Oral Health and Hygiene in Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the time of your life when you are most concerned about your health. You want to make sure that your child gets off to a healthy start in his life. It is important that you do not ignore oral health as it is definitely an essential part of a person’s overall health. If you maintain oral hygiene during pregnancy, it will surely prevent oral problems but also have a good impact on the health of your growing baby.

Pregnancy Diet and Dental Care

What you eat during pregnancy has an impact on how your baby’s teeth develop. The baby’s teeth develop between third and sixth month of pregnancy. Eat foods rich in calcium, protein, vitamin A, C and D, and phosphorus. Some people have the false notion that calcium for the baby’s teeth is extracted from the mother’s teeth. It is actually provided only by your diet. If there is insufficient amount of calcium in your diet, your body will provide for it from the stores in your bones. So, do not slip up on adequate intake of calcium rich foods such as dairy products and the supplements recommended by your doctor.

Oral Health and Hygiene Tips in Pregnancy

• Inform your dentist about your pregnancy after having an appointment with your GP. Avoid dental procedures during the first 12 weeks and last 6 to 8 weeks of pregnancy. The second trimester is completely safe for routine dental care. The elective dental procedures should be taken post delivery.
• Your dentist should know all about the medications you have started taking after recommendation from your GP or any specific advice. Your dental treatments may have to be altered based on such information.
• Your dentist will inform you about certain drugs which you need to avoid during pregnancy as they can affect your child’s health.
• Dentists are advised against putting silver fillings during pregnancy as a precaution.
• Do not skip your dental check-up appointments because of being pregnant. Your gum examinations are more important at this stage than ever before because pregnancy increases the risk of periodontal disease leading to bleeding of gums. Be conscious of the condition of your gums and talk to your dentist if you find gum swelling or bleeding.
• Stick to good basic oral hygiene practices to prevent gum diseases or reduce the oral health problems.

Oral care and hygiene in pregnancy is as important as any other aspect of prenatal care.

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