The way Dental care is applied changes during pregnancy, which is what we will learn more about today.
Pregnancy, while a beautiful and natural phenomena, brings a huge amount of challenges along with it as well. Today we will be covering some of the better dental care tips that you can apply while pregnant, so that you can maintain healthy oral hygiene. Things like hormones, diet changes and hygiene changes that naturally occur can all play a role on how great your oral health is both during and after pregnancy, so let’s learn about what you can do to maintain great oral health.
1: Talk To Your Dentist
The first thing that you should do is to talk to your dentist. This will allow the dentist to make any changes to any appointments or check-ups that you may have scheduled for the future. You may also have something that he thinks should be corrected before pregnancy continues, such as a planned root canal. Most dental procedures typically can be done all throughout pregnancy, but the more strenuous ones, especially those that require sedatives, may need to be done earlier in pregnancy or even after.
2: Maintain A Proper Diet
Cravings become intense during pregnancy for a lot of women; this naturally causes major cravings towards sweets and fatty foods; so try to avoid consuming many sweets. It is important to know that eating foods rich in vitamins and minerals will not only help your teeth stay healthy, but will also give your baby the proper nutrients it needs to develop a healthy set of teeth. This will also help in forming healthy gums and bones, all of which support oral health.
3: Morning Sickness
Many women find that their favorite toothpaste becomes a nightmare to use. This is normally due to a temporary palate change that could be due to hormonal changes, morning sickness and all sorts of other factors. If you find yourself feeling nauseated due to the taste of your current toothpaste, try to use something closer to a chalky or bland flavor. If you do find yourself suffering from morning sickness, make sure to rinse your mouth out with a mouthwash after. This will help to protect the tooth enamel from erosion caused by stomach acids.
4: Plaque Build-up
This is a common occurrence during the process, mostly due to a change in hormones during pregnancy taking away some of the natural ability of the body to attack plaque. This can be dealt with by simply brushing two to three times daily. Using a mouthwash and flossing are also both very helpful. If you find that this is still not enough to reduce or rid of plaque, then you may ask your dentist to recommend an antimicrobial mouthwash to help reduce plaque.
5: Gingivitis
Although unlikely, this is undoubtedly a phenomena that happens on occasion. Watch out for any gum bleeding or inflammation. If you notice any bleeding in the mouth, sores or breath that has suddenly lost its proper smell, then it may be a good idea to call your dentist and see if a visit is worthwhile. Gingivitis could potentially risk a pregnancy from being successful, so this is something that you should stay aware of.