First of all, congratulations! Now that you are pregnant, what special dental care should you be aware of?
The benefits of receiving dental care during pregnancy far outweigh potential risks. It is important to ensure that your oral health is in tip top condition, to minimise any tooth-related troubles needing attention during an inconvenient time for you. Toothache during labour, anyone?
How to minimise this? By making sure you have had all your teeth checked, and making sure that any treatment needed or recommended is carried out. You may want to avoid X-rays during the initial three months, and technically the second trimester is when it is safest to have dental treatment. Even during the third trimester, dental treatment can be safely carried out, just that you may need to avoid being on your back for long periods if it is going to be along treatment session. Elective treatment during this time can be postponed, but necessary dental treatments should still be performed to avoid potential problems later on, closer to the delivery date or if you are unsure if you will be able to come back into the dental clinic with your newborn baby.
As always, be sure to keep your dentist informed of any changes in your mouth such as swelling, redness or bleeding.
Tips for maintaining a healthy mouth during pregnancy:
· Floss once a day to remove small bits of food from between your teeth, which will help to prevent the build-up of plaque.
· Avoid having sugary drinks (such as fizzy drinks or sweet tea) and sugary foods
· Brush thoroughly with fluoride toothpaste twice a day.
· To prevent plaque build-up, your dentist may recommend rinsing at night with an antimicrobial mouth rinse.
· Visit your dentist regularly for cleaning and check-up.
· Eat a balanced diet.
· Stop smoking, as it can make gum disease worse.
· If you have morning sickness (nausea and vomiting), rinse your mouth with plain water after each time you are sick. This will help prevent the acid in your vomit from damaging your teeth.
Pregnancy Gingivitis
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can make your gums more vulnerable to plaque, leading to inflammation and bleeding. This is also called pregnancy gingivitis and is a form of gum disease. Pregnancy gingivitis means swollen gums, most commonly due to pregnancy hormones making your gums extra-sensitive to and being irritated by any plaque. Some people also develop pregnancy epulis which is like a gum overgrowth which occurs only during pregnancy, but goes down afterwards. It can be worrying. If you’re experiencing any symptoms or gum irritation, please get in touch to book an appointment at Artiste Studios.
Our friendly and knowledgeable team would be happy to answer any of your questions and help keep your mouth healthy during your pregnancy.