Why It’s Important to Visit the Dentist During Pregnancy

If you are pregnant a trip to the dentist is in order.  Medical studies have shown that pregnant women who have healthy teeth and gums are more likely to have children with healthy teeth and gums throughout their lifetime.  Additionally, when women have severe gum disease during pregnancy it can actually lead to preterm labor or a baby with a low birth weight.  Regular teeth cleanings can help prevent these conditions and keep both you and baby healthy.

We recommend that our pregnant patients have their teeth cleaned twice during their pregnancy.  This allows us to remove bacteria and plaque that have formed on, around, and in between the teeth and gums.  This preventative measure promotes good oral health. Additionally, we are able to identify any cavities or signs of gum disease then treat them accordingly.  Prevention, detection, and treatment are all important for staying in good oral health.

In addition to regular dentist visits it is also important for pregnant women to practice good oral hygiene at home.  This goes beyond simply brushing and flossing.  When the baby is developing their bones and teeth they require an additional 250mg of calcium daily. By eating yogurt, cheese, green leafy vegetables and drinking milk, you can increase your calcium intake.  You can also take a calcium supplement or eat tums to get more calcium.  If you don’t increase your intake your body will respond by taking calcium out of your bones and teeth.  This is the body’s response to protecting the baby but it will make your bones and teeth brittle which puts them at risk for breaking or cracking in the future.

Pregnant women may also suffer from dry mouth.  This common condition decreases the amount of saliva in the mouth.  This makes breath smell bad and puts teeth at further risk of cavities because the saliva is unable to wash away bacteria naturally throughout the day.  By drinking extra water you can stay hydrated and avoid dry mouth.  Drinking water will improve your health, your appearance, and help keep your mouth moist and fresh.

As a local dentist we also recommend that during pregnancy women brush after every meal.  Using a soft toothbrush will prevent the gums from becoming irritated.  This will remove bacteria that enter the mouth from eating and prevent it from spreading or creating an infection.  While not 100 percent effective for removing bacteria, it will make a major difference.  This should be done in combination with flossing a minimum of once per day.

Many pregnant women avoid visiting the dentist because they are afraid it will not be safe for the baby.  However, the reality is the exact opposite.  Preventative dental care helps mom and baby stay in good health while leaving a dental infection untreated can be harmful.  Ask your OB/GYN if there are any restrictions on your dental care to confirm whether or not you can have all types of procedures done.  Most of the time there will be no restrictions regarding regular dental care since it will help you and your baby stay healthy.