Oral health for pregnant women

It had been established that a mother's oral health can impact her baby's teeth and overall health in many ways. Gum diseases (gingivitis and periodontitis) and cavities are both caused by bacteria which effect more than your teeth and gum (just like having a skin infection or an urinary tract infection affected more than just the organ but the whole body). Pregnant women with gum disease have been linked to having an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight, which makes babies more susceptible to brain damage, vision, hearing and other problems. So here's a few tips as to how to maintain good oral hygiene during pregnancy

1. Brush and floss twice daily. Continue to use fluoride containing toothpaste

2. Chew Xylitol containing gum.

3. It is best to visit your dentist before you get pregnant especially if you require any work. If it is unavoidable, treatment during 2nd trimester is best during pregnancy. Cleaning is still recommended during pregnancy, best done during 2nd trimester as well. It is best to have all treatment done before you get pregnant just to avoid having an emergency which may require x-ray during your pregnancy. It is important to always advise your dentist that you maybe pregnant.

Having mentioned all that, it is entirely understandable that sometimes, especially during first trimester that nausea can be so severe that the thought of having a toothbrush or the taste of toothpaste makes you want to vomit. In that case I would focus on chewing Xylitol containing gum throughout the day, especially after meals. It is best, if you can only brush once a day that you do it at night rather than in the morning. Or if you have periods during the day when you are least nauseous, brush then. Try switching to a different brand of toothpaste if the one you are using makes you nauseous. If you have to skip brushing and flossing once in a while just to avoid having your meal coming back up, don't worry about it.

If you have any questions, please free feel to contact us here or at our website www.metrodentalcare.ca.


Sources:
AAPD Releases New Perinatal and Infant Oral Health Guidelines. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Accessed: July 3, 2009.