Oral Health Advice During Pregnancy
If you are planning to become pregnant or suspect that you are pregnant, it’s very important to maintain dental visits.
When you are pregnant, you may experience changes in your mouth. The main reason is due to a surge in hormones that can cause your gum tissues to exaggerate a normal reaction to plaque. If plaque is not removed regularly, it will increase your risk of gingivitis (gum disease). Pregnancy gingivitis can be prevented by keeping your mouth clean, especially near the gum line.
Excessive bacteria can enter the bloodstream through your gums. If this happens, the bacteria can travel to the uterus, triggering the production of chemicals called prostaglandins, which are suspected to induce premature labour.
Your oral health is an important part of your general health, and good dental hygiene habits not only help prevent oral problems during pregnancy, they may also positively affect the health of your unborn child.
Here are some dental health care tips during pregnancy:
- Brush thoroughly with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day.
- Floss or use interdental brushes to clean between your teeth daily..
- Maintain a balanced diet. If you snack, do so in moderation and try and avoid sweet things in between meals.
- Visit your dental practice regularly for a professional cleaning and check-up.
- If you need help controlling plaque, your dentist may recommend rinsing daily with an antimicrobial mouth rinse.
- If you have morning sickness and are vomiting frequently, try rinsing with a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with water to stop stomach acid from attacking your teeth.
Routine dental treatment is often delayed until after your baby is born. However, it is safe to have many types of dental treatment during pregnancy. The ideal time to carry this out is in the second trimester.
Dental X rays are avoided during pregnancy. It is safe to take dental X rays if clinically indicated or in the event of an emergency. At Brightside Dental, we use digital X rays and special attachments to our machines which reduce the radiation dose by up to 80% compared with traditional methods.
If you would like any further advice, give our team a call on 020 88884401.
