During pregnancy, you are spending a lot of time decorating the nursery, choosing clothes for the baby, and visiting doctors’ offices. And, if you haven’t felt pain, the dentist is probably the last thing on your mind. But, even if you never had teeth problems, pregnancy could change a lot. During pregnancy, your body changes entirely; you can notice brain fog, itchy stomach, or even gray hairs. Teeth are going through some changes too, and in that time, your teeth and gums can bleed, the risk of tooth decay is increased, and you rarely grow tiny bumps on your gums, so-called “pregnancy tumors.” Those bumps are totally harmless, but they could be really uncomfortable and annoying. So, you should especially pay a lot of attention to your dental care during pregnancy. We asked a dentist in Harrisburg, NC, to tell us how to take care of teeth during pregnancy properly.
Visit your dentist regularly
Many people are wondering if they can or can’t visit dentists during pregnancy. So we asked professional dentists to give us the answer. And, they said that not just that you can, they recommend that you do it regularly. Of course, some procedures can’t be performed on pregnant women, but the regular examination of your teeth is essential for your overall health, but also for the health of your baby.
- When to tell your dentist that you are pregnant?
Even if you just assume pregnancy, you should let your dentist know about it. If you are at the initial stages of pregnancy, where people can hardly tell that you are pregnant, you should inform your dentist when scheduling the appointment. When you inform the dentist about that, don’t forget to tell him about the medications you are taking, advice your doctor gave you, or if you have any certain medical conditions.
- Is it safe to go to your dentist during pregnancy?
Most dental treatments are safe during pregnancy; something like an x-ray can be avoided or some operations. Don’t worry; there is some anesthesia that your dentist can give you when needed that won’t hurt you or your baby. So, you won’t suffer if your tooth needs to be pulled out or if you need a filling or root canal. Research shows that there is no evidence that local anesthesia dentists use on pregnant women affects the baby’s health. The two groups of women were followed; the first group were women who took local anesthesia during pregnancy, the other group were women who didn’t. It’s discovered that anesthesia didn’t affect the rate of miscarriages, birth defects, or weight of babies.
Look after your teeth
Dental hygiene is essential for your health, but it is even more important during pregnancy because of all the risks you are exposed to. To avoid gum problems, you need to prevent plaque from building up. So, it would be great if you brushed your teeth two times a day. Also, flossing should be part of your evening routine. Commonly, pregnant women feel sick when brushing their teeth, and you should use smaller toothbrushes to avoid this. You can use toothbrushes for children, although some dentists recommend you to brush them without toothpaste for some time when you are feeling sick. But, if you decide so, you should go back to using toothpaste as soon as possible.
- Adopt healthy habits
Besides dental hygiene, dentists recommend adopting some healthier habits that can improve your mouth health. For example, you should drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, and it would be great to avoid sugary drinks and sweets. Also, your nutrition should be focused on a variety of healthy foods. And, don’t forget to eat food rich in calcium.