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Dental hygiene tips for healthy teeth & gums

Dental Care During Pregnancy

Pregnancy comes with a lot of responsibilities, including how you care for your teeth. Routine dental appointments are safe for most pregnant women, but let your dentist know what month you are in when scheduling your appointment. Your dentist and physician may recommend that treatment be postponed if you are pregnant at high risk or have another medical condition. Also, if your prescriptions have changed or if you’ve gotten any specific advice from your doctor, make sure to inform your dentist.

During pregnancy, your dental health is crucial to your overall wellness. It is also a vital element during pregnancy. It raises the risk of certain dental health issues, resulting in pregnancy difficulties such as early birth. In addition, pregnancy involves hormonal changes that increase the risk of gum disease, which can impact your unborn child’s health. One should attend regular dental checks and should inform the dentist regarding pregnancy. At such times, taking proper care of your mouth, teeth, and gums will help you have a healthy pregnancy and baby.

How may pregnancy affect your dental health?

Your gums and teeth may be affected by the following changes in your body during pregnancy.

  • Your eating habits may change as, during pregnancy, you may eat more of certain foods than you did before becoming pregnant, which may affect your dental health.
  • Brushing and flossing your teeth less frequently during pregnancy will harm your oral hygiene.
  • You have higher amounts of various hormones in your body during pregnancy, such as progesterone and estrogen. These can put you at risk for a variety of oral health issues.

How to keep up with dental health during pregnancy?

  • ADA Seal products should be purchased.
  • Consume a well-balanced diet.
  • Visit the dentist for a professional cleaning and examination regularly.
  • Brush your teeth twice a day with ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste.
  • If you’re suffering from morning sickness and are constantly vomiting, consider rinsing your mouth with a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with water to prevent stomach acid from harming your teeth.
  • If you’re having trouble controlling plaque, your dentist may suggest washing with an antibacterial mouth rinse at night.

Symptoms of Dental Problems During Pregnancy:

Call your dentist if you see the following symptoms of dental disease.

  • New gaps between your teeth.
  • Red, swollen, painful, glossy gums or gums that bleed readily
  • Toothache and similar problems
  • Bad breath
  • Loosening of teeth
  • Shrinking gums (when your gums peel away from your teeth, and you can see the roots of your teeth) or pus along the gum line (where your gums meet your teeth)       

Visit the dentist immediately if you are experiencing discomfort or swelling. If you have an infection, you should seek treatment as soon as possible to avoid causing complications for your baby. Dental checks are essential during pregnancy so that your dentist can detect and treat dental issues early. Teeth cleaning is also crucial for maintaining the condition of your teeth and gums.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.