This is because the hormonal changes they experience during pregnancy boost the risks of gum disease, which can also affect your baby’s health.
This article provides tips for you to care for your oral health during your pregnancy to help you avoid problems and maintain good oral health during pregnancy and after. Please continue reading for more information to keep your oral health optimal and safeguard your baby’s teeth from problems.
When Planning Your Pregnancy
You must schedule a dentist appointment with your dentist when planning your pregnancy. The meeting helps the dentist examine and clean your teeth and look for signs of gum disease, such as other problems that might need treatment before pregnancy.
Healthcare professionals utilize a free set of resources called “Protect Tiny Teeth” to discuss the importance of pregnancy and oral hygiene with new moms. They emphasize the reality that preventing cavities in babies is convenient by maintaining the mom’s oral health during pregnancy.
Oral health is considered an essential part of prenatal dental care because poor oral health during pregnancy can result in adverse health problems for you and your child. The protect tiny teeth resource provides attention-grabbing materials as part of prenatal care, besides information on how pregnant women must care for their oral health and that of the baby.
Periodontal Disease during Pregnancy
Among the dental problems during pregnancy that moms can expect, approximately two-thirds develop gingivitis in the early stage of periodontal disease. The infection causes red and swollen gums aggravated by the changing hormonal conditions during pregnancy. If gingivitis is left untreated, the infection can affect the bone supporting the teeth causing tooth loss. Teeth with inadequate bone support can loosen to necessitate extractions. Poor pregnancy outcomes are also associated with periodontitis, resulting in preterm and low birth. However, the medical fraternity does not understand why periodontitis results in adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Dentists suggesting oral health care for pregnant women request that they look for the risks of developing cavities due to changing eating habits. Expectant mothers with excess cavity-causing bacteria in their mouth can transmit them to the baby’s mouth. The transmission of the bacteria coupled with sugars from taking a bottle to bed and frequent snacking results in early childhood cavities and the need for extensive dental attention from pediatric dentists at an early age. Research reveals that 25 percent of women of childbearing age have untreated cavities. In addition, children of mothers with excessive untreated cavities are three times more likely to have them at an early age. Furthermore, children with cavities are more likely to miss school from dental pain.
Essential Information Pregnant Moms Need to Understand
Pregnant women must discuss their pregnancy with their dentist without misconceptions because routine dental care is essential at all times during their pregnancy. Pregnant women cannot consider elective procedures that are best postponed until after delivery. However, if they need any urgent treatment, they can undoubtedly contact the family dentist near you in Ancaster, ON, because dentists can perform emergency procedures at any time during pregnancy.
Before scheduling a dental appointment, pregnant women must discuss with their obstetrician to inquire whether they must take any precautions or have instructions during their meetings.
The dental professional must receive information about the dosages of all medications they take, including prenatal drugs prescribed by the obstetrician and any specific advice they provide. The dentist needs the information to alter the dental treatment plan based on the information provided.
Skipping dental appointments for routine cleanings and exams is not suggested during pregnancy because this delicate condition causes hormonal changes making women prone to infections like gingivitis and cavities. Dental x-rays are nothing to fear during pregnancy because dentists use safeguards to protect the pregnant woman and the baby. In addition, the advent of 3D x-rays has made dental x-rays safer than earlier.
Finally, dentists near you suggest pregnant women follow good oral hygiene practices to reduce oral health problems by brushing twice daily, Flossing once, and using an antibacterial mouthwash for rinsing. They must also get professional exams and cleanings to keep their oral health in optimal shape.
Women planning pregnancy or pregnancy must care for their oral health at all times of the pregnancy. Golf Links Dental helps women in different stages of pregnancy manage oral health from prenatal to postnatal stages. Therefore pregnant women are suggested to arrange an appointment with them for consultation on how to deal with oral health during pregnancy.