Congratulations to those readers who are pregnant! You may have stumbled upon this blog or website while searching the endless amounts of information out there on how to have a healthy pregnancy, hoping your aren’t forgetting anything. Well, we are glad you are … (outside of the normal forgetfulness of pregnancy), the teeth and oral health are usually right up there as the most commonly overlooked. I am not going to overwhelm you or try and scare you; I’m just going to give you a list of facts to help make it simple.
- It is safe and important to visit the dentist during your pregnancy. If you haven’t been in the last year or longer, it is even more important that you go and get into a healthy oral hygiene routine. If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while and don’t know where to go, we will be happy to help you find a dentist.
- Your oral health directly affects your pregnancy. Tooth decay is a bacterial infection, and as you know, during pregnancy you want to avoid infections of any kind. Tooth decay is no different, so don’t be afraid to take care of your teeth while you are pregnant.
- Despite what you have heard, pregnancy does not take calcium from your teeth and leave them weak. However, pregnancy does make you more prone to tooth decay because of dietary changes and morning sickness. Chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol during the day can be helpful to clean your teeth and mouth after a sugary snack. If you can, chase your antacids with water to get the last bits of sugar out of your teeth,, especially if you are finding it necessary to do this throughout the night. If you are having frequent bouts of vomiting, hold off on brushing your teeth right after an episode, while your mouth is in an acidic state. If you brush your teeth then, you could be brushing off small amounts of enamel. Instead, rinse your mouth out first with water, and then swish with a teaspoon of baking soda mixed into your water. This will help neutralize the stomach acid and freshen your breath!
- Sign up for one of our free classes or counseling for more information and to meet other expectant parents.
- Call us if you have any immediate questions. We look forward to hearing from you.
Posted in Pregnancy Oral Health
