Dental Care During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a beautiful yet sensitive phase of life. It involves care for two lives – the mom and the to-be-born. Naturally, pregnant ladies have to show a greater focus towards their overall health to be on the right side of things at such a crucial stage in life. More importantly, pregnancy comes with certain Dental risks which the mom would never avoid.
Dental care during pregnancy becomes even more important as it involves more attention to changes in the mouth, the diet, daily oral hygiene routine and so on. A visit to the dentist can help a lot to discuss changes in oral health during pregnancy. Such a visit is important given a strong link between the mom’s health and baby’s health during pregnancy.
Why Dental care during pregnancy?
Hormone level changes are quite natural during pregnancy. Such changes make the mouth more prone to bacteria and plaque. This is why the risk of tender gum increases among expecting mothers. And when that happens, there is always a greater risk for gum disease and tooth decay.
Here are major reasons why superior dental care becomes necessary during pregnancy –
- The risk of gum inflammation will always be there during pregnancy, particularly during the second trimester making the gums swollen and tender.
- Gums may also bleed among expecting mothers while they brush and floss necessitating a need for superior oral care.
- Plaque buildup during pregnancy is natural and rather than worry about that, it’s important to continue brushing and flossing to stay on top of the dental health.
- Tooth decay and pregnancy gingivitis during pregnancy are common because the body may not be able to prevent plaque that easily.
- Dentists may also recommend using an antimicrobial mouthwash to expecting mothers so that they can keep plaque away.
- Pregnant ladies may also consider getting plaque removed during one of the regular check-up visits to prevent gum disease risks.
- Since untreated pregnancy gingivitis is common during pregnancy, it’s not uncommon to find aggravation of periodontal disease among expecting ladies.
- Excess plaque during pregnancy may also lead to overgrowth of tissue leading to non-cancerous tumors which however generally go away after the delivery
Dental Care Tips During Pregnancy
Being pregnant comes with extra responsibilities including superior oral care. As an expecting mother, you also have to think about the health and well-being of the child. It is therefore important to follow right dental hygiene tips and keep problems away.
Here are dental care tips to follow during pregnancy –
- Brush twice a day
Even during pregnancy, you have to brush twice a day, floss the teeth and clean the tongue to maintain oral hygiene. It’s important to use a fluoride-containing toothpaste and if the gums are tender, it makes sense to switch to a toothbrush with soft bristles. With gentle and thorough cleaning, without exerting too much pressure on the teeth, you can maintain oral health and fight off gum issues as well.
- Go for professional cleaning
Even if you brush and floss daily, this does not mean skipping the regular dental visit. There may still be swollen and tender gums to treat, or plaque build-up to remove. With a professional cleaning, it becomes possible to prevent any harmful bacteria and plaque to stay stuck onto the teeth or gums, and this ensures superior oral hygiene.
- Use an antimicrobial mouth rinse
Plaque risk will always be there among pregnant ladies. It’s thus important to ask the dentist an antimicrobial mouth rinse and minimize bacteria growth in the mouth. Such ladies can also use a baking soda with water to rinse their mouth if there is morning sickness or vomiting. This will help greatly. This mixture can also prevent stomach acids from causing harms to your teeth or leading to teeth decay.
- Eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin
Expecting mothers are recommended to use a diet rich in calcium, B12 and vitamin C to stay away from issues to their gums. Their regular diet should include fruits, leafy green vegetables, whole grain items, cheese, yogurt and raw almonds etc. For superior dental health. They can drink plenty of water without any fuss as this can stimulate the saliva production in the mouth, keep the mouth hydrated and minimize mouth odor.
- Limit high-sugar foods
Sugary items are a big no when it comes to dental health, whether one is pregnant or not. Items like candies, cookies, and sugar-rich drinks or acidic drinks will harm teeth and gums greatly. If possible, stay away from sugary items as this will help maintain dental health. You should also consult a top dental clinic new york and seek more information on the subject. What you eat will have a big impact on the health of your teeth and gums, and if you’re pregnant, it might risk the dental health of your child as well.
Author Bio:
Praveen Singh is a writer and blogger, and a professional interested in sharing interesting ideas with the world. His blogs give a peek into things that aim to inform, enrich and entertain the readers. He loves sharing views on anything that provides value to the readers and helps broaden their horizon.
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