Making dentistry appointments before getting pregnant is helpful to maintain good dental care and any dental complications which might be prevented. Dental visit during pregnancy is essential to ensure a healthy dental care but it’s necessary only in the second trimester.
Many pregnant women experience teeth problems due to change of hormones. It is always advisable for pregnant women to let the dentist know that they are pregnant before any dental procedure. This is very important to avoid harming the growing baby inside. It is not advisable to have tooth x-lay or teeth whitening during the first trimester due to complications which might arise. Some of these procedures are safe done after giving birth.
Swelling of gums during pregnancy is very common thus it is not only advisable to visit a dentist for checking up, but it’s important to cleanse your teeth to decrease the chance of having infection. Some drugs or dental procedures are not safe at all in pregnant women. Some antibiotics when taken by pregnant women interfere with the development of the baby. Some drugs which are administered during dental procedures might affect the development of the baby’s teeth and they should be avoided at all cost.
When dentist are performing dental procedures to a pregnant women, they should handle the patient with a lot of care and put the patient in a comfortable position. This can be done by placing a pillow under at the back while lying down on the dental chair.
Pregnant women are advised to eat a healthy balanced diet especially food rich in protein, calcium and vitamins. The baby’s first teeth develops at the age of three months and some minerals found in dairy products like cheese and yoghurt are essential to the development of the baby’s teeth. Frequent brushing of the teeth helps a long way in preventing dental problems. Flossing frequently reduces the chance of bacterial infection in your mouth. Chewing of gums during pregnancy is good as it keeps the mouth from getting dry which can cause problems with your teeth. It’s good to avoid bed snacks and eat food which contains no or less with sugar. Pregnant women are advised not to smoke during the entire pregnancy not only for the baby but to prevent gingivitis infection.
It is very crucial for pregnant women to watch what goes in their mouth as scientist have proved that some bacteria causing decay can be passed to the baby. Since most pregnant women vomit a lot especially during the first few months in their pregnancy, it is recommended they frequently wash their mouth. Avoiding tooth decay is not only important for a pregnant woman but it is necessary to avoid risk of having a premature birth when the tooth is left untreated. Some cases need tooth filling to prevent decay and this should be done with minimal medical application to reduce any risk to the unborn baby.
Watch the following signs during pregnancy as they may be a sign of tooth infection- bleeding of gums, redness of the gums, swelling of gums, and bad breath.