Dental care and pregnancy

Pregnancy can be wonderful and stressful at the same time. The creation of life can take a toll on a women’s body and mind. But remaining calm and taking good care of yourself and in turn, the baby is the utmost priority. So if you face any dental problems during your pregnancy fret not! Read on to find out some dental guidelines for pregnant patients.

Pre pregnancy care

It is very important to be as prepared as you can before your pregnancy. During pregnancy your body undergoes a lot of hormonal changes and these can worsen pre-existing conditions. So visit your dentist before you plan on getting pregnant. Get a tooth removal, root canal and other such invasive procedures done at the earliest before planning a pregnancy. Scaling and polishing is a must to maintain your gum health. This will make sure that you don’t have any sudden painful dental emergencies during your pregnancy.

During pregnancy

Unplanned pregnancy? No problem. Procedures like cleaning and fillings can be done in the 2nd trimester. Dental X- rays are not very safe during pregnancy. Hence procedures like root canals and extractions are avoided, but in emergency cases, they can be done with proper precautions like wearing a lead apron and a thyroid collar. Here are some common dental problems faced during pregnancy.

• Gingival swelling - This is mostly due to changing levels of hormones that your gums start becoming puffy and swollen called pregnancy gingivitis. Visit your dentist to get a scaling done. Start using non-alcoholic mouthwashes like Colgate Plax to keep bacteria and bad breath to a minimum.
• Pregnancy tumors or pyogenic granulomas are small round outgrowths seen on your gums. They are tender to touch and bleed easily. Hormonal imbalance and poor oral hygiene are the key causative factors. These tumors are not cancerous and go away on their own after the pregnancy.
• Tooth sensitivity is common in women with excessive morning sickness and acid reflux. The strong acids in our stomach come in contact with our teeth on vomiting or during the reflux and cause erosion of the enamel or the upper layer of our teeth. This causes tooth sensitivity. Loss of enamel is permanent and hence take care to protect our teeth. Ask your doctor for suitable antacids and anti-emetics.

After pregnancy

After your delivery, don’t ignore your oral health. Visit your dentist at the earliest to quickly catch any developing oral problems caused due to post pregnancy hormonal changes. Brushing twice a day and flossing regularly like clockwork during and after your pregnancy will keep most of your dental problems at bay.

Eat healthy fibrous foods like apples, carrots, and dark chocolate to nourish yourself and your baby and keep your teeth healthy. Avoid sugary drinks and sticky food to avoid cavities.

Remember to take your bundle of joy to the dentist as soon as they turn one. It is never too early to instill good oral habits in your children, so just like you brush your teeth, start brushing their teeth as soon as their first tooth appears.

Remember these dental guidelines to ensure a better dental future for your little one and for yourself too.

Highlights

• Dental care is often neglected considering pregnancy is life changing.
• Dental care has an important role to play pre, during and post pregnancy.
• Hormonal changes during pregnancy can commonly cause puffy gums, swelling of gums as well as tooth sensitivity.
• Taking care of your oral hygiene will keep many oral diseases during this time away.
• Always get a dental check-up done before you plan your pregnancy.
• Non emergency dental treatments are avoided during pregnancy.
• Emergency dental treatments can be done in the 2nd trimester with proper precautions.
• Tele consult your dentist before popping any pill for dental pain.
• Take care of your dental health even after pregnancy.