A person’s body goes through unique changes during pregnancy—making it crucial to stay on top of your health, both for yourself and the baby. Dental care is one often overlooked aspect from mothers-to-be. Below are complications that can arise during this time and what extra precautions you should take to avoid them.

Why Does It Matter?

At any time, brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist for biannual exams can help stop the appearance or progression of gum disease. However, this is especially necessary for pregnant women since the hormonal changes they are going through make them more susceptible to this problem. Additionally, women prone to morning sickness may be more at risk from the extra acids in their mouth.

Once established, the same decay-causing bacteria from your mouth can travel through your bloodstream to the fetus, producing the chemical prostaglandins. Among other effects, it can bring on premature labor. Bacteria can also pass to the child’s mouth after it’s born, resulting in decay and other complications.

Pregnant women may also develop non-cancerous growths along their gumline, which should resolve themselves after labor.

Proper Pregnancy Dental Care

While pregnant, continue brushing and flossing twice a day. Make sure to eat a diet rich in calcium and nutrients and to avoid sugary or acidic foods that can accelerate tooth decay. After morning sickness, rinse your mouth, but wait 30 minutes before brushing to allow your enamel to reharden; brushing before then can cause it to be worn away. You may also inquire about special mouthwashes.

Inform your dentist of your pregnancy. If you have outstanding oral health issues that require treatment, it’s best to handle them in the second trimester or earlier, as treatment can be more physically difficult later on. Some procedures, such as root canals, can wait until after the baby is born unless there is an emergency.

Staying on top of your oral health during pregnancy has lasting benefits. For care, turn to Teresa Wade DDS – Family Dentistry, a clinic with 38 years of experience caring for residents of Andrews, TX. Offering comprehensive dental care services, including cosmetic and restorative care, she welcomes patients of every age. Call (432) 523-7782 to schedule an exam at the dental office or visit the website to learn more about the practice.