Thinking of having a baby? The last thing you may think of will be your teeth and the teeth of your baby. Find out the facts on what you need to do to establish sound dental health for you and your baby during pregnancy.
Before You Become Pregnant
Healthy teeth and gums prior and during pregnancy can reduce the risk of developing toothache and other complications. Oral hygiene practices must be maintained before pregnancy so they won’t be forgotten in the early months following birth. Finally, we advise a thorough examination prior to pregnancy to reduce the need for x-rays while you’re pregnant.
Morning Sickness
As morning sickness can cause vomiting and stomach contents are acidic it is essential you rinse with water and a teaspoon of bicarb dissolved in the water after vomiting to reduce the risk of enamel erosion. At Prime Dental we advise against brushing immediately after vomiting as this may cause the tooth enamel to dissolve.
Hormones
The hormones that are present in your body when you become pregnant make the gums much more sensitive to the dental plaque that forms naturally in your mouth and may cause gingivitis.
To prevent swollen, bleeding gums, (gingivitis), brush teeth and gums thoroughly twice a day with a soft bristled toothbrush. Use dental floss daily to remove plaque from between teeth. More information on: Peridontal Disease